Responsibility and Authority can be seen as reciprocal sides of the same relationship. These slides accompanied a presentation of the Benedictine perspective on these two important virtues.
2. Authority
• 21st century uses lens of power
• Obedience (Chapter 5)
• Two forms of authority (Chapter 1)
– A Rule
– A leader
3. Delegated Authority
• The Dean (Ch 21)
• The Porter (Ch 66)
• The Cellarer (Ch 31)
has charge of all the
material goods.
• Authority to lead
psalms and refrains
(Ch 47)
4. The Leader
• Fear of strong
leader in 21st century
• Leadership studies
often focus on “how
to set direction” and
“how to get others
to follow your lead.”
• This image is called
“Healing of the
Wayward Monk”
6. Responsibility
• 21st century uses language of “accountability”
• Fear of blame, guilt, punishment
• Nearly adversarial relationship with
authority and power
7. Responding to Need
• Manual Labor
(Chapter 48)
• The Sick
(Chapter 36)
• Recalcitrant monks &
Senpectae (Chapter
27)
• Impossible Tasks
(Chapter 68)
• Not defend another
(Chapter 69)