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By Rev. Mike Moffitt
“How does a person know if their religion is the ‘right’ one?” an Upper School student asked me one day. As Charles Wright’s chaplain, my job is not to answer that question but to encourage the discussion, ensuring that developing a strong appreciation for the important ethical and spiritual dimensions of life is part of getting a Charles Wright education. So when I was asked this particular question my response came quickly, “Well, what do you think?”
As chaplain, I serve both as a spiritual counselor and as a member of the teaching faculty. In class, I strive to expose students to diverse sources of religious wisdom from the world’s great traditions. I often find that my presence becomes the catalyst for both students and adults in our community to explore and learn about their own spirituality. Parents and children alike come to me to share struggles, joys, and questions about spirituality and religion. On any given day, you might find a group of boys crashed on the easy chairs in my office tossing around ideas and questions about religion, or a Jewish father and his daughter singing Hanukkah songs, or the distressed mother of two teenagers venting, or guest speakers like Brother Pasha of the Islamic Center of Tacoma and Father Tryphon of the Russian Orthodox Monastery on Vashon Island addressing a class. The Chapel at Charles Wright is the place where all these things happen.
In the Lower School, I get to know the students by teaching weekly chapel lessons. These gatherings are an opportunity to address universal character virtues such as tolerance, forgiveness, and patience as well as to celebrate service projects like the annual food drive. Chapel also provides instruction about the sacred stories and values of the world’s major religions. Guest story-tellers and parents share about important religious or cultural holidays and traditions. Chapel themes are developed through story-telling, singing and activities.
One day after Lower School chapel, a Beginning School student asked me, “Chaplain Mike, why can’t we see God?” I answered with another question, “Well, why do you think we can’t see God?” He scrunched his face up in thought for a moment and replied, “I guess it’s because God is spirit.” Later, I shared the exchange with his mother and learned how this four-year-old’s definition of God was central to his family’s religious background.
As our students grow and reach the Upper School, I find they have even more questions about spirituality. I teach a Freshman Seminar about world religions, where we address many of these questions. I also teach a guitar class, assisted with drama productions, and assist with the community service program. One of the school’s community service projects is the Chapel Home, a partnership with Catholic Community Service’s Phoenix Housing Network. Twice a year, Charles Wright hosts homeless families, providing shelter and meals in the Chapel. The entire CWA community is encouraged to participate and live out the virtues we teach.
As a minister ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I offer a monthly prayer and communion service in the chapel and actively invite people of other faiths to celebrate important ceremonies and holidays as part of their school experience. I enjoy interacting with people of various faiths or no particular religion as we explore things that are wise and useful in the world. In turn, I encourage students to explore and understand their own religious beliefs. The hope is to cultivate young adults who respect and celebrate common values of faith, respect, compassion, and courage.
Of course, not all my interactions with the CWA family are about spirituality! I enjoy jamming with my guitar students and other musicians. On one particularly memorable occasion, two teachers, a student and I formed a rock band and played at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new building on campus. One of my fondest memories is of organizing the donation of an entire portable full of donations after hurricane Katrina and then leading an Upper School Winterim trip to Louisiana to help with hurricane relief. I also get to play the role of Johnny Appleseed every September for the youngest Tarriers at their annual apple squeeze.
I also enjoy organizing events that are for the whole school: the Christmas Eve service, the all-school Holiday Festival, Founder’s Day and a Baccalaureate service for seniors and their parents. In addition, I publish a monthly podcast called “Waiting for the Whisper” on which I invite adults and students to share about topics pertaining to religion, culture, and current events. I am always eager to meet new people and make a point to be available for personal counseling or just good conversation!
A few years ago, the Board of Trustees created an ad hoc committee to devise a Spiritual Mission Statement for Charles Wright:
Founded under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, Charles Wright Academy has always strived to educate the whole child. CWA welcomes diversity in religious and spiritual beliefs by accepting students of any faith or none and respects that each person's spiritual journey is unique and is shaped by many forces. The school inspires students' spiritual growth by exposing them to diverse sources of wisdom from the world's great religious traditions. Led by the Chaplain, CWA seeks to deepen students' understanding of world faiths and to celebrate common values of faith, respect, compassion and courage. CWA promotes a strong commitment of service to the community. We educate students to believe they can make a difference as responsible global citizens.
- Adopted by the Board of Trustees Spring, 2007
Open this page as a pdf.
By Rev. Mike Moffitt
“How does a person know if their religion is the ‘right’ one?” an Upper School student asked me one day. As Charles Wright’s chaplain, my job is not to answer that question but to encourage the discussion, ensuring that developing a strong appreciation for the important ethical and spiritual dimensions of life is part of getting a Charles Wright education. So when I was asked this particular question my response came quickly, “Well, what do you think?”
As chaplain, I serve both as a spiritual counselor and as a member of the teaching faculty. In class, I strive to expose students to diverse sources of religious wisdom from the world’s great traditions. I often find that my presence becomes the catalyst for both students and adults in our community to explore and learn about their own spirituality. Parents and children alike come to me to share struggles, joys, and questions about spirituality and religion. On any given day, you might find a group of boys crashed on the easy chairs in my office tossing around ideas and questions about religion, or a Jewish father and his daughter singing Hanukkah songs, or the distressed mother of two teenagers venting, or guest speakers like Brother Pasha of the Islamic Center of Tacoma and Father Tryphon of the Russian Orthodox Monastery on Vashon Island addressing a class. The Chapel at Charles Wright is the place where all these things happen.
In the Lower School, I get to know the students by teaching weekly chapel lessons. These gatherings are an opportunity to address universal character virtues such as tolerance, forgiveness, and patience as well as to celebrate service projects like the annual food drive. Chapel also provides instruction about the sacred stories and values of the world’s major religions. Guest story-tellers and parents share about important religious or cultural holidays and traditions. Chapel themes are developed through story-telling, singing and activities.
One day after Lower School chapel, a Beginning School student asked me, “Chaplain Mike, why can’t we see God?” I answered with another question, “Well, why do you think we can’t see God?” He scrunched his face up in thought for a moment and replied, “I guess it’s because God is spirit.” Later, I shared the exchange with his mother and learned how this four-year-old’s definition of God was central to his family’s religious background.
As our students grow and reach the Upper School, I find they have even more questions about spirituality. I teach a Freshman Seminar about world religions, where we address many of these questions. I also teach a guitar class, assisted with drama productions, and assist with the community service program. One of the school’s community service projects is the Chapel Home, a partnership with Catholic Community Service’s Phoenix Housing Network. Twice a year, Charles Wright hosts homeless families, providing shelter and meals in the Chapel. The entire CWA community is encouraged to participate and live out the virtues we teach.
As a minister ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I offer a monthly prayer and communion service in the chapel and actively invite people of other faiths to celebrate important ceremonies and holidays as part of their school experience. I enjoy interacting with people of various faiths or no particular religion as we explore things that are wise and useful in the world. In turn, I encourage students to explore and understand their own religious beliefs. The hope is to cultivate young adults who respect and celebrate common values of faith, respect, compassion, and courage.
Of course, not all my interactions with the CWA family are about spirituality! I enjoy jamming with my guitar students and other musicians. On one particularly memorable occasion, two teachers, a student and I formed a rock band and played at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new building on campus. One of my fondest memories is of organizing the donation of an entire portable full of donations after hurricane Katrina and then leading an Upper School Winterim trip to Louisiana to help with hurricane relief. I also get to play the role of Johnny Appleseed every September for the youngest Tarriers at their annual apple squeeze.
I also enjoy organizing events that are for the whole school: the Christmas Eve service, the all-school Holiday Festival, Founder’s Day and a Baccalaureate service for seniors and their parents. In addition, I publish a monthly podcast called “Waiting for the Whisper” on which I invite adults and students to share about topics pertaining to religion, culture, and current events. I am always eager to meet new people and make a point to be available for personal counseling or just good conversation!
A few years ago, the Board of Trustees created an ad hoc committee to devise a Spiritual Mission Statement for Charles Wright:
Founded under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, Charles Wright Academy has always strived to educate the whole child. CWA welcomes diversity in religious and spiritual beliefs by accepting students of any faith or none and respects that each person's spiritual journey is unique and is shaped by many forces. The school inspires students' spiritual growth by exposing them to diverse sources of wisdom from the world's great religious traditions. Led by the Chaplain, CWA seeks to deepen students' understanding of world faiths and to celebrate common values of faith, respect, compassion and courage. CWA promotes a strong commitment of service to the community. We educate students to believe they can make a difference as responsible global citizens.
- Adopted by the Board of Trustees Spring, 2007
