This summer at the 2011 Social Action Summer Institute, Bishop Gabino Zavala offered the opening address on the Theological Foundations of the Dignity of Work. At long last, the video footage of his address has been posted so that you can listen to the presentation if you weren’t able to attend. His words both challenged and affirmed the social action directors present, while providing a theological, reflective rootedness for the training that took place during the duration of the institute. Enjoy!

(If you’re more of a visual learner, you can also read his address).

At the 2011 Social Action Summer Institute, which offered the theme Focus on the Worker: “New Things” in Labor 120 years after Rerum Novarum, Bishop Gabino Zavala offered the opening address. His words both challenged and affirmed the social action directors present, while providing a theological, reflective rootedness for the training that took place during the duration of the institute. You can read the address in its entirety here!

Opening Plenary: The Dignity of Work: Theological Foundations
Bishop Gabino Zavala, Archdiocese of Los Angeles

I. Introduction and Invitation to Reflection

I want to welcome all of you to this Social Action Summer Institute. This is a wonderful opportunity for personal growth, renewing your commitment to your work, building relationships and enjoying this wonderful city. I am very grateful for your invitation to share some of my own thoughts with you. I am privileged to be with all of you.  Thank you for all the work you do in service to the Church and the bishops. Your work gives the People of God a wonderful context in living out the Gospel in our daily lives.

You are all well aware of the timeliness of this topic on the dignity of work.  The situation in Wisconsin with public sector workers that has spread to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and other states has challenged us to examine once again our teachings on labor, unions and the common good.  In the latest Legatus Magazine we are told that “most Catholics, including bishops and priests, are relatively uninformed about the social doctrine of the Church, its themes and development.”  The article goes on to say that this is the case because most young priests are not interested in these issues and many older priests have failed to update themselves on these issues.  This may well be true. If it is, you have a lot of work to do!  Finally, they state that the times and circumstances have changed since Rerum Novarum and so we need to look at these present cases in light of the changing context of catholic social teaching.  Some use this argument as an opportunity to deny workers their basic rights.

In response to the Wisconsin situation Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee  issued a statement on Feb. 16 that came down in favor of workers’ rights.  “Hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers… Every union, like every economic actor, is called to work for the common good, to make sacrifices when required and to adjust to new economic realities.  However, it is equally a mistake to marginalize or dismiss unions as impediments to economic growth.”

I raise this just so that we can see how timely our work is today.

Do most of you remember the first paying job you had? I remember my first job.  My first job besides doing household chores at home was to sell newspapers.  When I was 11 years old I got this job which required me to stand on a corner selling newspapers after school.  I would sell the evening edition of the newspaper to people as they went home from work.  If I sold 30 papers at $0.10 a piece I took home $1.05.  It may not seem like much by today’s standards.  But we are talking about the early 60’s.  On my way home I could buy a small cheese pizza for $0.95 or a small bag of fries for $0.25.  Or I could save my money for something else.  I enjoyed my job.  It made me feel good.  It gave me a sense that I was getting something for my hard work.

Take a moment to reflect on your first job: What was it? What work were you doing? Why did you take the job? What did you do with your compensation?  How did it make you feel?

Because to work is so significant, to be compensated for what we do makes us feel valued.  It causes us to look beyond ourselves.  Even as a child or a teenager, it leaves a lasting impression.

II. Foundations of the inherent dignity of work

The Church has a rich tradition on work and the rights of the worker. It doesn’t matter if it is the labor of a paper boy, factory worker, or white collar worker.  Central to this teaching is the belief that work has an inherent dignity. And it seems that to an extent, every Pope from Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum to Benedict XVI in Caritas In Veritate have talked about the dignity of work.  In fact all of us, as we talk about work and labor, stipulate to work’s inherent dignity. We assume it. It’s axiomatic.  It is something that we just take for granted.

Why? Why do we believe so deeply that work has inherent dignity?

We need to go back to the very beginning.  Let’s look at the Book of Genesis.  The narrative on creation gives us two thoughts.  First of all we see that Man and Woman are  created in the image and likeness of God.  God’s labor is central to our existence.  God didn’t merely will the world or us into existence.  It wasn’t done with a flick of the wrist or a snap of the fingers. The creation of the world was work.  Hard work that required rest.

Secondly, Man and Woman are put in Eden to cultivate and care for it. This is to be understood as an exercise of human creativity and a participation in God’s ongoing creation of the world.

In the Old Testament writers had very strong words for those who abused laborers and poor people, for those who withheld wages.  In the book of Deuteronomy the author tells us “do not cheat poor and needy hired servants, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living in one of your towns.  Each day before sunset pay them for that days’ work; they need the money and have counted on getting it.  If you do not pay them, they will cry out to the Lord and you will be guilty of sin.”  The prophet Jeremiah proclaims: “Doomed is the one who builds his house by injustice and enlarges it by dishonesty: who makes his people work for nothing and does not pay their wages.”
Clearly this speaks to today’s concern about wage theft!

As we know, Jesus echoes these sentiments and frequently used the dynamics of labor and work to teach in parables.  We have the familiar examples of the Workers in the Vineyard [Mt 20:1-16]; the Barren Fig Tree [Lk 13: 6-9] in addition to today’s gospel (Parable of the Sower).

And Jesus even tells us why he does it–because that’s how we come to understand.
Of all the analogies or themes he could use, he repeatedly relies on work because that’s the easiest for us to understand. We are all engaged in it!

Not only are we all engaged in it, to some degree people want to define us by it.  How often when meeting someone for the first time are we asked the question, “What do you DO?”  As if what we DO, defines who we are.  Jesus himself is frequently identified by his vocation.  He is a carpenter.  While the question is limiting because it doesn’t encapsulate all we are, as Catholics, the hope is that our work DOES reflect who we are and what we believe to be true, what we know to be of value.  And if we look at the etymology of vocation, we know that the word ‘vocation’ comes from the Latin “to call”–i.e. our labor, properly understood, can be seen as a divine calling.

Work allows us to share with Jesus in creation. In work, we carry out our Gospel mandate to care, feed, clothe, visit our sisters and brothers [Mt 25]. In work, we bring forth the Kingdom of God here on Earth.

Today the Scriptures and teachings of Jesus continue in the Wisdom of the Church.
The Second Vatican Council reiterates the value of work and its transformative potential.

“For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit—indeed even the hardships of life if patiently borne—all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. During the celebration of the Eucharist these sacrifices are most lovingly offered to the Father along with the Lord’s body. … the lay faithful consecrate the world itself to God” (Lumen Gentium, 34).

III. The goal of dignified work

It is in understanding the nature of dignified work, that we can understand the goals of our labor; that is, what our labor ought to accomplish.

Work ought to promote the common good.  Our work needs to contribute to society.  Our work should enhance who we are as human beings.  It should help us celebrate our humanity, be ever faithful stewards of creation, protecting the vulnerable and providing for those who cannot work.

Our work should be supportive of the worker and the worker’s family.  Work should provide a wage sufficient to allow everyone to achieve their personal, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual fulfillment.  Work should allow for realization and self-awareness in each worker.  Every worker should experience the same level of pride and accomplishment as that very first job selling newspapers.

IV. Our challenge, then, is twofold:

In conclusion, what are the challenges for us?  We need to ask ourselves: how do I personally discern, develop or nurture my own vocation? How do I continue to find work that contributes to the common good, allows me to support myself and my family, and helps me fulfill my role as co-creator? How do I challenge myself and find support for my work?

Second, but no less important; How do I invite others to discern, develop or nurture their vocation? How do I deprive, by my choices and behavior, my human brothers and sisters of their right to decent, dignified work? How can I live in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in my community and around the world in their quest for dignified work?

Solidarity means going that extra mile to shop in stores that treat their workers with dignity. Solidarity means standing with farm workers, hotel workers, janitors, car washers, meat processors, and restaurant employees who just want a decent wage. Solidarity is helping workers whose wages have been stolen to find justice.  And we can all think of so many more examples.

The work you do is tough. It is demanding. We need to celebrate what we do.  It is so important.  And we need support networks to give us the strength to carry on.

Thank you all once more for the work you do, for your persistence and tenacity, and for your commitment to the common good.

During the Social Action Summer Institute in New Orleans this July, Track II participants will have the opportunity in small groups to break open case studies offered by leaders of organizations working on various aspects of workers’ rights. One of these case studies will be offered by Dr. Luz Molina of the Workplace Justice Project.

Loyola University recently featured the accomplishments of the Workplace Justice Project on their website. Read portions of the article below or read the full article here.

Giving a voice to workers

An influx of immigrants and low-wage workers moved to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help with rebuilding efforts. More than five years later, affordable legal counsel needed to protect their rights is still in high demand. The Workplace Justice Project in the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice is allowing the Spanish-speaking and low-wage workers in the community to feel that their voices are heard…

The clinic, which has recovered more than $500,000 in lost wages since 2005, allows third-year law students the opportunity to represent indigent clients under the supervision of experienced attorneys. By participating, student practitioners not only have the chance to experience firsthand what it’s like to represent clients, but they also have an opportunity to further the Jesuit ideals of scholarship and service at Loyola by providing legal representation to the needy…

“As far as rebuilding, I feel that it has to happen from the inside out. Unfortunately, it is going far too slow. This is where the clinic comes in. It offers legal services to those who are unable to afford legal counsel,” says third-year law student and clinic practitioner Joseph Moore. “Further, it helps educate workers so they can help themselves by keeping out of situations that would require our services. We would be very pleased if there wasn’t a need for such a clinic, because it would mean everyone is being treated fairly. Unfortunately, that will never be the case.”

Another third-year law student and clinic practitioner Haim Vasquez-Echeverri echoes Moore’s feelings.

“I believe that the work that is done at the WJP is a very important element in the rebuilding of New Orleans. After Katrina, a great number of day laborers and construction workers moved to the city. As these workers played an important part in the rebuilding of the city, they also were victims of fraud in the part of contractors that refused to pay them for the work they performed. WJP is providing an avenue for these workers to be able to recover what is owed to them.”
WJP Director Luz Molina, the Jack Nelson Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola, is grateful for the student practitioners like Moore and Vasquez that come through her clinic.

A former law student and practitioner who has been instrumental in the work of the clinic is Vanessa Spinazola, J.D. ’07. Spinazola, now a staff attorney with the Law Clinic, is also employed with the Pro Bono Project which has teamed with Loyola and the Catholic Charities’ Hispanic Apostolate to hold wage claim clinics every Thursday evening.

Workers seeking to file a complaint can come to the clinic for assistance in composing a letter to their employer seeking unpaid wages. After four weeks have passed and if a satisfactory response hasn’t been received, follow-up appointments are scheduled where the clinic can begin the process to recover wages through the court system…

“We hope meaningful progress will be to inform the strengthening of sorely needed oversight and regulatory mechanisms to address the identified problem,” LeDoux said.

The grants received by the WJP will also allow Molina and her team to expand their outreach. “We’ve also seen a need to make inroads to help local musicians and those working in the restaurant industry. The grants could be a catalyst to help people in need that otherwise might not have the resources to protect themselves.”

For more information on the Stuart H. Smith Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, visit www.loyno.edu/lawclinic.

There is still time to register for the 2011 Social Action Summer Institute and hear from leaders of the Workplace Justice Project and other important initiatives engaged in promoting workers’ rights. Join us today!

Registration is now live for this year’s Social Action Summer Institute. You can get more information and register online at http://catholicroundtable.org/events/sasi/.

Join social action ministers from across the country for a four-day institute titled, “Focus on the Worker: “New Things” in Labor 120 Years after Rerum Novarum.”

We will feature many talented and engaging speakers including Bishop Gabino Zavala, President of Interfaith Worker Justice; Kathy Saile, Director of Domestic Social Development, USCCB; Fr. Fred Kammer, Director of the Jesuit Social Research Institute; Tricia Hoyt, diocesan director in Phoenix; Joe Grant of JustFaith Ministries, and many more. Additional presenters will be announced on the SASI webpage.

July 10-13, 2011 | Loyola University | New Orleans, LA
***Tuition, room & board this year is $125 off of last year’s rates!***

Registration information: Although registration is available online, payment for SASI is not. Please reserve your spot online then make check payment to “Catholic Charities of Houma-Thibodaux” (fiscal agent for the Roundtable) and mail to: The Roundtable | 1225 Otis Street NE | Washington DC 20017.

Tuition is $250, room & board is $325, with two-day and one-day options available. Limited scholarships are available; contact the Roundtable Coordinator for details.

The deadline for registration is June 15, so don’t delay!

Please share this information with your friends and colleagues. We look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Roundtable,

We’ve seen a number of changes in our country and around the world over the past few months. Media attention has particularly been focused internationally recently, which provides new teaching opportunities around global solidarity. The uprisings in a number of countries across the Middle East, in particular, are of interest to me as I recently returned from a Christian peacemaking and solidarity delegation to Israel-Palestine.

In the land often called the “Fifth Gospel,” we witnessed Palestinian Christians (whose share of the population has been reduced from 18% to 2% over the past 60 years) working with Palestinian Muslims and Israeli Jews for peace in this treasured land. Hearing their stories showed me that a spirituality of resistance is both a way of life and of hope.

“Come and see,” was the theme of the last church homily I heard in Jerusalem. It’s an invitation with a lot of relevance to the work of diocesan social action. Whether it’s through an international trip with Catholic Relief Services, a visit to a CCHD grant-funded organization during SASI, or some other form of immersion, we are reminded that to “come and see” can shake us up, challenge our assumptions, and help foster relationships with other members of the Body of Christ that ground and motivate our work.

We know that the struggle for justice is not just taking places in countries thousands of miles away but also here in our own states and dioceses. In Bishop Blaire’s recent letter offering support and solidarity with Wisconsin Bishops on affirming the rights of workers, he reiterates, “hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers.”

Now is an historic moment for a new discussion around labor focused on the worker and rooted it in the dignity of work. For that reason, our 2011 Social Action Summer Institute will be on focused on the worker and workers’ rights. Please join us July 10-13, 2011 at Loyola University in New Orleans. Some information is already available at http://catholicroundtable.org/events/sasi/ and registration is coming soon!

Throughout the April 2011 issue of the Roundtable Report, it is clear that the struggle for a more just world in accordance with the reign of God is something we’re engaged in together as a community. Read on!

We were so pleased that many of you participated in our 26^th Annual Roundtable Symposium I February on Addressing a Culture of Fear with Prayerful Conversation with Peggy Steinfels and Sr. Deborah Lorentz, S.S.S. Read some of the highlights from the Symposium and check out pictures!

Also during the Symposium, we had an opportunity to hear from 2011 Servant of Justice Award winner Tom Allio, who offered a powerful address calling for being at the table with those who do not completely embrace our principles on all issues, building a nationwide life and human dignity movement, and promoting civility and dialogue in our Church. 

And it’s already time to nominate 2012 winners – make sure to turn in a nomination form by April 20!

As part of the Roundtable Report, we always want to share resources with you that can help your work and build your capacity – and even better if those resources come from our membership itself! Roundtable member Chris Ruff has written the Discipleship Series to make justice outreach and education more “common” and communal. Read about how he came about writing this series and how it’s being used by dioceses around the country.

Just last week, the Roundtable hosted Dan Ebener for a webinar on Servant Leadership. If you weren’t able to be with us, you can read about some of the highlights from the webinar and download it online.

Teaching around environmental stewardship is a priority for many of your dioceses. In order to help resource you better, the Franciscan Action Network is offering several educational tools to Care for Creation, including a recent webcast around a collective effort for Creation Care, a six-session small group curriculum, and a series of Lenten reflections.

At the annual membership meeting, we elected four new board members. You can learn more about them here. As always, the Roundtable Roundup features much of the wonderful work that you are doing around the country.

We need your support to continue this work; please pay your 2011 membership dues soon! Thank you in advance.

May your Lenten and Easter seasons be filled with personal growth as well as renewal across your dioceses. I pray the season is filled with joy and expectant hope!

Many blessings,

Jenn Svetlik
Roundtable Coordinator

Check out your local news from members around the country:

Social Action for Youth
Several years ago, after attending the Social Action Summer Institute at the University of Dayton, one of the participants, Rebecca Spencer of the Diocese of Little Rock, posed the question “why can’t we do something like this for the youth in our diocese?”

The response was “I don’t see why not,” Liz Tinquist, the Youth Ministry Director, was excited about the idea.
And so the planning began. Visits to homeless camps, serving in a soup kitchen, visiting incarcerated youth, helping in senior citizens home, participating in a city council meeting, and trips to work in a homeless shelter were coordinated. The schedule of this retreat calls for social justice classes in the morning and visits to the work sites in the afternoon. The students, over 50 this year, stay on campus and have speakers, prayer service, or a fun activity in the evening. Tom Navin, Director of Social Action at the Diocese of Little Rock, says “It’s the best week of the year.”

Many Happenings In the Diocese of Venice:

Immigration Reform: Despite Bishop Frank J. Dewane having sponsored a Forum on Immigration Reform for all the clergy in the diocese, efforts to have parishioners participate in the JFI-USCCB postcard campaign on comprehensive immigration reform remain a challenge. Although several thousand cards were completed and delivered to lawmakers, opposition to ‘aliens’ seems to be at an all-time high.  The Peace and Justice Office’s 17th annual diocesan-wide Catholic Social Teaching event (LEAVEN Conference) on March 19, 2011 will focus on “Promoting Solidarity on Immigration Issues.”  We wonder what other dioceses are doing to reduce the divisiveness which exists among our own people on this subject.

Environmental Justice: On Earth Day, students of the diocesan parochial schools submitted posters (elementary grade students), essays (middle grade students) and media teaching projects (high school students) related to a Food and Justice Contest co-sponsored by the Department of Catholic Education and the Commission on Environmental Justice, an organization of the Diocesan Peace and Justice Office. Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane hosted an award ceremony at the Catholic Center in which he presented the winners with cash prizes and appreciation certificates to the runners-up. The Commission, during the summer, is researching environmental concerns as they relate to St. Francis of Assisi, with the intent of mounting broad parish-based endeavors on his Feast Day of October 4. We would appreciate our counterpart Social Justice Offices in other (Arch)dioceses which have undertaken similar projects to share their experiences with us.

Farmworker Justice: The Diocesan Peace and Justice Office continues to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in its national and international pursuit of just wages and improved working conditions for the farmworkers in the tomato fields of south Florida.  Its successes with Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonalds, and many other corporations are well-known. Similar efforts are being made with the (so far reluctant) Florida-based and enormous company of Publix grocery chain and Kroger’s on a national level. If our counterpart offices and bureaus in the USA are seeking a good justice program for their parishioners, please see the web site of the Coalition (ciw-online.org) or of its technical support group, Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida (interfaithact.org).

Submitted by Neil D. Michaud, KSB, Diocese of Venice

Roundtable Members to Participate in CRS immersion trip

In September, a team of diocesan social action directors will visit Ethiopia and Tanzania. Participants include:
Kent Ferris of Davenport, Bill Scholl of Kansas City, KS, Dianne Hanley of Baton Rouge, Anne Avellone of Santa Fe,
Hilda Ochoa and Jim Barette of Galveston-Houston, Tom Dobbins of New York, Kathryn Buckley Brawner of Springfield, Jen Dyer of Camden, David Siler of Indianapolis and Sr. Gail Young of Los Angeles. Please keep them in your prayers!

Activities in the Diocese of Orange

Housing Crisis: House foreclosures continue to rise and Orange County is the center for over 200 scam organizations preying on homeowners with the promise of refinance or loan modifications for exorbitant fees that almost always end with no relief at all.  Further, in Orange County, Santa Ana has the largest number of foreclosures.  Our parishioners are targeted and probably have been victims of these scams.  On July 24th, our Diocese and Mater Dei High School is hosting Foreclosure Prevention Workshops (in English and Spanish) at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.  These workshops are totally free (see flyer here).  The participants receive assistance from HUD approved agencies.  And, at the workshop, they will immediately meet with their lenders on the premises that day, and will have a HUB advocate assigned to them to help with their lenders, even if their lender is not at the event.

2010 Census: The Diocese of Orange recently partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to encourage all Catholics to participate in the U.S. Census.  We had participation with almost every parish, distributing flyers, large banners made (see banner here), Census Bureau members setting up tables outside many churches to hand out information and answering questions – some speaking after Mass.  We considered this a justice issue because our county relies on a fair share of federal and state funds to help with hospitals, infrastructure, roads and social services.  The poor especially needs access to hospitals and social services (school lunch programs, head start programs, etc.)  Our bishop made a statement and was very supportive of this effort.

Submitted by Georgeann Lovett, Diocese of Orange

News from JustFaith

JustFaith Ministries (JFM) is working hard to help build a peaceable army across the country that can make God’s dream and beckon for justice real in the lives of more and more people, especially those who are living in poverty and would otherwise know hopelessness and exclusion.

There is much good being done all over the country by JustFaith (JF) graduates!  With this in mind, will you host an introductory JF session at your parish on a Sunday morning, help start a JF group, ask former participants at your parish to facilitate a JF group, and introduce JF to a deacon at your parish?  If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, or if you have other ideas for engaging your constituency in the JustFaith formational program, please contact the JFM office: 502.429.0865 or info@justfaith.org. JFM staff will assist you in any way we can.

Immigration-related happenings around Tucson

A few links from Joanne Welter in the Diocese of Tucson:

• An article about a disheartening proposal to place land mines at the border
• An article about the remains of 3 border crossers found recently.
• Christian Week: Catholic bishops oppose new Arizona immigration law.
• Human Borders Migrant Deaths map of deaths on Arizona border 1999-2009
• Humane Borders order form for their DVD about border life, death and ministry.
• Join Border Crossings for an immersion weekend this summer: With a focus on SB1070

In June, the Roundtable spoke with Dan Ebener, former Social Action Director (and Roundtable member) in the Diocese of Davenport, about his work and his latest book on Servant Leadership. Read their conversation here:

Roundtable Report:  You’ve had a long history working in ministry and education. You were a diocesan social action director for twenty years, you’ve taught in universities and workshops on leadership, non-profit management, and conflict resolution, among other topics, throughout the years. Now you are director for Stewardship and Planning for the Diocese of Davenport and have recently written a book on servant leadership. How did you find yourself where you are today?

Dan Ebener: One part of my story may be of particular interest to Roundtable members. Very early in my social action ministry, at one of my very first Roundtable meetings in the 1980s, [first Roundtable secretariat] Harry Fagan got up and said, “If you’re not developing leaders, you might as well get out of this business.” That particular statement changed my whole approach to ministry.

At that time I was guilty of trying to do too much myself. I was not delegating and creating structures for others to get involved in my ministry. But from Harry Fagan I learned that we shouldn’t be doing it ourselves, we should develop the people so that the people will do it. Lao Tzu once said, “of the best leader, the people will say when the job is finished, we did it ourselves.”

This experience first changed my ideas about leadership. And now, as you can probably tell, I am very passionate about servant leadership. I feel like it’s my next calling in life.

RR: What is servant leadership? And where in Scripture do you find the foundations for servant leadership?

DE: Servant leadership is teaching and leading the way that Jesus taught and led. It’s about welcoming people and their ideas, encouraging the initiative of all, and building greater trust, commitment and cohesion among people. It about building a greater sense of mission.

I’ve been rereading the Sermon on the Mount during the past few months. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is there also your heart will be.” And I think what I’ve come to realize about the Sermon on the Mount is that it’s all about the heart.

Where the heart is, that’s a question central to servant leadership. Is my heart with the people, the mission of the organization, with God? Or is it with selfish interests and selfish motives? Is it willing to step on anybody until I get what I want? These are the questions of servant leadership that can transform ourselves, our churches, as well as corporations and society at large.

RR: In March 2010, you published a new book entitled Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish. Tell me more about that. What models do you offer for parishes in the book?

DE: My book is about how servant leadership changes how we do church. The thing that’s great about teaching leadership is that it applies to all walks of life. I teach at the graduate level and I see nurses, teachers, social workers, pastors, business leaders, coaches in my classes. All these people create an incredible learning environment to talk about and apply to leadership, because it applies to all those fields. However, we often overlook the way that leadership applies to the way that we do church.

One of the primary ways servant leadership works in a parish is that this model brings out the best in people, it welcomes their physical presence, their ideas, initiative, participation and leadership. To be truly welcoming is to open oneself up to the full personhood of those entering the parish, not just their physical presence. If people feel like they should be “seen, not heard,” that’s not welcoming.

What my research showed too is that servant leadership increased participation in parish life. When that leadership structure is in place, people are going to take their role as follower of Christ more seriously and sharpen the saw, train themselves, and develop themselves as leaders for social action. Servant leaders guide and nurture parishioners in that process.

The beginning of the book defines servant leadership. The middle is lots of stories of what it looks like in a parish. The last section puts servant leadership into various different models that could work for  parishes.  One of the great strengths of the book is the stories about how and why servant leadership works.

Roundtable Report: Can you share an example of one of the stories in your book?

DE: One story from the smallest parish in the Davenport Diocese involves a guy who showed up for Mass 15 minutes early, and he noticed that the front door wasn’t swinging properly. So he went to his truck, pulled out a toolbox and fixed the door. He went to Mass and that was the end of it. But what’s significant about the story is that first, in a small parish, you can get things done smoothly and easily. Also, if the pastor of the church had seen him doing this, and asked him to stop and go through the building committee, see if it was in the budget, and fill out the paperwork, the guy would lose his initiative. A servant leadership model gives people a sense of ownership of their parish. That guy treated his church like his home. Of course, in a larger parish there are more rules. But the culture of a parish is contingent on the leadership of the pastor. It can either encourage or extinguish initiative. That story was just one simple story, but there are lots more in the book.

Roundtable Report: What are the trends you are seeing in the field of leadership, in our church and in our society?

DE: We’re in a kairos moment right now around servant leadership.  There is interest mounting from lots of directions.

Take, for example, one organization called “Lead Like Jesus,” which was formed out of the evangelical churches. There are lots of evangelical Christians who are CEOs of corporations who are now looking at how they can lead their companies like Jesus would. This group has spurred a lot of interest around servant leadership in the for-profit world. The CEOs of these companies are realizing that they can’t lead like Jesus without changing the workplace. And, of course, changing the workplace in a significant way like this creates an opportunity to make major transformations in our society toward social justice and human dignity, particularly around the dignity of the worker, one of the principles of Catholic social teaching.

One of the first things I say in my book is, “Every leadership situation offers an opportunity to put our faith into practice.” In every leadership situation, a CEO of an organization has an opportunity to say, “Am I going to put my corporate hat on and think only of the financial bottom line? Or am I going to go with my gut and lead like Jesus would?” They are asking themselves how they can be disciples in the workplace.

And it’s had a great impact so far on a growing number of CEOs and top organizational leaders in very large corporations. Some 40% of Fortune 500 companies have adopted servant leadership as their philosophy. Walmart has adopted servant leadership as a corporate philosophy. We have strong Christian leaders in that company, southern evangelicals who want to practice their faith at work.

People want to practice their faith while at work. If we spend the greatest number of our waking hours at work, then we should be practicing our religion there. If corporate leaders want to practice the Sermon on the Mount at work, this could be a major breakthrough for us who believe in Catholic social action.

RR: How do the ideas of servant leadership and stewardship speak to the work of diocesan social action directors? How can promoting models of servant leadership support their work?

DE: In social ministry, we’re not looking for charismatic leaders.  We are looking for transformational leaders who will create structures where people will do things themselves. We’re looking for leaders who will develop the people. As a diocesan staffperson, you can’t do it all yourself. If you try, you won’t be able to get as much done, and eventually you will burn out, but you’re also taking away the opportunity from others to get involved.

Leadership is about giving people an opportunity to practice discipleship. It’s not about work that needs to get done, it’s not about checking tasks off a “To Do” list, it’s a life that needs to be lived. The sooner we can all realize that social action ministry is a part of Christian discipleship, the sooner we will transform society.

As diocesan staffpeople, our role is to empower, enhance, and enable. Sometimes we think, “If I can just have this meeting, conference, dinner, then our social action ministry is going to excel.”  But it’s not about that. It’s about the people. It’s about creating an environment where everyone practices social action ministry because it’s a part of discipleship.

When you go to community organizing school, we talk about the iron rule, which says, “don’t do unto others what they can do unto themselves.” Our role as social action ministers is empowerment. Our role is organizing, it’s not to be the leader ourselves. The best measure of leadership is not how many followers you lead but how many leaders you develop. Social action ministry just flows throughout my latest book. Everything I learned as a diocesan social action director just flows through the book.

RR: Anything else you’d like to share with Roundtable members?

DE: My bishop sent a copy of Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish to every bishop in the country. To get a copy to every pastor in the country will take diocesan work. Every diocesan social action director should know that his or her bishop has a copy of my book.

RR: Thank you, Dan, for your time and for sharing your insights!

Purchase a copy of Dan’s book from Paulist Press.