Faith-based leadership models (3)

Equality

Sikh philosophy (Sikhi) is a “comprehensive philiosophy ranging from religious, social, cultural, economic, scientific to political thoughts” articulated by Guru Nanak in the late 1440s. Guru Nanak “taught the unity of all existence, the equality of all human beings, the diversity of life and opinions, the acceptance of pluralism and the sanctity of human life.” He considered that “human life is fulfilled by searching for the ultimate ‘truth’ through the rubble of false mirrors and to be a Sikh is, therefore, to be a learner, student or seeker of truth. In this search for truth the Guru dismissed the worship of idols, dogma and ritual as delusions masking the real search and dismissed caste and divine rulers as oppressive human inventions.

In 1699 the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh provided an initiation service or baptism for those choosing to accept and live by Sikhi. He then submitted himself to the first five who, through this baptism, became Amritdhari Sikhs or Khalsa. The Khalsa “became an organised people in South Asia who destroyed the system of hierarchical orders making every human being equal in power and dignity.” The Khalsa also “removed the notion of divine intermediaries giving humans confidence in their own collective divinity.”

Similarly, Bahá’ís seek to work towards:

• equality of opportunity for men and women;
• elimination of prejudice of all kinds;
• universal compulsory education;
• a universal auxiliary language;
• abolition of extremities of poverty and wealth through international legislation; and
• the establishment of universal peace by a world government which will have international courts and military.

Ethics

The idea of leadership by moral force is widespread in many religions, but is particularly central to the Confucian ideal of government. Leaders should be honest, moral, and virtuous people, who will not take bribes or act corruptly. Because people look up to leaders as role models, they should set a good example for others.

An example of a faith-based organisation applying this approach in their mission statement is the MATS School of Business and IT (a Post Graduate School of Excellence of the Jain Group of Institutions) which strives to “foster an intellectual and ethical environment in which both spirit and skill will thrive so as to impart high quality education, training and consultancy services, with a global outlook and human values.”

The Jewish Association for Business Ethics (JABE) exists to encourage high standards of integrity in business and professional conduct by promoting and teaching the Jewish ethical approach to business and to contribute to the debate in wider society. JABE also aims to promote awareness and understanding in the Jewish Community of Jewish teachings and traditions in business.

The European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF) plays a similar role for the Bahá'í community by being an association of women and men involved in business and management who are exploring ways and means of applying Bahá'í ethical and social teachings to issues arising out of their business activities. EBBF aims promote the following core Bahá'í values and principles:

• ethical business practices;
• the social responsibility of business;
• stewardship of the earth's resources;
• partnership of women and men in all fields of endeavour;
• the need for a new paradigm of work;
• non-adversarial decision making based on consultation; and
• application of spiritual principles to economic problems.

Buddhists are encouraged to work hard and to be industrious but to earn money through righteous means (right livelihood). This means that no ethical or religious principles should be violated through the work done and the work should benefit both the individual and society. Right Livelihood is the fifth aspect of the Eightfold Path and has two main elements. The first is a negative aspect, deriving from the principles of non-violence, of not engaging in work involving weapons, meat, intoxicants (e.g. alcohol), poisons (e.g. drugs) or trade in living beings (animals or human beings). The second is a positive aspect, deriving from principles of simplicity, of using technologies that are in harmony with the natural environment and its resources to produce no more than an adequate range of material goods.

Islamic moral character requires that leaders emphasize the following five key parameters of Islamic behavior: justice; trust; righteousness; the struggle towards self-improvement; and promise keeping. A Muslim leader is expected to be just, behave righteously, strive towards self improvement, and never break his word. He is to consult with others, especially in areas where he is not competent. Islam stresses consultation in all affairs. A leader is expected to bear adversity patiently, and remain forever humble.

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Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome.

Ethics in a global economy

Ethics in a global economy was a timely seminar, held on Wednesday 29th October, to explore faith perspectives on business ethics, at the level both of the global economy and the individual workplace.

Participants in the seminar called for a shared faiths perspective on the credit crunch to be developed and Faiths in London’s Economy (FiLE), the organisers of the event, undertook to facilitate that work.

The seminar was held at the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace and was based on the understanding that the global economy operates in a multi-faith world which continually raises ethical issues for individuals and organisations.

Contributors to the event included:

• Dr Edmund Newell (Director, St Paul’s Institute) who spoke about the importance of the credit crunch being used as an opportunity for reflection across the global economy and within which faith communities have a valuable contribution to make.
• Jay Lakhani (Head, Hindu Academy) who highlighted the needs of those in the two-thirds world whose experience was consistently one of poverty and called for this period of reflection to be one that takes account of the needs of such people.
• Alison Murdoch (Director, Essential Education) who highlighted 16 guidelines for life and helped participants apply these to real life ethical issues in their workplaces through an interactive exercise.
• Saif Ahmad (CEO, Muslim Aid) who encouraged those present to be the people to drive this agenda and these issues forward from a faiths perspective.

Justine Huxley, St Ethelberga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, said:

“I felt it was a valuable first conversation and the speakers created an interesting range of perspectives. I hope we can do some kind of follow up to this. It would be good to start the ball rolling and help get a multi-faith response to this more widely heard.”

FiLE is a new network working with a range of organisations across London in order to create coordinated faith-community responses to the issues facing London's economy. FiLE is seeking to foster a more creative engagement between faith communities and employers. In facilitating a shared response across faiths to the issues raised by the credit crunch we will seek to demonstrate that faith can be put to work in work to bring real creativity and change.

Organisations that have so far worked together on different aspects of FiLE’s agenda include: Employer’s Forum on Belief, European Baha’i Business Forum, Faith Regen Foundation, Mission in London’s Economy and St Ethelberga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.

As a new network, our first initiative has been to begin to map organisations delivering resources and services on issues of faith and work across London and to share the information we have found with others through listing these organisations and resources on our webpage at http://www.mile.org.uk/file.htm. As this listing grows, it will offer employers and employees a one-stop shop for organisations and resources addressing issues of faith and work available in London.

Secondly, as part of raising awareness and removing misconceptions about issues of faith and work, we have begun a seminar series addressing such issues. The series began by considering Ethics in a global economy and will continue by exploring Faith-based models of Leadership. Through this series of seminars we will seek to broaden employers’ perceptions of the ways in which faith impacts work including issues such as creativity, diversity, empowerment, relationships, service delivery, transformation and values, among others.

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Pink Floyd - Money.