Because we have always been a small community and because we value collaboration and community building, we have consulted with and involved others in our ministry and decision-making through the years. In the early 90s the sisters brought together a group of people to help them vision for the future. The result of that process was that the sisters’ community decided to explore becoming ecumenical.

In 1998, Sister Mary David Walgenbach, sensing the interest in Benedictine spirituality among people who came to the monastery, called together Father Ken Smits, OFM Cap who was serving us in liturgy and spirituality, Jody Crowley Beers, the director of spirituality at the monastery, and a group of people who wanted to develop Benedictine spirituality in their lives. After a year of meeting together, the oblate community was born as the first class made their promises as oblates. In 2019, the oblates will celebrate their 20th anniversary as a community.

Sunday Assembly grew out of the people who came to the monastery beginning in the 70s to celebrate the Eucharist with the sisters. When we were in the process of becoming ecumenical 30 years later, the sisters held listening sessions after the Eucharist to hear how the people wanted to go into the future as we became ecumenical. They told us they wanted to continue worshiping at the monastery because of the open and welcoming community and the inclusive language used in the service.

More recently, Friends of Wisdom Prairie was born from the growing desire of many people to be involved in and support caring for the earth at the monastery. With the establishment of the Ecumenical Center for Clergy Spiritual Renewal, another community of people will be added to those who journey with us.

At the end of my presentation to the Servant Leadership class, Carolyn, a member of the class, commented that this was an evolutionary way of moving into the future. Indeed, it is. The Benedictine values of prayer, listening, humility, seeing Christ in the other, collaboration, openness to change and community building are the guiding practices that will continue to lead us as we evolve.

Carolyn also noted that what we offer at the monastery is the wholeness that so many people are seeking in their divided and fragmented lives. As we offer the opportunity for integration through Benedictine practices, people will continue to be drawn to participate in the life of the monastery.

Years ago when I was talking with Sister Joanne Kollasch about the uncertainty of the future, she said to me, “We don’t have to know what we are going to do in the future. The important thing is to know who we are with.” I take comfort and hope in those words. We sisters are with wonderful people: our coworkers, oblates, Sunday Assembly members, Friends of Wisdom Prairie members, retreatants, guests, friends and other seekers.

As we stay faithful to Christ and the Benedictine values that guide us, we will be led step by step into the future. During this month of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the people with whom we journey.

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What kind of leadership is called for in these times?

Several recent experiences come together to shape an answer to this question:

• The uneasy transition to new national leadership in our country
• A book shared by Maureen Van Dinter, a member of our Benedictine Women of Madison Board of Directors at a recent board meeting, titled The Servant Leader, by Blanchard and Hodges
• The recent publication of a Joint Letter to President Trump from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)
• The recent Statement by Major Christian Organizations on President-Elect Trump’s Policy Agenda and Political Appointments, posted by the National Council of Churches

And, closer to home:

• Joan Chittister’s The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century. In our sisters’ daily chapter meetings we have been reading from Joan’s commentary on Chapter 2 of the Rule, “The Qualities of the Abbot or Prioress.”

How do these many sources, and in particular our Benedictine values, speak to the kind of leadership that is called for in these times?

In their joint letter, the LCWR and CMSM reflect on the way they see leadership. Their statements resonate with the way we understand leadership as Benedictines:

• “The gift of leadership is given to American leaders by the ‘Right of the People.’”

Leadership arises from within a community; leaders are lifted up by the people. In a Benedictine community a leader is discerned and elected and then is supported in leadership by the entire community. Each community member shares in the responsibility of leadership by doing her part.

• “We and the members of our communities seek to be instruments of the reconciliation our people urgently need.”

Reconciliation is one of the calls of the Gospel. We seek to follow that call here at Holy Wisdom Monastery in the light of Jesus’ prayer in the Gospel of John, “that all may be one.” Reconciliation is what we are working on and moving toward, so how do we use our leadership for reconciliation rather than division?

• “We will actively work for the preservation of the dignity of all…”

From a Benedictine perspective, we live this out every day as we seek to receive all as Christ.

• “As religious leaders, we are committed to contemplative prayer which compels us to take a long, loving look at what is real, to name its truth and to respond lovingly to its call through our service and leadership. We write today from this contemplative space, immersed in the Gospel call for all of us to grow in unity, peace, dialogue, and ultimately, conversion to the Reign of God.” 

We see leadership as service—servant leadership. In Benedictine community life we serve the growth and freedom of one another by helping others recognize their gifts and by calling others to give their gifts. By sharing all our gifts we raise the whole as well as individual people.

Benedict also has a long chapter on “Humility” which informs leadership and community life. Servant leadership is not power over but power with others. We are all called to conversion toward more freedom in Christ and in our love for all.

Demetrius Dumm, OSB, asks a question with clear implications for leadership: “Were you a gift in the lives of others, helping them to grow, to feel forgiven, to find consolation and to become a source of goodness and freedom for ourselves?”  (Praying the Scriptures, p. 51)

The application of these ideals is our everyday and ongoing work. In the spirit of Benedict, God waits for us all to translate these teachings into action. (Prologue to the Rule of Benedict)

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Read other blog posts in Lynne’s series, Building Community.

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