Catholic institutions are under immense pressure.
As disaffiliation rates reach historic highs and vocations historic lows, signs of renewal are also appearing—record numbers of converts are joining the faith, bible sales are on the rise, and young adults have now become the most engaged of any generation. At the same time, the moment of renewal is real but fragile. AI is rapidly reshaping our world and how we live, work, and perhaps even worship within it. Together, these pressures have many leaders questioning how to meet this moment. How can we lean into the hope of renewal, leverage the immense promise of AI, and ensure our institution thrives, all without losing sight of the foundations of our faith, the magnificence of humanity, and our enduring mission of evangelization?
Standards-driven leadership offers a framework that answers these important questions. It is essential to both navigating the uncertainty and instability of a rapidly changing world and allowing leaders the space to lean into hope. It is the structure that both provides the parameters to strengthen our institutions while still allowing our mission of evangelization to thrive.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote,
“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”
We invite you to join us as we envision such a space for a renewed future to run wild.
TOPICS INCLUDE
Standards-based management
Signs of renewal and what the faithful are telling us
Understanding AI and its role and limitations in our future
Evangelization running wild today
© 2026 Leadership Roundtable.