Christians in the Workplace

D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University, recently completed a study of Christian leaders in the workplace, focusing on what role religion plays in busines decisions-making, particularly the motives which drive those decisions.  His conclusion is that leaders fall into four general categories regarding the role their faith place in their business life:  pragmatic, heroic, circumspect, and brazen. 

The "pragmatic" leader, exemplified by PepsiCo executive Steve Reinemund, defines himself as evangelical, but admits that he doesn't have all the answers.  Self-reflection by such a leader reveals that his decision-making is largely pragmatic;  they end up hoping they have made the right decisions.  Sometimes, Lindsay notes, they feel they are choosing between "the lesser of two evils - or the better of two goods."

Lindsay's "heroic" evangelical believes his or her faith is not "checked at the door," but rather drives the moral philosophies by which decisions are made.  He notes Sherron Watkins, the Enron wihistleblower, as an example of such a leader - one who would "do the right thing," even if it costs her her job or eventually brings down the company.

A "circumspect" leader is one who is "deeply religious, but isn't outward about it."   Like John Aden, a senior vice-president at Walmart International, such a leader is generally attracted to a workplace where the company's values resonate with faith convictions the leader already embraces.  While not always vocal about their faith, such men and women do peform their duties and make personal decisions that are based on faith convictions.  

An example of a "brazen" leader would be former Arizona Cardinals' quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Kurt Warner, says Lindsay.  These are the ones who are most unabashed about their faith alignment, and feel that their religion and jobs go hand in hand.  For these Christians, anything less than complete openness about their faith would be a matter of "being ashamed of the gospel."

Linday's conclusion is that "there is a lot more Christian commitment in the corner office than people think...it is entirely possible to be faithful and yet sensitive to the context of where God has placed you."

I find ths study encouraging, and its implications for our lives as Dove Mountaineers in the working community of Tucson are multifold.  I pray that we will be self-reflective about the impact we are making for Christ, regardless of which of the four categories we may most comfortably fall into.