Administration as Ministry

Redeeming Administration

by Ann M. Garrido

In Redeeming Administration, Ann Garrido challenges "...the poor reputation of administration as something that drains the light and life out of people..." and, re-images it as "a spiritual pathway" and "avenue for self-transformation". (4 & 10)  To redeem administration, she explores 12 "habits" or "fruits" that create a "spiritual fabric" for administration. (5)  For each habit, she also identifies a holy person who exemplifies it.

The first habit in the ministry of administration is breadth of vision.  Administrators, she argues, are best positioned to develop a vision for their organizations - one that emulates that of God - the "Divine Administrator".  Such a vision is grounded in the creation of a life-affirming work environment in which people are not micromanaged.  Although an administrator should enter into authentic relationships with employees, he/she leaves "...them free and responsible for their own actions." (18)

Habit #2 is generativity, which Erik Erikson identifies as an adult stage of development in which a person enters into a phase "...where his or her life becomes oriented toward care for the ongoing flourishing of the world ..." rather than remaining fixated on "...his or her own personal needs." (30)
The ministry of administration, offers leaders "a fertile field" for embracing generativity, including nurturing new ideas focused on the common good.

After identifying trust as the 3rd habit, Garrido next introduces agape as a key part of the spiritual fabric of administration.  Agape is the noblest form of love: "...a commitment to the best interest of the other, even if one receives little or nothing in return." (57)  In short, it is the essence of Christian love - entirely selfless.  With respect to agape and administration, the author writes:

               ...administration offers the opportunity to grow in the capacity for agape.
               By its very character, administration encourages the practice of giving
               oneself freely and abundantly without always knowing what good one
               has done or who has been touched.  It urges one to love without
               expecting any emotional gratification in return. ((58)

Integrity is also identified as a key trait.  Garrido states that "Administrators who accept the challenge of integrity in their work become remarkable ..." for they are "...in a unique position  of also being able to see and tell the truth about the institution and incongruences that may exist between what the institution professes and what it actually does." (70)  

For the 6th habit of the ministry of administration, humility, the author selects St. Martha as her example,  She notes that in both passages from the canonical gospels that refer to Martha, she reveals herself "...in a slightly unflattering light." (89)  In Luke 10:38-42, which relates the story of Jesus' visit to her home, she becomes swallowed up in her busyness and is mildly chastised by Jesus for failing  to first sit down and listen to him for a while.  Then in John 11:1 - 12:8, she fails to recognize the ability of Jesus to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Believing that Martha herself was the source of these stories, Garrido concludes "We sense the humility of this early Christian leader who freely shared her foibles and misunderstandings in the context of sharing the Good News with others." (89)

St. Martha with Jesus

Habits 7 and 8 are, respectively, courage and reflection.  When one approaches administration as a ministry, courage emerges from the "...trust that the gap between me and what the role requires will be filled by the Holy Spirit." (96)  With respect to reflection, the author points out that "...an ongoing habit of gathering data and reflecting upon it has the potential to foster real growth." (109)

Garrido begins her consideration of the role of humour in administration with a bit of humour of her own:

               I suspect the reason so many administrators describe administration as
               increasing their sense of humor is due to the perception that administration
               has placed them in an increased number of absurd situations. (123)

The author then makes a distinction between the mean-spirited "humor of deprecation" and "holy humor", The latter form of humour "...observes the very simple distinction of 'laughing with' rather than 'laughing at' ..." others. (126-127)  While making light of the absurdities of institutional life, holy humour stops short of attacking people.   The author selects Thomas More as a model of holy humour, who, even at the point of execution, "...did not forsake his famed sense of humor ... Placing his head on the block, he asked to move his beard so that it would not be cut, since 'it had not done anything to offend the king.' " (133)

Author Ann Garrido

When it comes to the 10th habit, forgiveness, Garrido qualifies the concept by pointing out that "...forgiveness is not the same thing as ignoring a situation, pretending it didn't happen...." (140)  Rather, it entails acknowledging the hurt or wrong but turning the page by re-committing to the institutional mission and wanting "the best" for the offending person. (142) 

The second last habit is, at first glance, an odd one - embrace death.  However, what the author is actually referring to are the many small deaths or losses that administrators inevitably have to endure. One such death experienced by administrators is "...a death of the ego as they come to a new awareness of their own shortcomings and limitations." (154)  Another is the death of the need to control as, instead, administrators must learn to trust their employees and grant them discretion.   

Garrido intentionally leaves hope to the end of her list of the habits for the ministry of administration. She does so because, as she explains, it is the habit that underlies all others: "I've come to think about the virtue of hope as an amplifier for all the other qualities described in this book." (172)