"As we grow in age, may we grow in grace."
As a faithful member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), St. Margaret's School attests to the affirmation of NAES. Among the many essential issues Episcopal schools have faced over the months of this pandemic, one has been the increasingly compelling need to focus on being inclusive and just communities.
Our schools' awakening to the urgency of the moment is not just an "add on," but a return to and a renewed appreciation of the sources of our belief and action. What we reiterate here is not something novel, nor does it serve as a cover for any agenda other than the moral and theological expression of our deepest convictions, commitments, and understandings of who we are as a community.
DIVERSITY
INCLUSION
EQUITY
JUSTICE
DIGNITY
From the National Association of Episcopal Schools:
A Reaffirmation of Our Core Belief
Episcopal schools ground their commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity in the words of the Baptismal Covenant and our promise as Christians to "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself," and "to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." That pledge to respect the dignity of every human being includes how we differ from one another and how we share a common humanity and reflect the image of God. It serves as a guide to our daily need to act with compassion, love, and integrity and name and challenging behaviors that promote exclusion, intolerance, and mistrust.
As Episcopal schools, we also are the beneficiaries of a strong intellectual tradition, characterized by questioning and probing further into the ideals and beliefs that ground us. This means often entering into difficult conversations on matters of how we differ from each other instead of sidestepping them. Those conversations are characterized by the honoring of others, not the shaming or dismissing of some, and offer us opportunities to learn about ourselves as well as each other. These honest conversations are needed among the adults in the community, not just students.
Our tradition is one of graciousness, generosity, and humility—we do not possess all of the answers, and we are eager to learn from each other. One of the best vehicles for enhancing that learning is the intentional cultivation of a diverse community, which is welcomed into the total life of the school. A sense of belonging is essential to a learning climate and serves as the optimal mode of preparation for our students' futures.
Our schools' awakening to the urgency of the moment is not just an "add on," but a return to and a renewed appreciation of the sources of our belief and action. What we reiterate here is not something novel, nor does it serve as a cover for any agenda other than the moral and theological expression of our deepest convictions, commitments, and understandings of who we are as a community.
Episcopal schools are places where people from all different types of perspectives and traditions show up and engage in the joyful process of learning. This is not only what we are supposed to do, but what we love to do. In these ways, we share what many fine schools of different traditions do. What makes us unique is the theological foundation we draw from and lead with, the source of all that inspires us to be proud, courageous, and welcoming in our inclusive approach to learning. We were created by God to do and be these very things.
DIVERSITY
Our faith promotes an intentional development of school communities where people of different backgrounds and points of view come together as a body. Diversity is both a source of strength and a primary means of enhancing the school's intellectual, social, spiritual, and moral life. (Rev. 7:9-10)
INCLUSION
Beyond the sheer presence of a diverse group of people, inclusion is the process by which members of the community honor one another, welcome many voices, and work toward the ongoing broadening of the community's horizons. (Romans 15:7)
EQUITY
Equity is the condition where fairness and faithfulness thrive, and all community members are respected for their inherent dignity as human beings and capacity to contribute to the building up of the common life. (Psalm 33:5)
JUSTICE
The courageous and continual attention to and advocacy on behalf of those most vulnerable in the community. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
DIGNITY
Dignity speaks to the inherent worth of all human beings, what human beings strive to be seen as possessing, and the primary lens through which we view all human beings. (Gal. 3:28)
The St. Margaret’s School Prayer
And since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives; We here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous and godly life; in which resolution, do thou O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
And since it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives; We here dedicate both our souls and our bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous and godly life; in which resolution, do thou O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hear a student deliver a homily. Our focus on students leads the Chapel Committee to organize our Chapel Services.
Episcopal girls' school for boarding and day, grades 8-PG, on the banks of the Rappahannock River in Virginia.
