Have you ever heard of the Carriage Builders’ National Association? Not likely. But in the latter half of the 19th century the organization represented the largest transportation group in the United States. Throughout the eastern and middle states of the nation, numerous companies made quality carriages. And in places like Cincinnati, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri, new upstarts began threatening the hold of the long established companies.
But it was not long before the well-established and the upstarts both lost their reason for being. The automobile was introduced and that put most of the carriage builders out of business. These companies consider themselves in the carriage building business and few successfully made the transition to being in the transportation business.
Knowing what business one is in — one’s reason for being — is as important today as it was then. Knowing one’s reason for being can keep a business alive. It also can keep a church, a religious entity or ministry faithful to its founding. Losing touch with the reason for being may take those same organizations somewhere they should never go.
A recent story related the experience of San Domenico School in San Anselmo, California. The school was founded as an independent Catholic school in 1850 run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.
More inclusive
In June 2016 the board of trustees for the school adopted a new strategic plan that called for the Catholic school to be more inclusive in its outreach. Part of the reason for the new direction was because of the changing community. Officials said about 80 percent of current students are not Catholic.
To carry out the policy of being more inclusive the school has removed a statue of the baby Jesus and His mother, Mary, from its campus. Thus far, the story said, 18 of 180 Catholic icons and statues have been removed and the other 162 are scheduled for removal.
The story said the word “Catholic” had been removed from the school’s mission statement. Communion is no longer offered to students. Classes devoted to the Catholic faith are now classes about world religions. Uniforms, logos and colors were replaced to appear less Catholic.
Coping with change
The changes are not sitting well with the school’s traditional supporters. A mother whose children attended San Domenico School accused the school of being “afraid and ashamed” to celebrate the school’s heritage and beliefs. Another said the school is eroding its Catholic heritage.
Defenders of the changes contend that confronting statues of Catholic saints like Dominic or Francis could be alienating for students of other religions and that the school “didn’t want to further that feeling.”
At the core of the problem faced by San Domenico may be a disagreement over the school’s reason for being. Does the school exist to provide an inclusive education or does the school exist to provide an education reflecting a Roman Catholic worldview?
There is a difference between the two and until that question is resolved the situation may remain as it is now. One parent opined, “They’re trying to do something for everyone and they’re making no one happy.”
There may be another layer to this disagreement. Directors and others may worry about the continued existence of the school. Their actions may be aimed at making the school more attractive to non-Catholics seeking a quality education but not necessarily a Catholic education. If so then the reason for being is to keep the institution alive no matter what changes must be made.
Priority for others may be educating their children in a place grounded in a Roman Catholic worldview. For these the type of education provided is the first priority, not keeping the institution alive.
Again, the reason for being is a key question. The answer influences decisions.
Eventually this question is faced by every organization — churches, religious institutions and Christian ministries included. It influences such things as the name of a church (First Baptist Church or Love Rules Church?); the requirements of a school (Study denominational doctrine or world religions?); or the leadership of a ministry (Does the leader embrace the values of the ministry or is being a good leader more important?).
A few years ago a consultant recommended ways The Alabama Baptist (TAB) could expand its ministry and some of the ideas are being implemented. The consultant also recommended a major new emphasis that would take the ministry away from its historical reason for being but could ensure the continuance of the company.
Focused and on task
TAB leadership, including the board of directors, decided ensuring the continuance of the company was not a sufficient reason for being. We exist to inform, inspire and connect Baptists in the kingdom of God, not to create jobs. The way we accomplish these purposes changes — sometimes rapidly — but knowing why the ministry exists keeps us focused and on task.
Still, circumstances sometimes necessitate re-examining an organization’s reason for being. That was true for the National Carriage Builders’ Association. Perhaps that is what happened with San Domenico School. When that happens it is wise to face the changes head-on. Stakeholders can make a thorough study of relevant information. Options can be evaluated and informed decisions made. A new reason for being can be adopted.
Some may not support the new purpose and step away. That is to be expected. But the new reason for being may attract others who did not support the organization’s original purpose.
Tools of destruction
What should be avoided is an unrecognized erosion of the reason for being. That inevitably results in pleasing no one as the situation in San Domenico illustrates. Conflicting expectations, unfulfilled goals, people pulling in opposite directions — these are the tools of destruction for churches, religious institutions and ministries as well as businesses.
Share with others: