From the Pulpit

Back in 1983, when Michael Jackson's Beat It seemed an appropriate response to The Police's Every Breath You Take, our school was negotiating an integration agreement with the Government. This agreement was intended to secure the special character of the school. "Special character" is a phrase we use to describe a range of things connected with the transformational influence of Jesus the Christ. In this direction, the original document states that the "school aims at the development of the whole person ... by the inculcation of Christian values." It ends with this note in the Fourth Schedule: "Regardless of race, faith or background, the school only asks that pupils do their best in the pursuit of the sound education so vital today, and leave with concern for the needs of their fellows."

Now, 'fellow' is a much maligned and misunderstood word - and most of you will know by now that I am going to define it so I won't disappoint you. 'Fellow' describes someone who makes an investment in a joint enterprise. You might also think of it as 'having skin in the game.' What's intended here is the idea that we are all in this together (he waka eke noa). As Christians, we are asked to invest in a joint enterprise, which is the wellbeing of all. That is the telos - or ultimate goal - of the "development of the whole person." In the atomised and individualised west we are fooled into thinking it is all about 'me.' We are inculcated with the maxim "you do you and I'll do me." This stands in opposition to the Gospel. In Christianity, tikanga Maaori and other collectivist worldviews, we are reminded that we are a community. In this social imaginary the person is completed in relationship with others; in the investment in a joint enterprise. This is one way to make the world a better place.

Not convinced?

Every year, we run volunteer programmes and support charities. These are an explicit investment in the joint enterprise. We might be painting houses with Habitat for Humanity, providing meals at The Serve, supporting Waikato Hospital Chaplaincy, collecting for Cancer Research or simply writing encouraging messages. Every act of this nature is an investment.

Every year, we invite our wider community to invest with us in World Vision. We set an outrageous target each year, and we see our young people give selflessly: 40 acts of kindness, 40,000kg, 40km. We also see you get behind them. You have helped again to create a culture of persons aiming to be whole in the community. You have helped so much that we have exceeded $10,000 and made it into the top 10 school fundraisers in the country. So we want to say thank you, ngaa mihi nui ki a koutou.

Manaakitia

Rev Stephen Black

Chaplain