20180301 Assuming the Best.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

One of the larger tasks I undertake here at Donvale Christian College is to meet potential enrolments and employees. That is, every family seeking to enrol their children at the College and every preferred candidate for a job at the College, whether it be full or part time, casual or permanent.  I do this alongside at least one Board member for these interviews, each and every time.  Every one of our Board, elected by the Association to three-year terms, and parents of students currently at the school, participates in these interviews as they are able.

Already, in 18 months of being Executive Principal at the College, these instances number in the several hundred.  During these interviews, we speak of many things.  But, there are several common discussion points.  We share of our faith journeys as Christians, we reflect on our current engagement in our church communities, and we discuss the nature of a school with 1300 students, governed by a parent Board who set clear policies so that the staff of the school can manage the daily operations in all its large and small details.  As a Christian School which only enrols Christian families and only employs Christian staff, as we have done at all times throughout our 43 years of history, these are important discussions to have. Our partnership in the education we have sought to provide throughout this time depends on it and ensures continued strength into the future.  This won’t change; as indeed, it shouldn’t.

It is a large task, but an extraordinary blessing – these interviews are almost always encouraging conversations that become broad ranging. As we hear testimony about an individual’s conversion experience; their discernment of how God has been, and is, working in their lives; there are sometimes tears and often, joy and celebration about God’s amazing provision for their families.  I wish that some of these stories could be broadcast – but that’s not my call – in a sense, my deep hope is that the encouragement we get during these interviews works its way into community conversations, once the family or the staff member is welcomed into the DCC community.

Did you know? Within our community there are 80 different types of church denominations present amongst our current families.  They meet in 235 different locations across the northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne – some have multiple services, some are in different languages, some have different emphases, depending on the average age of the congregation and the time of day.  I’ve heard it said that this is not necessarily a good thing.  I choose to think the opposite – to be hopeful – to put into action what Romans 8:28 suggests should be the attitude of our hearts.  Rather than see this as a reason why our engagement as a community is reduced to a “lowest common denominator” approach, I believe we have a God-given opportunity to explore what a genuinely ecumenical Christian community can be.

And, more to the point, this is my testimony as I share with my friends and acquaintances beyond our school community what Donvale Christian College is all about.  I proudly say that I believe we are the “best” of what “ecumenical” can be.  My commentary is always around the ways we engage as Christ-followers, able to enjoy that which God has revealed to us through his word, graciously done for us in the life and death of Jesus.  We seek to be clear about what binds us together, and to be relaxed and comfortable that we can handle difference in the light of God’s revelation “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” and to seek to live as a community in the light of this profound truth.  In that way, we are able to live in unity, mindful and celebrating our diversity of churchmanship and Christian faith expression.  Our students, your children, seeing this worked out well in the lives of their parents and teachers, will be blessed by this and grow up to be a powerful leadership within our churches, in the near and distant future.