Faith conversations in a changing world

STEVE WRIGHT, SENIOR SCHOOL CHAPLAIN

“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(1 Corinthians 13:13)

If you look at Australian census data, the statistics highlight a steady decline in those affiliated with religion and faith.

Sadly, too, media portrayal of religion in our society is often focused on sensationalised stories; the negative narratives rather than the daily experiences of spirituality that continue to influence billions of people worldwide.

What the census data will not show you, however, is how many people are genuinely exploring spirituality and the many who have encountered the love of God in a very real way. Lack of weekly attendance at a church service does not disqualify a person from having faith and spirituality as a part of their lives.

My reflections in this article are centred around the Christian faith, as that is my experience.

I am actively involved in my local church and connected with ministers of varied denominations and have, myself, previously served as a minister. In my current role as a school Chaplain, I have the privilege of discussing spirituality with students, staff, and families from a wide variety of faith backgrounds.

In all facets of my life, I enjoy being able to have conversations with people who have real questions about God, faith and purpose. One of the things I know for certain is that although recent years have had their challenges, and many churches have had to adapt to new ways of doing things, the good news of Jesus remains unchanged.

The COVID-19 pandemic was one such challenge. In the face of varying restrictions that prevented mass gatherings indoors, churches were compelled to find new and creative ways of serving and caring for their communities. Like schools, they adapted to offer online and outdoor services, and these were very successful solutions. I have met people with remarkable stories who came to faith online, and in a time of isolation, found care and connection.

Many churches have continued to live-stream their services, despite restrictions having long been lifted, due to their popularity. Elderly and vulnerable people found it a welcome way to remain connected when unable to attend in person.

Also due to necessity, many churches moved their services outdoors during COVID-19 restrictions. In doing so they found that the natural surroundings themselves became peaceful spaces of worship and reflection.

Such was the popularity of these outdoor services within their congregations, that some churches in our region have continued to offer them regularly. From a challenging situation, with forced change and uncertainty, have come new opportunities - a chance to strengthen faith connections through accessibility and relevance.

Our College community is a microcosm of this wider society, and as Chaplains, Leanne Earl and I have witnessed many of these same challenges and changes within it. One of the most special aspects of our roles continues to be the opportunities we have to explore this faith with our community - whether that is during a chapel service, in the classroom or through daily conversations.

In a world where there is much despair, hurt and chaos, I believe that there is a great willingness to engage in spiritual conversations. I love that we can create space for such discussions.

Our College Values

The faith-based values we uphold at The Geelong College have guided our community for many years now:

- Integrity with Compassion

- Community with Diversity

- Aspiration with Humility

- Respect with Grace

- Endeavour with Courage

They are intertwined with our faith history as a school and the life and teachings of Jesus and will never lose their relevance