Values, Virtues, and the Fruit of the Heart.
Do we have anything different to offer as Anglican schools?
Our church schools are strong on values, and that’s a great thing. New Zealand state schools are also strong on values, and that’s also great. But because the West shares an inheritance of 2000 years of Christian culture, it is often hard to tell the difference between the values parents can expect their children to be taught in state or church schools. Are we really any different? Do we have anything extra to offer?
We do. To begin with, we offer a deeper challenge. Christian values are often more demanding and outward-looking than their secular counterparts. They focus on getting relationships right, and any benefit to ourselves (our “wellbeing”) is a welcome, but secondary, outcome. Christian values may feel uncomfortable, because they challenge our self-centredness. We learn from our Maori and Pacific cultures that qualities we call in English "values" or "virtues" are always to be understood in relational terms, never as the province of a lone individual.
We also offer a unique foundation and motivation for our values. Because Christianity is primarily about trust in, and relationship with, a divine Person, we work on the level of the heart as well as of the mind and will. Our values are not just goals to reach but the fruit, the heart’s response, to the faith, love, hope, and peace poured out to us from God. They have a sure and strong foundation, a rich soil in which to grow. Here, too, there is much our Three Tikanga can learn from each other. In tikanga Maori or Pasefika there is no word that corresponds exactly with "value" as it is understood in English. Rather we think of a way of being that flows from the heart outwards to another: the fruit of the heart.
Our hearts are fed by the Faith, Love, Hope, and Peace of God. Below are resources on some of the fruit that can grow from that deep source.
The Faithful Virtues
FAITH: Because we have confidence in God (“faith”) it gives us the courage to stand firm, to be honest, to be faithful in the responsibility we have to care for each other and our earth.
Creativity and Wonder
Sophie Dark, Cathedral Grammar Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable wors…
Courage and Confidence
Art by Jamie Whittaker and Emma Kleinert, Woodford House Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the…
Rangatiratanga
Art by Poppy Finn, Woodford House (Honesty, Respect, Inclusiveness, Humility). In Te Ao Māori a Rangatira is a chief. The word ‘tanga’ makes the word…
Kaitiakitanga
Art by Millie Allan and Ella Good, Woodford House Kaitiakitanga refers to sustainable practices for the management of natural resources. As katiaiki (…
Faith
God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor 1:9 What it is: The experience of faith is c…
The Loving Virtues
LOVE: The Apostle John wrote, “We love because God first loved us.” Because we - and others - are infinitely loved by God, our efforts to love others have a foundation and motivation.
Grace and Gratitude
Artwork by Ella Brenton-Rule, Woodford House For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so t…
Forgiveness and reconciliation
What it is Art by Claudia and Daya, Woodford House How is forgiveness expressed in your language?mechila (Hebrew) – to dig deepaphiemi (Greek) – to la…
Manaakitanga
Hospitality, kindness, generosity. Art by Jua Kim, Woodford Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have ent…
Gentleness
Art by Gabriella Jones, Woodford House Let your gentleness be known to everyone.Philippians 4:5 What it is: Just as we are gaining insights into our v…
Kotahitanga
Art by Abbey McCormack-Young, Cathedral Grammar School For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many,…
Aroha
Artwork by Lexie Anstiss, Cathedral Grammar Schools Na, tenei te mau nei te whakapono, te tumanako, te aroha, enei e toru; ko te mea nui rawa ia o ene…
The Hopeful Virtues
HOPE: Because God is with us, now and for ever, we have a hope which can endure present hardships, allow us to be patient and persevering, and give us a joy that can see beyond the “now”.
Joy
I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11 What it is: Joy is a d…
Goodness
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Gal 5:18 Art by Millie Vink, Cat…
Resilience
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Heb 10:23 What it is: Resilience is often descri…
Hope
Art by Josh Carswell, St Paul’s Collegiate We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul Heb 6:19 What it is: Hope is an anchor. It grips…
The Peaceful Virtues
PEACE: And because Christ came to bring peace, we can join him in the quest to bring God’s Reign of peace and justice on earth, knowing we are not doing it alone.
The Peaceful Virtues
Integrity
Sophie Westwood, Woodford House You, Lord, have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence for ever.Ps 41: 12 What it is: Integrit…
Justice
Art by Lulu Pearse, Cathedral Grammar For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:…
Whanaungatanga
(Community, connection, belonging). What it is. Jessica Erasmus Cathedral Grammar Whanaungatanga refers to a sense of family connection. It’s a relati…
Hohou Rongo, make peace.
Art by Albertine Neate, Cathedral Grammar “Who brings about peace is called the companion of God in the work of creation.”Jewish saying What it is Aft…
Faith, hope, love and peace are some of what we call “graces”: gifts given freely from God to us. They are the soil from which our values grow and bloom, the foundation, motivation and strength which we as Christian schools can offer our students. That is our difference.