Paul Shotsberger

1. The potential impact a
Christian ethic of care can
have on structures and
systems of schools of
education
Paul Shotsberger

2. Christian ethic of care
• God + Noddings’ ethic of care
• Biblical structures
• The transformational effect of a
Christian ethic of care

3. Organic structures
• Organic imagery of the Bible
• The problem of typical Christian
leadership models
• Moving away from hierarchy toward
more organic structures
• Example: How we communicate

4. Characteristics
• Networked structure
• Shared authority
• Kingdom-based frameworks

5. Implications
• Leadership gifts
• Master plan vs. organic order

6. Implications
Organizational Tool Master Plan Organic Order
Patterns Prescriptive – there is a “best Descriptive – people can
way” for people to belong, and belong in a variety of ways,
this plan will tell them what it isand they are free to belong
in one or many ways
Participation Representative – people must Individual – people can
participate in the way the plan participate in ways that fit
tells them to them as individuals
Measurement Bottom Line – There is only one Story – effectiveness can
way to measure effectiveness be measured in multiple
ways
Growth Bankrupt – resources will only Sustainable – resources
be available at the beginning of will be available through the
the project, and we must life of the project, and more
maximize their use from the resources will become
outset available for the project in
the future
Power Positional – power is limited to a Revolving – power is
few shared by several
Coordination Cooperation – control is built Collaboration – everyone’s
into the plan to avoid solutions and creativity are
disorganization and chaos invited
Partners Accountability – the path to Edit-ability – the path to
wholeness is a set of laws; our wholeness is grace, which
actions are limited to fulfilling can be shared in a
those laws multitude of ways
Language Noun-centric – our experience Verb-centric – words
has limits and can only be cannot fully express what
expressed in prescribed ways we are experiencing
Resources Scarcity – it is dangerous to Abundancy – there will be (Myers,
presume that we will have many opportunities to find
enough to meet our needs resources 2007)

7. But is it practical?
• Kingdom of God then
• Kingdom of God now
• Where to begin?

8. Cultivating care and
connection
“Recognizing that we cannot guarantee
the outcome, we can still strive to
create the conditions under which
seeds will grow into healthy and
bountiful plants.”
Gregory Smith
“Cultivating care and connections”
Educational Studies (2004)

9. Questions?
Please feel free to contact me:
pshotsberger@swu.edu