Who can take part?

This program is intended for monks, nuns and lay people in positions of leadership or management in monastic communities worldwide:

• abbots and abbesses, priors and prioresses, sub-priors and sub-prioresses
• procurators, cellerars and bursars
• monks and nuns managing activities and institutions such as schools and hospitals
• lay persons in charge of responsible positions in monasteries

Candidates are required to possess:

• experience in a position of responsibility
• a recognized degree or a form of professional qualification
• sufficient working knowledge of English

The next LRB course

2027 dates : 4 – 16 July
The language of the course is English.
Scholarships and price reductions are available : Fees and Registration
Registration deadline : 26 April 2027

Contact

For more information please contact:
Fr. Paul Tobler
Academic Director of the LRB program
Email: lrb@anselmianum.com

Structure of the LRB course

The course is divided into four modules, each lasting 2.5 days. All modules are led by a team of two: a member of the St. Gallen business school network and a monastic leader of the Benedictine confederation.

Module 1 : Strategy making

Faculty:
Prof. em. Dr. Günter Müller-Stewens, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland;
Sr. Francesca Ṥimuniová OSB, Abbess of Venio Abbey, Munich/Germany; Prague/Czech Republic

Like any other organization, a monastic community must deal with internal and external partners: members of the community, guests, employees, parishes, public and others. These stakeholder relations are decisive for the long-term success and survival of an organization. Leaders must shape these relations in a sustainable and strategic way. In this way, they provide their community with a common orientation and sense of purpose. This module will introduce related practical exercises that can be easily applied to the monastic environment.

Module 2: Understanding and Shaping organizations

Faculty:
Prof. em. Dr. Thomas S. Eberle, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Sr. Thaddaea Selnack OSB, Cellerar of Saint Marienstern Abbey, Panschwitz-Kuckau/Germany

Everybody who is responsible for an organization should change his or her glasses every now and then! The reality of an organization is always multi-faceted and needs a playful change of perspective in order to be perceived in its entirety. The aim of this module is: (1) to learn to ‘see through’ monastic everyday situations; (2) to reflect the own handling with conflicts and decision making; (3) to awaken creativity and (4) to open up inspiring new ways of dealing with routine tasks.

Module 3: Leading People

Faculty:
Prof. Dr. Jean-Paul Thommen, European Business School
Sr. Ruth Mary Starman OSB, Assistant Prioress General, Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde/USA

This module provides models and insights on leadership in a constantly changing environment. Leaders have to learn how to adapt to new situations and reflect on value-oriented leadership and social competences. This module presents models and insights on leadership in a constantly changing environment. Managers must learn to adapt to new situations and engage with value-based leadership and social skills. These are important not only in leading employees but also in dealing with conflicts. Therefore, it is important to be familiar with various strategies for resolving conflicts. Furthermore, conflicts can even be seen as an opportunity to find better solutions.

Module 4 : Managing Projects

Faculty:
Ass. Prof. Dr. Erwin Hettich, University of St. Gallen
Br. Ansgar Stüfe OSB, Former General Procurator of the Congregation of Saint Ottilien and Head of the publishing house of Münsterschwarzach Abbey

Unlike ordinary activities, projects are temporary and unique.

What is the problem? How to find solutions? What is a project and what is the role of a project manager? How to develop a project? How to succeed? How to avoid pitfalls? Running projects requires vision, planning, sketching, communication, monitoring and finally measuring the results. This module helps to develop these skills through exploring best practices and understanding goals and challenges of project management, analyzing the context and the resources available and applying some basic tools.

Goals and characteristics of the LRB course

The goals of the LRB course include supporting monks and nuns in positions of leadership to grow

• more responsible – through a deeper understanding of what is expected from a leader in a monastic context
• more responsive – thanks to the ability to combine the wisdom of the rule, the social doctrine of the church and the science of management and leadership in new and original ways
• more competent – thanks to proven leadership techniques learned from top professionals in the field and adapted to a monastic context.

The course is oriented toward practice and is based on sharing experiences, advice and tools. A solution and action driven approach is applied with simple, but well proven tools and frameworks; the scientific foundation happens in the background.

The course is also a platform for the exchange of experiences. The participants will recognize that they are not alone with their challenges. They share problems and experiences with other monks and nuns and learning from each other under the guidance of qualified advisers.

Besides the four modules, you can look forward to many social activities like a Pilgrimage to Subiaco

He is Professor Emeritus and former Co-Director of the Research Institute of Sociology at the University of St. Gallen. His main research interests include the sociology of culture, communication, knowledge, and organization, as well as methodology and qualitative research methods. He served as President of the Swiss Sociological Association from 1998 to 2005 and as Vice-President of the European Sociological Association from 2007 to 2011. He is also an experienced trainer in personality development, coaching, leadership, communication, and organizational development.

Erwin Hettich is Founder of MindsXMachines, a strategy and AI venture helping organizations transform strategy, innovation, and decision-making through generative AI. For more than two decades, he has helped organizations translate strategy into execution, leading transformation, venture building, and growth initiatives across consulting, insurance, automotive, construction, and financial services. Previously, Erwin founded and led the Strategy Lab at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and served as Assistant Professor of Strategic Management. He holds a PhD from the University of St. Gallen and was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Business School. Today, he lectures at leading universities and works with executives and organizations to develop AI-powered strategies and lead organizational transformation.

He is a Professor emeritus and former managing director at the Institute of Management & Strategy at the University of St. Gallen. He has written more than 400 publications on strategic management and has been a trainer, consultant and member of the advisory boards of many international organizations. He is co-academic director of the LRB program.

She is Cellerar of Saint Marienstern Abbey, Panschwitz-Kuckau/Germany.

She is Abbess of Venio Abbey, Munich/Germany and Prague/Czech Republic. She studied special education at Charles University Prague and has studied psychotherapeutic training. From 2003 to 2020, she served as the representative of Action Reconciliation Service for Peace in the Czech Republic. She is active in the ecumenical movement and in interreligious dialogue.

She served six years as Assistant Prioress General for the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in the USA and six years as a congregation councilor. She is currently Novice Director and manager of the Altar Bread business for her community.

He is a monk of Münsterschwarzach Abbey in Germany. Before he joined the monastery in 1979 he studied medicine and got his doctor’s degree. Later on he specialized in internal and tropical medicine. In 1987 he was sent to Peramiho Abbey in Tanzania. There he became doctor in charge of the hospital and built up a community-based health system in the nearby areas. Due to this management experience he was appointed procurator of the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien. The main task of the procurator is the coordination and management of projects in the monasteries worldwide. He is also chairman of the auditing committee of the congregation. In 2018 he moved back to his original monastery and became the director of the publishing house. He still coordinates the projects of the hospitals in Tanzania and Uganda and is still chairman of the auditing committee.

He is a professor emeritus and former holder of the Chair of Organizational Behavior at the European School in Germany. He has authored numerous publications on general management, organizational behavior, leadership, and business ethics. He has worked as an experienced trainer, consultant, and coach in various Profit and Non-Profit Organizations. He has also served on the advisory boards of many organizations and companies. Together with his wife, he founded a publishing house specializing in business and management books.

He is a monk of Disentis Abbey in Switzerland, where he serves as vice-director of the high school and boarding house. Prior to entering the monastery, he studied environmental sciences in Zurich. As a monk, he studied philosophy and theology at Lugano in Switzerland and Sant’Anselmo in Rome. He is co-academic director of the LRB program.