“The school develops and disseminates written statements that describe the purpose and structure of worship and chapel in the life of the school.”
Principles of Good Practice for Chapel and Worship in Episcopal Schools
Worship is a central “pillar” of Episcopal identity. Faculty and students alike come together regularly for age-appropriate, ecumenical worship using the wealth of resources from The Book of Common Prayer. When I speak to alumni of our schools, they frequently recall their time worshiping with peers as one of the most formative experiences regardless of their faith tradition. In good times and in bad, the consistency of regular worship was a reminder to them of God’s unceasing grace and love for all. I know I feel that way when I reflect upon my own experience as a student of an Episcopal school.
These days, I spend a lot of time talking about the role of school worship and how we communicate its importance to various stakeholders. Why are students expected to attend chapel? What are we trying to accomplish during that time? Why is my child required to attend worship during the school day when we attend a different faith community on Saturdays or Sundays? These questions are especially important for prospective parents as they discern whether or not an Episcopal school is the right fit for their family. That there are often questions about this aspect of school life also highlights the importance of being able to articulate the purpose of worship in your community and to do so using terminology that is accessible to your stakeholders.
NAES’s Principles of Good Practice for Chapel and Worship in Episcopal Schools recommends that a school develops clearly written statements describing the purpose and structure of worship in the community. One reason why this is so important is due to the vastly differing approaches among faith-based schools in this context. For example, some faith-based schools do not value dialogue among other religious traditions. While that might be consistent with their values, Episcopal schools promote such dialogue. This can be very confusing to prospective parents and students alike if the purpose of worship isn’t fully explained. Assumptions might be made that will lead to misunderstanding at the minimum and possibly even frustration and disappointment. Well-developed statements about school worship can avoid that pitfall.
If your school has never created a written statement of this sort, I would suggest that you begin by looking at the questions in the NAES Episcopal Identity and Culture Self-Study to frame a conversation. A community that spends time reflecting on these questions will be prepared to develop a written statement that will inform both current and prospective families alike. For example:
How is chapel distinguished from other school gatherings, such as assemblies or school/grade-level meetings?
What would be the one or two principal ways that the school fulfills “two simultaneous commitments: to provide students an authentic experience of Christian worship that is unapologetically and identifiably Anglican, and to welcome, affirm, and support the spiritual development of all students of all faiths or no faiths at all”?
Working through all of the questions in the “Worship” section of the Self-Study on a regular basis is an excellent exercise to articulate the clear purpose and function of worship while also making sure that your statements are up to date as the chapel program grows and develops over time.
One final comment, it is important that the admissions office speaks with clarity and conviction about the school’s worship life. As the primary initial contact with prospective families and when giving school tours, admissions officers serve in a unique role to be able to explain the centrality of worship as part of a healthy Episcopal identity. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if NAES can be of assistance in providing resources for this critically important part of the school team.