Catholic Mission and Identity: The Case of Gonzaga

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Catholic Mission and Identity The Case of
Gonzaga

• Michael Lieberman Carey, Ph.D.Associate
  Professor
• Department of Organizational Leadership
• School of Professional Studies
• Gonzaga University

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GONZAGAS MISSION STATEMENTthree dynamics

• As Catholic, we affirm the heritage which has
  developed through two thousand years of Christian
  living, theological reflection, and authentic
  interpretation.
• As Jesuit, we are inspired by the vision of
  Christ at work in the world, transforming it by
  His love, and calling men and women to work with
  Him in loving service of the human community.
• As humanistic, we recognize the essential role of
  human creativity, intelligence, and initiative in
  the construction of society and culture.

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GONZAGAS MISSION STATEMENTthree key issues

• Partnership and Diversity
• Curriculum Development/Pedagogy
• Faculty Hiring and Evaluation

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Gonzaga
Catholic
Humanistic
Jesuit
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OVERVIEW OF EACH TRADITIONgoal, method, issue

• Goal each tradition has a purpose which drives
  its decisions and actions
• Method each tradition has a particular approach
  to accomplishing its goal
• Issue each tradition has an inherent question
  that cant be answered from within the tradition

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Humanistic
Goal
Virtuous Action

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Humanistic
Goal
Method
Virtuous Action
Study of Humanities
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Humanistic
Goal
Method
Virtuous Action
Study of Humanities
Issue
Faith and Reason
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Catholic
Goal
Universal Mind
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Catholic
Goal
Method
Universal Mind
Theology and Inter-discipline
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Catholic
Goal
Method
Universal Mind
Theology and Inter-discipline
Issue
Mandate and Freedom
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Jesuit
Goal
Discerning Heart
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Jesuit
Goal
Method
Discerning Heart
Magis
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Jesuit
Goal
Method
Discerning Heart
Magis
Issue
Lay-Jesuit Collaboration
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Gonzaga
Catholic
Humanistic
Jesuit
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSION from the general to
the particular

• One approach to the three traditions of the
  Mission is to view them as encompassing
  increasingly more narrow fields.

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HUMANISTIC
CATHOLIC
JESUIT
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSION from the general to
the particular

• However, this implies that one tradition is more
  on-target than the other two.

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Score100
HUMANISTIC
CATHOLIC
JESUIT
50
30
10
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONdevelopmental
perspective

• Another approach to the three traditions of the
  Mission is to view them each as building upon and
  expanding the others.

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CATHOLIC
JESUIT
HUMANISTIC
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONdevelopmental
perspective

• However, this also presumes that one tradition is
  more advanced than the other two.

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JESUIT
CATHOLIC
HUMANISTIC
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONseparate but equal

• Another approach to the three traditions of the
  Mission is to view them each as three separate
  but equal aspects of the Gonzaga experience.

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Gonzaga
Catholic
Humanistic
Jesuit
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONseparate but equal

• However, those with power decide which of the
  traditions will be more equal than the other
  two.

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Gonzaga
Humanistic
Catholic
Jesuit
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONan integrative model

• Rather than pitting one against the other, the
  three traditions may be understood as in dialogue
  with each other, producing a unique Gonzaga
  Mission.

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GONZAGA MISSION
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TRADITIONS AND THE MISSIONan integrative model

• That only is true enlargement of the mind which
  is the power of viewing many things at once as
  one whole, of referring them severally to their
  true place in the universal system, of
  understanding their respective values, and
  determining their mutual dependence. . . .
  Possessed of this real illumination, the mind
  never views any part of the extended
  subject-matter of Knowledge without recollecting
  that it is but a part, or without the
  associations which spring from this recollection.
  It makes everything in some sort lead to
  everything else it would communicate the image
  of the whole to every separate portion, till that
  whole becomes in imagination like a spirit, every
  where pervading and penetrating its component
  parts, and giving them one definite meaning.
  (John Henry Newman. The Idea of a University.
  Notre Dame University of Notre Dame Press, 1982,
  page 103.)

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IMPLICATIONSpartnership and diversity

• Humanistic tradition must be understood to the
  same degree as are the Catholic/Jesuit
  traditions.
• Power structures must be transformed to support
  dialogue among the traditions.
• Non-Catholic, non-Western, and non-Jesuit
  traditions must be brought into the dialogue.

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IMPLICATIONScurriculum development/pedagogy

• The strengths of each tradition must be
  incorporated into the goals of the curriculum.
• The biases of each tradition must be identified
  and overcome by the use of inclusive teaching
  strategies.
• Emphasis must be given to inter-disciplinary
  courses, team teaching, service learning, and
  collaborative research.

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IMPLICATIONShiring and evaluation

• Hiring of new faculty must be based on both
  their standing within one tradition and their
  commitment to dialogue among the traditions.
• Faculty promotion and tenure granting criteria
  must include activities which give evidence of
  the above.
• The University administration must provide
  resources (e.g., structured conversations,
  release time) for faculty to engage in the above.

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RECOMMENDATIONSsupport, emphasize, change

• Provide support (i.e., time, money, environment)
  for inter-disciplinary courses, team teaching,
  service learning, collaborative research and
  inter-tradition dialogue.
• Increase the emphasis of the Mission in the
  Faculty Handbook regarding hiring,
  re-appointment, tenure, and promotion decisions.
• Change the membership of the Board of Members to
  include non-Jesuits open the position of
  President to non-Jesuits orientate the Board of
  Trustees to Mission dialogue.

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SUMMARYdialogue, dialogue, and more dialogue

• The Gonzaga Mission is made up of three separate
  traditionshumanistic, Catholic and Jesuitwhich
  are different yet complimentary.
• If the three traditions remain separate, each
  tradition will deteriorate, and the Gonzaga
  Mission will suffer.
• If the three traditions dialogically engage the
  others, each tradition will develop and the
  Gonzaga Mission will flourish.