For Catholic health care, no question is more momentous than that concerning
its leadership. Since 1727, when a dozen Ursuline Sisters landed in New Orleans,
the U.S. ministry primarily has been led by women religious. Today laypeople
are succeeding the sisters. Will they be able to keep Catholic health care Catholic?
Yes, says Ed Giganti, if those lay leaders undergo what he calls "formation."
Giganti, who is CHA's senior director, ministry leadership development — and
guest editor for this issue of Health Progress — introduces the idea in his
article, "What Is 'Leadership Formation' Now?".
In "Nurturing the Ministry's Soul", William J. Cox describes
the new Ministry Leadership Center that five western Catholic systems have collaboratively
launched for the development of their leaders. Meanwhile, Paul Marceau, ThD,
in "A Fellowship Program for Mission Leaders", outlines a mentoring
program at Trinity Health, Novi, MI.
In "Profiling Catholic Health Care Leaders", Diane Irvin and Blair
Gawthrop of Strategic Programs, a Denver-based research and consulting firm,
discuss a kind of "snapshot" they have developed of the typical Catholic
health care leader. In "Beyond Best Intentions", Michael O'Brien,
EdD, a Cincinnati consultant, and Jon Abeles, EdD, of Catholic Healthcare Partners,
also based in Cincinnati, write about leadership coaching at that system.
In "Health Care and Community", John Glaser, STD, and Kevin Buck,
both of St. Joseph Health System, Orange, CA, encourage the ministry to return
to its communitarian roots. Ken Homan, PhD, a professor of systematic theology
at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, argues in "Formation and Governance"
that the ministry should create formation programs for its board members.
Copyright © 2004 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.