Dear Susan,
A few days ago when we had our meeting, I still felt there was more to be said, as this whole incident has really got me thinking about some underlying issues that I have with religion and any place in general where there is a hierarchy. I want to be open with you, as I don’t think that idle talk is good for anyone.
Let me start by saying that I respect you enormously as a person and a leader and I certainly do not envy your position. Maybe at times recently I have felt I might want to swear at you, or throw eggs or even make you feel guilty. However, I thought a letter might be more constructive.
I’m not by any means an expert on religion, philosophy, the Bible or leadership, so I apologise if this letter exposes my ignorance. In fact, until this year I probably haven’t had a real grasp of what being a Christian is really about. These are simply my views which I am handing to you on paper in the hope they might be explored. You may disagree with a lot of what I have to say, but I think that opposition and challenge is the first step to growth.
I am challenged by the school’s uncompromising position on this issue concerning Audra and I guess I am struggling to see things from your point of view, but I think it’s important to try. Of course God should be the most important factor in any decision we make and I guess I do have some doubts that God was the basis for your decision. After witnessing the devastating effect this has had on staff I am concerned that the decision has placed the school’s image over the best interests of our team. I can’t believe that God would play a part in a decision that would push people away and make them feel so undervalued. It is this lack of forgiveness, compassion and love in dealing with this issue has disappointed me more than anything.
My issue with religion and in fact any organisation is the regrettable tendency of its members to believe in “one size fits all” answers. To me it seems ludicrous to believe that there is a set of rules and beliefs that could apply to every person in every situation. If uniformity is what we are aiming for, then could we not in deed be replaced by robots? The world is far too complicated for that, and the line between right and wrong is often far too faint. I would hate to live in a world where people blindly follow a set of rules without question. We have free will, and that is something God has given us. It is up to each individual to seek the wisdom and knowledge to know what is right. And I struggle with that every day, as I’m sure you do.
I think sometimes we can get caught up in this idea of pleasing God instead of trusting God. In stead of always trying to do what is right by God, sometimes we need to trust that he will work things through in his own time. This brings me back to my staff devotion the other morning about relating ourselves to people inside and outside of Christian circles. I don’t think we want to get caught up in projecting a certain image that is pleasing to others, because I don’t think that is what being a Christian is all about. It is first and foremost about honesty and being “real”. Because if we can’t be honest with ourselves, then how can we be honest with God?
While this is not an issue about me, I do feel a certain amount of personal grievance at this incident. It is not a nice sensation to feel that you are being watched and judged by people in your workplace. Obviously there is an obligation for us as a Christian school to uphold certain values and model these to our students. But I don’t think it is anyone’s position to force these values on anyone. Someone said to me on the weekend that rather than condemning people who do things we may disagree with, perhaps more would be gained from walking with them – and sometimes when you walk beside them you can gradually steer them in the right direction. As a religious institution, we are not going to relate to anyone by inflicting rules and forcing our values on other people.
So I’ve kind of talked in general terms and circled around the issue here. What it all comes down to is that as a team we are all united by one thing. And that is God. We all choose to follow him in different ways and whether we perceive that is the right way or the wrong way is neither here nor there. It is that person’s issue with God. It does anger me to see someone on our staff suffering because a decision has been made without this team’s best interests in mind. Audra a is someone who I respect and love so much, and I fear that whether it was the intention or not, the decision to isolate her from the school has become a decision between her own values and those of the school, not of what is right with God. I can only hope that the God that we all believe in will help Audra get through this time and come out a stronger person because of it.
Let me finish off with an analogy. There is a beautiful work of art on display in an art gallery which is colourful and created by the same artist that all the other paintings hanging around it were made by. On this painting, some of the paint has run a little, but you can only see it if you look very closely. Does this tiny imperfection mean that the entire painting is not worthy of its place in the art gallery, despite its other wonderful features? Or should we appreciate the whole painting for what it is and not focus on the tiny imperfection?
I guess that the ultimate intention of this letter is to show you that there is another perspective. You can either choose to dismiss it or read it with an open heart. Above all, I hope you are challenged by it, because challenge is the first step to growth. It also makes for interesting conversation.
I am open to discussing this letter further,
Meg
