Book Review-ish: Redeeming Administration

One of my reading goals for 2026 is to re-read Ann Garrido's trilogy on redeeming the aspects of leadership that feel "icky" in ministry and nonprofit. The books are all worth reading and reflecting on; prior to application to the daily practice of a school leader. So rather than pursue my usual review format - review followed by assessment. These Review-ishes will be more of a digital notebook offering up what I see as highlights especially in the context of school leadership. Today's review-ish is on Redeeming Administration by Ann M. Garrido.

Previously: Redeeming Power and Redeeming Conflict.

Garrido's books do an excellent job of combining theory, practice, examples, real-life experience, and theological role models to illustrate the habits/practices within the text. You consistently find yourself nodding your head if you've moved beyond attendee at a Church to a more active participant, whether it be volunteer or employee. Reading Redeeming Administration really stood out for the grounded way the stories of the saints illustrate each of the 12 chapters.

Paul's listing of the gifts of the parts of the Church drawn from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12 serves as the introductory and concluding tones of this work. This recognition of the multiplicity of skills leaders bring or don't bring to their daily work is an important concept. The lack and necessity for growth is not highlighted - but certainly worth of a topic for expansion, support, and coaching. Although administration seems to be a "near occasion of sin" (3), Garrido sets out to showcase the opportunity to stand against temptation and become a saint (4). In the conclusion, she echoes this try highlighting the danger of praying to God for courage, humility or the other virtues highlighted - for God always grants us requests.

Like Kotter, Garrido ensures that we understand that administration focuses not on leadership alone but more closely on the "execution and management aspects of our work" (6). By starting with a sense of mission and vocation, we can remain called towards virtue and growth. The 12 chapters that follow focus on these virtues. Some notes:

• Garrido starts with magnanimity - Aristotle's "crowning virtue in the hierarchy of virtues" (15) - which calls leaders to do what is best for their mission, not themselves. Like God in Genesis, we are called to "set a stage, give a space, and create the conditions in which a diversity of creatures can flourish"(17)

• The story to highlight the virtue of generativity - St. Jordan of Saxony - is truly a great role model of stepping into leadership (especially the big shoes of St Dominic). Garrido highlights his itinerancy, levelheadedness, and friendship. For leaders - the idea of being present, being calm, and being kind is huge.

• Administration can clearly be a labor of agape where we ask "Which of these tasks most deserves your energy today, not because anyone will notice and say 'thank you' but because it is a good to be done?" (59). Another powerful story - Richard of Chicester - highlights the difficulties and joys of administration.

• w/r/t humility: "It turns out that none of us is as good, as competent, or as loveable as we would like to be...Binau notes that in the sacrament of Baptism, we are asked to 'renounce Satan and all his empty promises.' One of those empty promises is that we can somehow do everything without error..." (84)

• In courage, Garrido highlights the added graces that come with our vocational role which can "compensate for the shortcomings of its current occupant" (95); linking this to the celebration of The Chair of St. Peter in a liturgically interesting way. Part of this is heeding St. Ambrose's call to mindful of the public role we have (103) and act well in dress and deed.

• A great poetic quote by Stanley Hauerwas on the regularity of working in the church (107-108) - this poem leads to the idea that we experience each year and challenges repeatedly: "I understand that I only have one years worth of experience fifty times" (110)

• "Happy is the person who can distinguish between a rock and a mountain; it avoids so many inconveniences." - St. Thomas More (124)

• Forgiveness is not forgetting - even Jesus' wounds weren't wiped away but remained visible and open (141)

• Our vocation can involve suffering: one that "consumes persons and leaves them feeling used up, as if a heap of ash. And then there is a kind of suffering that purifies and ignites persons, making them more translucent, bears of light. God speaks through the bush [of Moses fame] that burns but is not consumed." (156)

  
  

If you haven't picked up Redeeming Administration by Ann M. Garrido, I encourage you to do so!