THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

  The Mission of All Saints’ Episcopal School

All Saints' Episcopal School provides a quality education, academically and spiritually, in a Christian environment, respecting the diversity of the religious, racial, social and ethnic backgrounds of its students.

  The Religious Life of the School

We offer the following information to prospective parents as a way to help them understand the religious environment and the nature of religious studies their child/children will encounter at All Saints’ Episcopal School. 

  Part I:  Parent Question:  Will it be a problem to me or for my child if we belong to another faith tradition, either Christian or non-Christian?

  The School mission statement indicates that this school seeks to provide excellence in education “in a Christian environment.” 

  Episcopalians, like all Christians, believe that our life is grounded in the life of Jesus Christ. We believe that, as Christians, we are called to offer the redeeming love of Christ to all people and that God calls us to love all God's children.  We think and hope that this open, welcoming, loving attitude toward people of all faith traditions should free parents of any concern about whether or not their child will be welcome here.

  As an Episcopal school, we do reflect a certain style and temperament, the character of which is found in the next section of this document.  There are certain norms in Episcopal schools that are historic and which make Episcopal Schools open atmospheres for having religiously diverse student and faculty bodies.  Of primary concern in Episcopal schools are excellence in education and the building of character.

  There are five qualities of Episcopal education that guide and shape our religious environment:

·        An Episcopal school is comprehensive and inclusive.

·        An Episcopal school values individual freedom and diversity of belief, and authority is exercised loosely.

·        The unity of an Episcopal School is based on ritual and tradition rather than doctrine.

·        An Episcopal school values reason as a way to true understanding and personal character as a quality to be admired.

·        An Episcopal school has a concern for the well being of society.

  Being an Episcopal school means that All Saints’ has a certain organizational accountability to the larger Episcopal Church, a factor that does not impact parents or students at all, but which does require that the school provide records and make certain reports to the Diocese of East Tennessee.  It also means that the school welcomes the visits of the Bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee on occasion. 

  All Saints’ Episcopal Church established all Saints’ Episcopal School as a concrete expression of care and concern for young people and their families. The school is now completely independent, distinct and separate from the church, but the original intentions of the founders of the school provide a legacy that we cherish.

  We publish these things so that parents understand that All Saints’ Episcopal School, though independent in mission, operation and governance, does not exist in an isolated bubble. Its linkage to the larger Episcopal Church brings with it certain benefits. First, the school stands within a specific, three hundred year tradition of providing excellence in education. In other words, there are models and standards for the school. Second, the school’s linkage to a larger, non-invasive body provides a kind of permanent organizational stability and grounding to the school that other, non-linked private schools may lack.

  Part II:  Parent Question:  To what will my child be exposed in regard to religious shaping or teaching? What is the religious nature of All Saints’ Episcopal School?

  There is a distinct difference between religious studies as an academic feature of the school and the sharing of a devotional life which respects our diversity and which we can share in common.

·        This school like all other Episcopal schools strives for student awareness of religions, but not for student acceptance of one religion.

·        Episcopal schools do not practice indoctrination. Our temperament is to be respectful of other’s religious beliefs and to seek to find ways to worship together comfortably.  Evangelism or seeking to lead others to Christ is part of many religious traditions, but it is not the mission of this school.   

Another way of saying this is that the policy of this school, as stated in the non-discriminatory clause of the mission statement, is that we expose but do not impose. Therefore, what is taught in religious studies is designed to inform, not conform. 

Very young children at All Saints’ are shaped by the love, care and trust they have in their teachers. They hear the foundational stories of the Christian tradition told in varieties of ways and they learn about the religious customs of people around the world, especially in regard to religious holidays.  Our religious studies in the Middle School include year long units in the study of the Old and New Testaments, some of the history of Christian thought and exposure to world religions.

·        Because this is an Episcopal school, the way we practice our devotional life together will reflect Episcopal orientation. For new students, their parents and for new teachers that may feel different from what you experience in your own church. 

The chaplain of the school, The Rev. Scherry Fouke, Senior Chaplain, understands and appreciates that the majority of students who come to All Saints’ are non-Episcopalian and have a different worship style. To that end we do our best to provide age appropriate, devotional experiences that have some familiarity to students.  

The design of weekly chapel is that of a prayer service with two readings from Holy Scripture, a meditation on the scripture and prayers. About six times each year, we have a communion service, the details of which are conveyed to parents and to students each time. 

The development of moral character is very much a part the devotional life of the school. There are three important features of the environment of All Saints’ Episcopal School that enhance the development of moral character in our students.

a.       The School has initiated a Core Values Program.  This program highlights a Core Value for each grading period and provides a way for teachers and staff to encourage the development of values in each student.

2. The All Saints’ Honor Code is unique in the area. One on-going principle by which we operate is that All Saints’ students respect themselves and others’ boundaries. Students sign a pledge each fall not to lie, cheat, steal, bully or vandalize the spirit, achievement or property of others.
3. We have several forms of Community Service in action at All Saints’.  

·        Each class takes on a community service project at least once during the year. 

·        The Builder’s Club, a Middle School service club sponsored by the Kiwanis has a chapter on campus.

·        Students are encouraged to design and implement projects that show concern for the well being of society. 

The Religious Life Committee of the school is assigned the task of attending to the parts of the mission of the school directly connected to “Christian environment” and “quality of education, spiritually.”  Meetings are held monthly.  Those who serve on the on-going committee are asked to serve a three-year term.  However, individual meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend or bring an issue to the committee. 

If you have any questions about the religious life of the school, please feel free to contact the chaplain or the Head of School. 

Dr. Clauston Jenkins, Interim Head of School – 423-586-3280

The Rev. Scherry Fouke, Senior Chaplain – 423-586-6201

 

 

3275 Maple Valley Road * Morristown, TN  37813 * (423) 586-3280 * Fax (423) 586-9355

www.allsaintsepiscopalschool.org