The Leadership Challenge and Roman Catholicism: an Exploration of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, Cardinal, and Martyr

St. John Fisher College Fisher Digital Publications Education Doctoral Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education 12-2016 The Leadership Challenge and Roman Catholicism: An Exploration of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, Cardinal, and Martyr Fr. Ross R. Chamberland O.F.M. St. John Fisher College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd Part of the Education Commons How has open access to Fisher Digital Publications benefited ou?y Recommended Citation Chamberland, Fr. Ross R. O.F.M., "The Leadership Challenge and Roman Catholicism: An Exploration of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, Cardinal, and Martyr" (2016). Education Doctoral. Paper 283. Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations. This document is posted at https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/283 and is brought to you for free and open access by Fisher Digital Publications at St. John Fisher College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Leadership Challenge and Roman Catholicism: An Exploration of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, Cardinal, and Martyr Abstract The purpose of this research is to address a significant gap in the leadership formation of the Catholic clergy. The research was to learn about contemporary theories of leadership and finding evidence of them in a proven leader from the Catholic tradition, that is, Saint John Fisher, a noted leader in the Roman Catholic Church of medieval and contemporary Europe, who also was a priest, an academic, diocesan bishop, cardinal, and martyr. As a member of the Roman Catholic clergy and a scholar, the author’s position is that mining contemporary leadership theory in the tradition of Roman Catholic leadership makes the study of leadership accessible and appealing to formators in the Church. The scope of the research was an informal investigation of all of the materials available to the researcher, which included biographies, academic papers, historical texts, and primary documents. Using analytic induction, and viewed through the lens of Kouzes and Posner’s 5-point theoretical model of transformational leadership, popularly known as The Leadership Challenge, the researcher looked for evidence that produced the “outcome” of Saint John Fisher being a good leader. The research did demonstrate that the contemporary theory could be applied to an historical figure’s life and leadership. The researcher found that all five practices of the model were present in the analysis. Additionally, the researcher found consistent traits of leadership not mentioned in the theoretical model. Finally, the researcher highlighted implications and limitations of the study and made recommendations for future scholarship and formation of clergy. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Guillermo Montes Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/283 The Leadership Challenge and Roman Catholicism: An Exploration of Saint John Fisher, Bishop, Cardinal, and Martyr By Fr. Ross R. Chamberland, O.F.M. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Ed.D. in Executive Leadership Supervised by Guillermo Montes, Ph.D. Committee Member William Graf, Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Min. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College December 2016 Copyright by Ross R. Chamberland 2016 Dedication I would like to dedicate this work to all who guided me on my academic journey, and especially to God and to my parents, Robert and Carol Chamberland. I would also like to give thanks to those priests and the consecrated religious whose prophetic witness led me in my vocation; namely, the Sisters of Holy Cross, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, priests of the Archdiocese of Boston and of the Diocese of Manchester, and to the members of the Franciscan family. There are few individuals who have had total faith and unwavering support in my education and formation. Thank you to Mr. John Grady, my lifelong mentor, without whose support I would not be an educator. I thank God for Fr. Knute Kenlon; O.F.M., Cap., who I began my religious life alongside and who has never stopped encouraging me and my work. I thank God for Fr. Robert O’Grady of the Archdiocese of Boston, who has always advised me well. I thank God for Fr. Michael Blastic, O.F.M., who mentored me in my religious life and in graduate studies. I thank God for my committee members, Dr. Guillermo Montes and Fr. William Graf, who directed me in this research. I thank God for the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province and my community of Saint Bonaventure University for their love and fraternal support. Finally, I thank the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom, without whose intercession this work would never have come to be. iii Biographical Sketch Ross Chamberland is a member of the Order of Friars Minor and a Roman Catholic Priest. He belongs to the Franciscan Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Father Chamberland attended Emmanuel College in Boston, MA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2009. He attended The Washington Theological Union from 2010-2012 and graduated with a Master of Theological Studies degree in 2012. He attended The Catholic University of America from 2012-2013 and graduated with a Pontifical Graduate Degree in Sacred Theology in 2013. He came to St. John Fisher College in the fall of 2014 and began doctoral studies in the Doctor of Education Program in Executive Leadership. Fr. Chamberland pursued his exploration of Saint John Fisher under the direction of Dr. Guillermo Montes and Rev. Dr. William Graf and received the Doctor of Education degree in 2016 iv Abstract The purpose of this research is to address a significant gap in the leadership formation of the Catholic clergy. The research was to learn about contemporary theories of leadership and finding evidence of them in a proven leader from the Catholic tradition, that is, Saint John Fisher, a noted leader in the Roman Catholic Church of medieval and contemporary Europe, who also was a priest, an academic, diocesan bishop, cardinal, and martyr. As a member of the Roman Catholic clergy and a scholar, the author’s position is that mining contemporary leadership theory in the tradition of Roman Catholic leadership makes the study of leadership accessible and appealing to formators in the Church. The scope of the research was an informal investigation of all of the materials available to the researcher, which included biographies, academic papers, historical texts, and primary documents. Using analytic induction, and viewed through the lens of Kouzes and Posner’s 5-point theoretical model of transformational leadership, popularly known as The Leadership Challenge, the researcher looked for evidence that produced the “outcome” of Saint John Fisher being a good leader. The research did demonstrate that the contemporary theory could be applied to an historical figure’s life and leadership. The researcher found that all five practices of the model were present in the analysis. Additionally, the researcher found consistent traits of leadership not mentioned in the theoretical model. Finally, the researcher highlighted implications and limitations of the study and made recommendations for future scholarship and formation of clergy. v Table of Contents Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Biographical Sketch ........................................................................................................... iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 2 Theoretical Rationale ...................................................................................................... 3 Statement of Purpose ...................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 5 Potential Significance of the Study ................................................................................. 5 Historical Context ........................................................................................................... 9 Leadership Context ....................................................................................................... 10 Basic Leadership Structure of the Roman Catholic Church ......................................... 11 Definitions of Terms ..................................................................................................... 12 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................

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