Chaplain's Corner

Respect for Difference

Last week we welcomed The Reverend Dr Eleanor O’Donnell to teach an Anglican Identity Class to our Year 8 Beliefs and Values students. Rev O’Donnell is well known in WA, Victoria and Tasmania – having been Chaplain to Hale School in Perth and held similar positions at Ballarat Grammar School, Geelong Grammar School, Melbourne Grammar School, St Michael’s Collegiate School and St Virgil’s College in Tasmania.

Rev O’Donnell’s visit was timely as it followed on from our theme two weeks ago in Chapel in which we focused on having ‘respect for difference’. We must have the grace to accommodate those who see things differently from us. Many people have the belief that others should see things the same way as them – and that their view must be everyone’s view. 

In Chapel we did a few skits to help us see how that is an error. The skits were meant to help us realise that we could argue forever over simple things and sometimes not even realising that we are saying the same thing just differently. For example, arguing whether the glass is half-empty or half-full! We must also understand that our views are influenced by many things such as our family values, our country-of-origin, our culture and so on. And Australia is such a multicultural country. As a school, we positively embrace cultural diversity. 

Among the skits we used during Chapel was having students arguing whether the number on the ground was a 6 or a 9. Of course, the correct answer is that it depends on where one is standing. I think this is what “point of view” means. Respect includes using polite language such as “My point of view is” without denigrating another’s point of view.  We also had a chart which had a number that looked like 748 or 749—talk about an Optical Illusion, it was just a case of “As I see it!” We can also show respect by saying to one another, “Let us agree to disagree!” There is nothing wrong with sticking to your position but one must have the respect to allow others the same right. 

We have known from time immemorial that we can argue forever about which came first, the egg or the chicken. Our Year 8s are currently learning about the various Anglican traditions. Some Anglicans identify as Anglo-Catholics. They prefer the more traditional worship style closer to the Roman Catholic tradition. Then some identify as Evangelicals. They prefer the more relaxed Protestant-Reformed tradition that began in the 16th century. But it was Queen Elizabeth I who told both sides to get-over their differences and get-along—we are all Anglicans! The Anglican tradition usually emphasises the “middle way” or the “via-media.” We call it the Broad Church as it is “broad-enough” to embrace whatever is useful and helpful from both the Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical traditions. Anglican Identity indeed respects and tolerates difference. 

Thank you Rev O’ Donnell for spending time with the students of St George’s in your role as the Director of Anglican Identity at the Anglican Schools Commission.

Fr Gift Makwasha 

School Chaplain