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No. OES is an independent school with a close relationship with
the parish of St. John the Baptist and the Diocese of Oregon.
OES is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
and the National Association of Episcopal Schools.
The parish and the school have had an ongoing relationship with
the parish as tenant on the OES campus. This relationship has
provided a strong Episcopal presence on a daily basis, and the
Rector of the parish is a member of the OES Board of Trustees.
Both the school and the parish use the chapel space for worship
and parish members include OES faculty, students, and board members.
Each community welcomes the other to all events which adds to
the vitality and strength of our blended communities.
Since its founding as St. Helen's Hall in 1869, the school has
been an Episcopal school with strong ties to the Diocese of Oregon
and the leadership of its bishops. Each division of the school
has a weekly chapel program. All students are exposed to the Episcopal
tradition during their time at OES.
The Church is not involved with day-to-day matters at the School.
The Bishop is, however, Chairman of the OES Board of Trustees.
In this capacity he, along with all Board members, has responsibility
for the overall governance of the School and in particular the
continuance of the Episcopal tradition. All Board members are
either elected by the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon,
or appointed by the Bishop. The relationship between the Church
and OES is a long and evolving one which has enriched both institutions.
The term "conservative" usually refers either to politics
or religion. OES is a diverse community with many points of vie
w represented in the faculty, staff, board, student body, and
parent community. Politically, therefore, OES strives for balance
and a fair hearing for all sides of an issue. As for religion,
OES is not an evangelical school, and the religion curriculum
includes instruction in other faiths. OES is a place which values
the diversity of its community, and the Anglican spirit of inclusion,
respect, and love shapes how we understand what it means to be
an Episcopal school.
The Episcopal Church strives to be inclusive and open to many
ways of approaching God. OES believes in the value of developing
the spirit as well as the mind, and encourages the spiritual journey
in all members of the community. There is an expectation to respect
and support one another as spiritual travelers on individual journeys.
People of many faiths find a comfortable home at Oregon Episcopal
School. Many world religions are represented in our community
including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism. Because worship
is an integral part of any spiritual community, chapel is required
every week at OES.
The chaplains at OES are involved in both the school community
and the Parish of St. John the Baptist. They act as role models
of people of faith by being active in their own faith communities.
Each is responsible for the pastoral care within his or her division
and the direction of the chapel programs.
Chapel is a mandatory program throughout the school. The goal
is to set time apart from the academic day to allow for prayer
and reflection. Chapel varies by division, but maintains a pattern
of worship based in the Episcopal tradition, and the Book of Common
Prayer. The chapel experience includes exposure to other faiths.
Christianity is not presented in a dogmatic way at OES. In the
Lower School the loving spirit of Christianity is conveyed to
all classes by the chaplain, principally through storytelling.
In the Middle School, all students study parts of the Hebrew scriptures
and Christian scriptures in order to understand why and when they
were written, the cultural influences found in them, and the life
and teachings of Jesus. The Upper School requires each student
to take two semester electives in the Philosophy and Religion
department, and the course offerings include the study of various
world religions.
Individuals and their faiths are respected at OES, as are all
paths to God. Members of all faiths are invited and encouraged
to share their traditions. We know that we can learn much from
one another, and by hearing the story of another's faith, we learn
more about our own.
No. Like many other Christian traditions that believe the Bible
is the inspired Word of God, the Episcopal Church does not view
the Bible as a science text or an exact historical account of
God's people. Accepting truth and reason as gifts from God, the
Episcopal Church looks at science as one of the ways we can come
to understand the wonders of God's creation.
Oregon Episcopal School stands firmly in the Episcopal tradition
of
inclusiveness. This position commits us to nurture the growth
of a
diverse community as expressed in our Mission Statement. OES strives
to
create an academic, social, and spiritual climate where diverse
people
learn, live, work, and play together with respect, responsibility
and
understanding free from the fear of prejudice and intolerance.
Oregon Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of
race, sex,
religious preference, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin
in
the administration of its educational policies, athletics, or
other
programs, or in the administration of its hiring and employment
practices.
Every student is required to attend weekly chapel services. In
these services students will often hear prayers spoken in the
name of Christ and some of those services include the celebration
of the Eucharist. No one, however, is required to follow religious
practices in which he or she is uncomfortable. Students are required
in Middle School and Upper School to take religion classes in
which they study the world faiths. These classes are academic
and do not proselytize.
No. The OES community is home to many faiths. There is no requirement
of Church membership of any kind.
Those who require or expect each and every aspect of the OES community
to purposely proclaim a specific religious position or set of
beliefs will not be comfortable at OES. Those who do not see spiritual
growth as an important part of a child's development will also
feel uncomfortable at OES.
The Episcopal Church and Roman Catholic Church both are sacramental
churches with the seven sacraments of historic Christianity. Both
churches have the Holy Orders of bishops, priests, and deacons
to administer the sacraments, and the Episcopal Church has much
common ground with the sacramental theology of Catholicism.
The Episcopal Church differs on some points of moral teaching
from the Roman Catholic Church. The Episcopal Church ordains female
clergy, while the Roman Catholic Church maintains a male priesthood.
The Episcopal Church in America maintains autonomy from its roots
in the English reformation and Canterbury, while the Pope is the
worldwide leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The educational
tradition of Catholicism generally has had more of a denominational
expectation for its students than Episcopal schools.
Scripture, tradition and reason all bear equal weight in the Episcopal
experience. The importance of reason, thinking and questioning,
are what help to make an Episcopal school the powerful learning
environment we find at OES.
Early in the school year we celebrate Holy Cross Day as a kind
of "Founders Day". It highlights Saint Helen of the
Cross and connects the OES community of today to the first school
founded as Saint Helen's Hall. During the Advent season we celebrate
a special prayer service called "Lessons and Carols.”
It is a combination of scripture readings and sacred songs. This
service is not held during the school day and all-school attendance
is not required. The Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools all celebrate
Ash Wednesday, Holy Week and Easter in age-appropriate fashion.
Holy days and festivals from other faiths such as the Passover
and Ramadan are often given a place of honor during chapel services.
Prayer occurs regularly in chapel. Our goal is to nurture, foster,
teach and provide an environment where prayer occurs in any setting.
The OES Community Labyrinth is open weekly for the students and
monthly for the community at large, providing an opportunity for
prayer and reflection without a particular religious prescription.
OES values its community members from all faiths. Both the classroom
and the chapel at OES expose students to the wonderful variety
of the religious experience. With the help of the chaplains, students
plan and present chapels from their own faiths. The Religious
Life Committee, a Board sub-committee charged with discussing
and reflecting on the Episcopal identity of the school, seeks
to maintain a balance among Episcopalians and community members
from other faiths. The pastoral ministry of the three chaplains
is available to all members of the community.
While the Episcopal faith is centered by its own traditions, it
also honors other faith traditions. Students from other faiths
often make class presentations or lead the weekly chapel service.
After observing the richness of what we celebrate, students often
go home with a deeper desire to understand the faiths they may
have experienced in their own homes. Grounded in the belief that
"Where love is, there is God", OES celebrates the religious
diversity within its community.
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