What does “Episcopal” mean at St. George’s?

How our faith tradition shapes learning, chapel and belonging for families of every background.

For some families, the word Episcopal is familiar. For others, it may be the one word in our school’s name that raises the most questions.

Does our family need to be Episcopalian? What will my child experience in chapel? What if we aren’t Christian? Will our own beliefs be respected? What if our family isn’t involved in organized religion at all?

At St. George’s, Episcopal identity is a foundation, not an entrance requirement, and the ethos matters more than any doctrine. In our current historical moment, it’s helpful to know what Episcopal ethos is not before diving into what it is. 

Episcopal ethos is not:

• Christian nationalism
• Religious indoctrination
• Dogmatic
• Exclusive
• Focused on converting or “saving” individuals

We actively teach against the unification of church and state, and our ethos is one of including every child of God, whether or not their interpretation of God is the same as someone else’s. Students will often hear me say in chapel, “In the Episcopal tradition, we believe there are many paths to God; ours is one of them,” and this isn’t a platitude; it is foundational to the Episcopal faith. 

The Episcopal tradition is one of finding via media, Latin for “the middle way,” an attempt to avoid polarization and do the work God called us to do in a way that honors a spectrum of experiences and understandings. It involves critical thinking, reflected in our analogy of the three-legged stool for decision making, in which the three legs are represented by Scripture (which we take seriously, not literally), tradition and reason. All three elements must be considered, allowing the Church to move forward with history while honoring its early foundations. 

Perhaps the easiest way to sum up what Episcopalians are called to do is in a few phrases from our Baptismal Covenant: Will you persevere in resisting evil? Will you love your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? While these promises are foundational to the Episcopal understanding of being a Christian, Christianity does not hold the monopoly on these values. Members of the St. George’s community see these values reflected in our mission statement; in what our children are learning and how; in the thoughtful activities planned by our justice, equity, diversity and inclusion committee; and in our commitment to providing an environment where every child can succeed.

Being rooted in a tradition that invites and honors individuals, equipping them on their journey without trying to change who they are, makes St. George’s uniquely positioned to reflect what real society looks like.

Our commitment to values of perseverance, integrity, respect and compassion enables young people to imagine everything society could be. In chapel, our goal is for young people to understand that they are immeasurably, irrevocably loved by God and created to grow more fully into themselves, sharing love and goodness in the ways they are uniquely designed to do. We’d love to have you join us on this journey.