Last week I wrote about the interconnectedness of strategies and culture. As I've reflected on that message and contemplated one for this week, it dawned on me that I, uncharacteristically, did not draw any lines between culture/strategy and our faith.
Foundationally, our work within Catholic schools - culture and strategy - must stand tall upon the pillars of our faith: Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium.
Operationally, our work must advance the mission of Christ: making disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Trinity, and teaching others to observe all that Jesus commanded us (Matthew 26:19-20).
So, when we consider how culture informs our strategies and how our strategies reveal our culture, Christ compels us as Catholic educators to root all that we say and do in Him. If the pursuits in our schools don't lead to Christ, they need pruned, uprooted, and dismantled. Similarly, we need to nurture the fruits of our labors that stem from the Vine and graft new ones onto Him that will allow us to bear an even more abundant harvest.
The Gospel from this past weekend reminded me that we need to vulnerably look at our schools and analyze how we might "cling to human tradition" while disregarding "God's commandments."
What are those practices within our schools that distract us from our true purpose? What policies, procedures, and practices undermine our beliefs, values, and mission? How often are we "keeping the tradition of our elders" instead of focusing on the true, the good, and the beautiful?
If we could reengineer our schools and build them back up, how closely would they resemble our current landscapes? If we started to passionately operate on behalf of the missions of our schools, how might we better prioritize our work, anchor decisions regarding complex situations in our beliefs and values, and point our communities to what's truly important and worthy of our time, talent, treasure, and prayers? If we courageously committed to our convictions and clearly communicated the connections between our behaviors and our beliefs, how much more energy, momentum, and enthusiasm might we generate about our schools?
Cling to God's commandments.
Hold fast to the messages of our schools' missions, beliefs, values, pillars, charisms, and philosophies.
As a missionary for Christ and His schools, "go and make disciples" through irresistibly Catholic, academically excellent, operationally vibrant, and zealously lead Catholic schools.
