This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16
As I write this reflection on the recent Anglican Schools Australia conference, I’m still on a “post-conference high.” There is something very special about gathering with more than 300 delegates from over 80 Anglican schools, each of whom is committed to the flourishing of their school community.
As an embodiment of the conference theme, “Grace-full Hospitality”, students welcomed us each day. Each delegate also received a personal card written by a student from a local Anglican school. The Year 4 student who wrote my card wished me “friendship, learning and lots of happy moments.” All of which I’m pleased to say was abundantly fulfilled.
Friendship
It was wonderful to meet with chaplains, Religious Studies teachers, and church and school leaders from across Australia. Daily worship, the conference Eucharist and social gatherings gave us a chance to connect with colleagues from many different contexts. I also appreciated the chance to have conversations with my principal away from the busyness of school life.
Learning
Each of the speakers and workshop leaders shared rich insights that sparked new ideas and reflection.
The Chaplain’s Networking Morning allowed chaplains to be on the receiving end of intellectual and spiritual nurture. The Right Reverend Hans Christiansen drew us into the riches of Benedictine hospitality reminding us of the rhythm of engagement and renewal.
The Rev’d Thomas Couper provoked us to think about the purpose of education encouraging us to accompany students into the landscape of ideas. The Rev’d Dr Eleanor O’Donnell invited us to think more deeply about the similarities and differences between welcome and hospitality.
Practical resources from James Baker from XP Film Series and opportunities for strengthening Anglican Identity in our schools from St Mark’s National Theological Centre and Wollaston Theological College stimulated great conversations.
The conference was blessed with compelling keynote addresses from journalist, author and theologian Professor Stan Grant; Archbishop of Perth, The Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO DD; writer and public commentator Mr Priyan Max Jeganathan, and CEO of Parkerville Children and Youth Care Ms Kim Brooklyn.
Archbishop Kay gave us “a menu for abundant life” that was grounded in Scripture and Christian tradition. She reminded us via the words of Rowan Williams that “grace enables us to become what we truly are because we no longer have to manufacture ourselves.” This message of freedom is one that we can share with our communities as an alternative to the tendency to manufacture identities for public consumption.
Max Jeganatha encouraged us to redefine our notions success to include relationships and faithfulness as metrics of success.
Professor Stan Grant spoke about the danger of giving children a mindset of efficiency at the expense of imagination. He painted a picture of the power of meaningful words, “words with dirt on them”, that is words that are spoken with the truth of hard-won lived experience.
Ms Kim Brooklyn shared that story and work of Parkerville Children and Youth Care an organisation that has cared for children and young people since 1903. It’s history incudes participating in the Stolen Generations and institutional child abuse. Accountability has led to redemption for Parkerville with Kym committed to the hard work that goes with being a child-safe organisation. Parkerville, an agency of the Anglican Diocese of Perth, is committed to an unwavering belief in young people’s capacity to thrive when given the right Currently the Parkerville with over 13 000 young people, which as Kim says is “13 000 reasons to do and be better.”
Lots of Happy Moments
So many happy moments!
Ash Garlett Penfold from Corroboree for Life and several First Nations students from Guilford Grammar School led a powerful Acknowledgment of Country honouring Whadjuk Elders of the Noongar Nation that incorporated music, dance and language.
The voices of choristers from Anglican Schools.
A conference dinner which included an impromptu musical performance.
Plenty of time for catching up with people each with great stories to share.
I can’t wait for the friendships, learning and happy moments that await us at the Anglican Schools Australia conference in Sydney on 29 – 31 July 2026. I hope to see you there.
Until then I will continue to pray the conference prayer as I seek God’s guidance and abundant grace for myself and my school community:
God of welcome and hospitality
make us good stewards of your grace.
Teach us to use our gifts for service
so that Anglican Schools
may fully express your loving generosity.
Inform the lives of our schools
by the grace you have made known to us in Christ.
Give us eyes to see, hearts to know,
and lives to embody your Grace-full Hospitality
at all times and in all places.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Conference prayer written by The Rev’d Dr Eleanor O’Donnell, Director of Anglican Identity at AngliSchools.
Be First to Comment