Head of School Calls on Spartans to Love Your Neighbors, No Exceptions

St. Stephen’s Spartans entered a second week of classes with a powerful, mission-focused chapel message, delivered by Mr. Gunnin in what he described as “a unique moment in our nation’s history.”

“I want us to be mindful of the larger national and global context that we live in, and I want to make specific distinctions about the kind of community we strive to create at St. Stephen’s,” said Gunnin.

He said one of his highest hopes for the community is to create a sense of belonging for each student so that everyone feels known, loved and seen for their authentic selves—which includes feeling safe physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically and intellectually. 

“We strive daily to help you come to understand the world and to feel prepared to be positive contributors in our larger communities,” said Gunnin.

“Part of understanding the world and becoming a leader in the world,” explained Gunnin, "is to form close and meaningful relationships with others early in life who have different religions, nationalities, gender and socio-economic backgrounds."

He shared with students that St. Stephen’s is an intentionally diverse community that was founded in 1950 on the principle of respecting the inherent dignity of all people—and that this year is especially important to be intentional and strategic in living into that mission.

Leading into Gunnin’s talk, students read the scripture he selected from the book of Mark, which quotes Jesus as saying, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” He said many religions beyond Episcopalian and Christianity call on their followers to practice the Golden Rule in their daily lives—from Buddhism to Hinduism to Judaism. He added that it does not matter if members of the St. Stephen’s community are Episcopalian.

“You are our neighbor, so we respect you, we love you, and we welcome you,” said Gunnin, who said Episcopal churches and ministries spell the call to action out even more clearly. “We are called to love our neighbor who doesn’t look like you, think like you, love like you, speak like you, pray like you, vote like you. Love your neighbor. No exceptions. To resist certainty, to lead with curiosity, to give one another grace to make mistakes and to remember that we are all growing, evolving and learning.”

Gunnin said during this moment in our nation and in the world when we are surrounded by mistrust, misinformation and polarizing conflict, he and the faculty have been working hard to understand the nature and causes of the deep polarization in our country. 

“We have been planning ways for our school to be a school on the hill,” said Gunnin. “A place that rises above our common and course impulses, where students and adults can use civil discourse. A place where we can connect to seek greater understanding rather than be competitive or combative in our communications. We will strive to distinguish between the political rhetoric that creates polarizing binaries of competing camps and a place of scholarship where winning is defined by coming to greater understanding. St. Stephen’s is a place where winning is learning that we can disagree civilly and still love one another. Here, disagreement is acceptable; disrespect is not. Here, we do not abide hate. We do not abide hate speech or hate vandalism.”

 

In closing, Gunnin talked about the campus groundbreaking in 1949, when St. Stephen’s founder Bishop John Hines made it clear this would be a school dedicated to the recovery of humans. Hines said, “here education will be personal without being prejudicial” and “above all it will be grounded in Christian values,” which Gunnin told students was a call to love your neighbor, no exceptions.

Seventy-four years later, Gunnin said the St. Stephen’s community still sees a nation and a world in need of recovery, and believes the way to promote recovery in a broken world is to help its students develop compassionate hearts, fierce spirits and sharp minds. 

“We truly will be a school on a hill, a place that is unique, extraordinary and even sacred, if we can be measured, civil, intentional and loving even when that is not the standard beyond our gates,” Gunnin told Spartans. “I wish each of you success and fulfillment in the year ahead and beyond. And, I thank you for partnering with us in our noble and heroic work.”