Episcopal Identity

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is upheld by the basic principles of our Episcopal tenets that individuals and institutions are called to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Episcopal schools are not solely communities for Christians, rather as ecumenical and diverse ministries of educational and human formation for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Episcopal schools also integrate religious and spiritual formation into the curriculum and life of the school community. Episcopal schools exist not merely to educate, but to demonstrate and proclaim the unique worth and beauty of all human beings.

As an Episcopal School we uphold our Statement of Faith in carrying out the important work of our mission. Our tradition appreciates the mystery and breadth of God’s love and inspires debate, welcomes diverse ideas, values ambiguity and paradox, and respects traditions other than those set out in the Book of Common Prayer, the basis for corporate worship in the Episcopal Church. We affirm the right of each child and each member of our community to follow spiritual paths free from coercion—paths open to discussion and inquiry that are respectful of the Episcopal tradition and of differing views. From Early Childhood School through Upper School, opportunities for spiritual learning, worship, prayer, reflection, and participation in the Eucharist are offered and comprise a foundation for all students to recognize the importance of their own spirituality and the critical value of acceptance and understanding among people of different faiths. The vision of our founding headmaster, The Reverend Canon Ernest D. Sillers, continues to guide us today, “Every student is a sacred and precious child of God, endowed with the potential to become a productive, contributing member of society. Our purpose is to prepare students for life in a complex society, beset with grave problems and great pressures, by providing a strong program in character development and teaching morals undergirded with basic Judeo-Christian values.”

We seek to prepare future leaders of conviction and perspective who can appreciate the powerful, positive role that inclusivity and understanding can have on the future direction of human kind. We expect our students to strive for justice and peace among all peoples, and respect the dignity of every human being.* As a result, we expect our students to be contributing members of our school community and the world beyond.

From the Baptismal Covenant of the Book of Common Prayer*

We are fortunate to be identified as an Episcopal school, not only because this expresses the importance and centrality of God’s grace, love and power in the raising of children, but also because this tradition provides a compass for our navigation through the shifting winds of change so prevalent in our lives today. We strive to act out of love, to teach love, to model love and to love one another in this community. As an Episcopal School, we will always consider God in reviewing our mission and maintaining our course. 26 We realize that some of our graduates may encounter times of uncertainty of their faith and lacking absolute clarity in their lives. In these instances, have we failed them? Our answer is no. We believe that the grounding they acquire here in study, reflection, debate and conscious pursuit of spirituality will serve as an enduring guide and offer consolation in times of doubt and confusion. Our job is to plant seeds that, with God’s help, will flourish in time.

To read about our student Chapel program, please click here.