MEQUON — Members of the Milwaukee area’s private, faith-based educational institutions met at Concordia University May 25 to discuss the challenges facing the leadership of those institutions. Speakers included Jesuit Fr. Robert J. Wild, president of Marquette University, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and Rev. Patrick T. Ferry, president of Concordia University Wisconsin.

The three members of the panel fielded prepared questions, as well as questions from the audience, which consisted of local business leaders including members from M&I Bank, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools. Several representatives from Concordia University Wisconsin also were present.

Archbishop Dolan reiterated the importance of a faith-based education.

“For us, education has an eternal goal,” he explained. “We school the mind but also the soul and the body.”

Fr. Wild discussed the values given to Marquette students.

“You manage to integrate values that men and women take with them after they leave the school,” he said.

“Contemporary men and women learn more by witness than words,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Values are more caught than taught. I see that on campuses of our Catholic schools.”

The archbishop also expressed the importance of hiring spiritual teachers.

“You can’t give what you don’t have,” he continued. “I tell teachers, ‘Make sure you take care of your own spiritual life.’ The whole ministry of encouragement, affirming people — that is a distinct and necessary aspect of leadership.”

Fr. Wild reiterated Archbishop Dolan’s sentiment.

“We need good people who in turn make us look good,” Fr. Wild said. “When the good stuff happens, it’s often due to your colleagues. We really need to live out who we are.”

An audience member asked the panel what the biggest challenge would be for a faith-based education institution.

“The challenge has been to recognize the importance of lay leadership at every level and give it some credit,” said Fr. Wild. “Soon, at Marquette, we’ll have the first lay man or woman president. We just have to be sure we’re doing everything necessary to get there at some point. I and whoever proceeds me has to keep faith as important.”

“For me, as one who tries to pastor the Catholic community of southeastern Wisconsin, it’s to rise above the climate of fear,” said Archbishop Dolan. “We’ve been through a lot the last four to five years — scandal, diminishing resources. You can get scared and nervous, or you can say we are people of faith. If we’re people of faith, we listen to Jesus.

“I would see the challenge to leadership to be afraid and remain where we’re at,” he continued. “We need to strengthen and expand this good product.”

“There are cultural crises and it’s important for faith-based institutions to be in the mix of crises discussions,” said Rev. Ferry. “To say these are important issues, we have to address them and part of them. We need the support of God’s people to enable us to continue this work.”