At one point in my own faith journey, a priest friend encouraged me on my new path of Church work: “You have more credibility than us,” he said. Clearly that point is debatable as a generalization. … Yet, for me that one comment by my priest friend made my heart beat a little faster. As lay persons we can add a lot to the Church and to people in general.
Published in The Associate, Spring 2005, Vol.10 No.1
THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHURCH- RELATED
COMMUNITIES VS. THE PROVERBIAL “SECULAR WORK WORLD”
By George J. Whelan, Associate, Congregation of the Mission, Philadelphia
As an associate with the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers), I have thought a lot about the differences in the cultures of my “work place” experiences as opposed to my involvement with a range of different Church communities over the years. My professional work has involved staff positions with politicians and in senior levels in large government bureaucracies. I have also worked closely with lawyers, accountants, and bankers. As I have written earlier in “The Associate” (Winter Issue of 2000), my career took an unexpected and sudden turn due to very high stress situations. The intensity had been exciting. High drama had allure. Yet, I wanted something very different. These reflections are about some aspects of that difference with this new direction of working in the Church. I want to stress at the outset that these observations and reflections are all meant as relative degrees of difference or emphases in the two cultures.
Firstly, Church personnel seem to have a greater concern for others as persons. Being available and open to others are of a greater value. It is refreshing to find people who seem to be more concerned about learning who I am. In the secular work place, on the other hand, personal worth is more a matter of what you can do. Competitiveness, salesmanship, defensive attitudes, and power seeking are values in this world, but yet, the “can do” drive to get something done seems to be somewhat stronger there. Conversely, there seems to be greater sensitivity to personal thoughts and feelings in Church circles as a result of the concern for the individual as mentioned above. For example, sensitivity to others in a discussion seems to be more important than causing a little pain by deciding and resolving.
The life experiences of people in the work place are very different. Financial and other responsibilities of raising families, personal relationship issues, and stresses of day-to-day management seem to sharpen personal skills and talents for those who expend the effort (Let me say also that there are pockets of dead wood). Community and helping people do not seem to be highly valued in the secular world as opposed to the needs to achieve and be rewarded. However, those who work hard and excel at these work-place traits accomplish a lot. This seasoning process fosters practical reliability of a certain kind. By way of contrast, recognition in Church work circles seems to be more related to the depth of character and degree of interpersonal skills. There is more personal coldness and distance in the secular work place on one hand while, with Church personnel, on the other, there seems to be a great likelihood of personable people.
It is a classic observation to cite the differences caused by the freedom of Church clerics and Religious from family responsibilities. I am at the stage of my life where my wife and I are “empty nesters”. Thus, I have a glimpse of this freedom for service, especially since I am also approaching retirement. It is a gift that I trust will keep on giving. However, there are some fixations and defensiveness in some Church professionals where I can’t help but wonder whether their having teenage children would have a “loosening” effect. Corporate downsizing, unemployment, a death of a child or spouse, or other similar unique calamities are very painful growth opportunities. Understand, no one would wish these on any one. Yet the security of the church structure protects some Religious men and women from experiencing this growth. I hasten to add that other trials and tribulations face priests, Brothers, and Sisters which engenders growth. Also, the radical change in outlook as a result of Vatican II has indeed been a very painful experience for some of them. Yet, it is different.
I am old enough to remember the strong presence of authoritarian pastors. The increased collegiality in parish life and in the Church in general after Vatican II, has eased the atmosphere considerably. But we all know that some residual traces of the “old days still exist in certain Church circles. In secular work an authoritarian chain of command is more entrenched. Collaborative efforts are possible, but people in subordinate positions are clearly expected to do what they are assigned to do, often with no questions asked. There also exists the “sticky” managerial hassle of grievances and the like as a check on management’s style and fairness.
At one point in my own faith journey, a priest friend encouraged me on my new path of Church work: “You have more credibility than us,” he said. Clearly that point is debatable as a generalization. Some of the finest people that I have ever met have been ordained or vowed members in the service of the Church. There are obviously highly skilled workers as well as superb administrators and leaders within these ranks. Yet, for me that one comment by my priest friend made my heart beat a little faster. As lay persons we can add a lot to the Church and to people in general.
We do bring something different.
