Governance in the Cloister: Lessons from the Rule of Benedict for Sustainable Leadership in Communal Organizations

This paper examines how governance and leadership in monastic organizations is conducive to sustainability. Organizational context plays a decisive role in leadership. The present analysis utilizes the monastic context to understand governance as an individual role and social course at the same time. The organizational structure necessary to produce such a balanced approach is articulated in the Rule of Benedict. In contrast to other organizations, monastic governance consists of three pillars: common value systems, democratic structures, and amalgamation of internal and external oversight. Monasteries remain successful enterprises with relatively few managerial problems as a consequence of the Rule of Benedict. Religion provides a familiar motive and motif for communal living. In fact, religious ideologies have provided the basis for many of the most sustainable communal ventures. The Hutterites, Shakers, Bruderhof, Kibbutzim, and Catholic monastic groups are poignant examples of intentional communities based on religious ideas and values. While scores of articles and books have been written about many of these Christian communal organizations, few examine the communitarian aspects of Catholic groups such