Episcopal Tradition
Background
"Episcopal schools share two fundamental characteristics. They affirm the value of a spiritual dimension of learning - integrating faith and reason - and they champion excellence in education" (The National Association of Episcopal Schools). In an Episcopal school, faith and reason are not opposite considerations of the human journey; rather, they are partners supporting the development of a curriculum and program that endeavor to discover truth and ask the larger questions of meaning and purpose. An Episcopal school, while grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition, thrives in an interfaith community that actively seeks to learn from the pluralism of religious traditions represented by the faculty and students. The mission of schools like Campbell Hall is to nurture the soul and character of all students entrusted to their care; it is not a mission of conversion to a particular denomination.
One of the distinctive qualities of the Anglican Church is its concentration on transformation as opposed to dogma. Inherent in this focus on transformation is the belief in the potential of the human spirit to grow and to change as it follows the dictates of a natural sense of wonder and curiosity. Episcopal schools as part of the Anglican tradition are places of open inquiry intellectually and places that also encourage the human spiritual journey. In a culture obsessed with the quest for certainty and efficiency, the Episcopal school is balanced by an appreciation for ambiguity and paradox - distinctive cornerstones of the Episcopal tradition. Campbell Hall as an Episcopal school thrives as part of this tradition. Its Episcopal identity commits it to an exploration within its ethos of the human, moral, and spiritual development of the students entrusted to its care. The institution's religious heritage presents a distinctive opportunity to define Campbell Hall's uniqueness as an Episcopal school.
GOAL TWO:
Ensure that Campbell Hall continues to honor its Episcopal tradition as a place of open inquiry and of spiritual formation.
Suggestions for Implementation: Click on each implementation step for a current progress report
- Continue to build a strong sense of community, as an Episcopal School, using the chapel and human development programs. Simultaneously, broaden the reach and purpose of those programs by inviting (and advertising to parents) further guest speakers to chapel, and adding to the required and elective human development curriculum.
- Develop print and multimedia resources concerning the Episcopal tradition at Campbell Hall, with an emphasis on the school's distinctive capacity to promote self-reflection, spiritual formation, and moral action in its students and teachers. Such resources can serve both the admissions process and also the continuing education of students, parents, and faculty. Explore the possibility of a "slogan" or "tagline" to communicate that Campbell Hall "brand" more succinctly and memorably.
- Consider expanding the scope and responsibilities of the Academic Honor Board.
- Foster a sense of "the public purpose of a private school," elevating Campbell Hall's visibility and responsibility in the broader school and local civic communities, through programs such as the Breakthrough Collaborative.
- Deepen the school's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, with a particular focus on "green design" in new construction and renovations.
- Explore further the moral implications of being global citizens, using the curriculum, community service, campus visitors, and international travel as opportunities for learning.