Truth and Reconciliation: An Exploration of Leadership and Accountability within Divided Nations and Cyclic Ideologies

Framed within the lens of Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership model, Truth and Reconciliation examines and explores trends through global historical accounts and examples of diplomatic leadership surrounding the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions of South Africa and Canada, as a guide to approach America’s divided identity and racial tensions. Through the wisdom and diplomacy illustrated during the transition of a South African nation defined by legal racial segregation of apartheid to democracy, as well as a Canadian national identity deeply scarred through the cultural genocide of generations of First Nations children and families through the abusive Residential School system and the Sixties Scoop, it is the hope that this manuscript will offer insights as well as a theological lens for reflection to approach a nonviolent narrative-based option of seeking truth and the first steps toward reconciliation, beyond cyclic ideologies. By highlighting the historical parallels between South Africa, Canada, and America, this manuscript serves as a conversation starter, offering reflective stories and activities to help establish an initial dialogue in a nation whose consciousness remains deeply rooted in unresolved cultural conflict from Indigenous genocide as well as the residual deep cultural challenges and stereotypes of American slavery ideology and practices.

Thomas Malewitz is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Ed.D.: Leadership Program at Spalding University. He holds a M.T.S., Graduate Certificate in Scripture, and a Ph.D. in Education and Social Change. Tom taught for over a decade in Catholic secondary education in the departments of mathematics, philosophy, and theology. He has also served as an undergraduate and graduate adjunct in the fields of Education and Theology. Tom frequently presents national workshops and scholarly papers on 21st century pedagogical practices, adolescent formation and spirituality, ethical leadership, and the writings of Thomas Merton. He received a 2021 first place book award in the category of Pastoral Ministry: Youth & Young Adult from the Catholic Media Association (CMA) for Authenticity, Passion, and Advocacy: Approaching Adolescent Spirituality from the Life and Wisdom of Thomas Merton (Wipf & Stock, 2020). Tom is an active member of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA), College English Association (CEA), and the International Thomas Merton Society (ITMS).