Principal

Reflection on Leadership

I was recently privileged to be part of a Student Leadership Liturgy with Year 11. In my mind, they are now the Class of 2022, and I am excited by the contribution that this cohort of wonderful young men will make to this College.

During the liturgy, we reflected upon John 15:5 :

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.

Amid all the unknowns of today’s unprecedented chaos, there’s one thing we’re surely learning—how interconnected we all are. This is such a contrast to the modern worldview of stringent individualism that our society reflects.

It seems that we are not quite so autonomous as we imagined. And that’s a good thing. The demand for autonomy has bred an epidemic of loneliness, despair, and alienation. But we were not created to be self-sufficient. We were created to live connected to God and to each other.

In this beautiful passage, Jesus speaks to us about our relationships with one another and uses the analogy of a vine. He is the vine; we are the branches. If we abide by His ways, we will bear fruit.

Sometimes we think that we can do it alone. Fiercely independent, we roar at the world that we don't need anything....we're strong and self-sufficient, and we'll handle it. The fact is, though....we need Him. Without God, we have a bigger void in our souls than loneliness or grief could ever create. We are part of Him, and He is part of us. He is the source of all good....the source of peace and contentment, and the way to our heart's desire. Because of God, we are who we are. Because of God, we have a chance to be better still. Our need for God is a need that runs deeper than our need for food or shelter, or companionship. There is a deep, eternal, life-giving bond there... and the more we hack away at it, the more we hurt ourselves. Instead of resenting the connection, let's glory in it....drink in the love and life that flows through it to us from God. Thrive. Like the fertile vine.

I like this scripture because it shows us the difference between Christ's leadership style and leadership styles that are a lot more common in the world. 

Christ's way is so different from the world's way. He, who had the power to rule over everyone, taught us to serve each other instead. To set an example of humility and assistance. He was greater than all, yet nobody was treated as though they were beneath Him, and He was/is God, and yet He served, and yet serves us. This definitely doesn't remind me of politics or of corporate Australia. What it does remind me of is a good parent. The parent has pretty much ultimate power over the child, and yet a good parent never abuses this to treat the child like a slave, or even thinks about it in that way. The good parent is there to help the child learn, to help him navigate the world, develop a personality and a style, interact with others, and become an independent person....an equal, not a subject or a slave.

God is our father, and He encourages us to learn from Him to serve each other....to grow together into a family. Not just as individual sets of parents and children, but a human family. And we get there through following His example and serving the people around us. No one is beneath us. No task is too low for us to perform. 

I challenged the Class of 2022 to reflect deeply before entering their nomination for student leader. They were challenged to reflect on the boys they’ve been in community with since Year 5. They were urged to look to nominate young men who do not throw their power about in social groups or classes. 

So, they nominated. And they nominated young men who have always exercised humility. Young men prepared to serve. Young men not prepared to let evil flourish around them and will call others out, even if it’s tough to do so. Young men who like Christ, and who will serve our College; make life better for other people.

I am proud to name the Student Leadership Team for 2022 below:

Dr Vittoria Lavorato

Principal

SPC boys can do anything! 

**except divide by zero