The mission of the Ethics and Spirituality Program is to support business leaders as they inegrate the demands of their work with the claims of their faith.
Business ethics is often studied from a purely secular perspective. However, such a method ignores the fact that most businesspeople, like most people in general, are people of faith and often approach ethical issues from a faith-based perspective. Hence, here at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, we seek to address the complex ethical issues of the business world with not only philosophical rigor but also theological insight.
Spirituality in the workplace is an emerging phenomenon — one that is here to stay. It means many things, from feeling free to speak openly about one’s faith to simply feeling comfortable donning religious headwear. But ultimately it is a matter of being able to feel “whole” at work — being able to bring one’s spiritual self to the job alongside one’s mental and physical selves. Both employers and employees are beginning to recognize spirituality’s value as well as its necessity. Because spirituality, or faith, in the workplace is such an expansive field, our work here is quite diverse. We investigate workplace spirituality’s meaning, benefits, and methods. Our strategy of coupling theoretical analysis and research with practical ideas and resources is implemented primarily by:
- developing models and frameworks for living ethically and faithfully in the marketplace;
- convening conferences, offering seminars, conducting research, and publishing materials that result in theologically informed and practically sound resources.
“ESW uniquely offers insights for those of us trying to integrate faith and work. The Center’s programs helped me define a sense of meaning and purpose, and an ethical foundation to navigate the complexities of leading in a modern business environment.”
— Michael
A. Volkema,
Chairman,
Herman Miller, Inc.