He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
Episcopal schools integrate ideals and concepts of equity, justice, and a just society throughout the institution. Episcopal schools take seriously their calling to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.”
NAES Principles of Good Practice for Equity and Justice
Episcopal schools are uniquely positioned at the intersection of educational excellence and spiritual formation. We are blessed by an approach that sees these two goals as complementary for all young people. Further, our theological foundation demands that we take seriously the value of every human being. As loved creatures of God, how we interact with each other is central to spiritual development. Rather than being passive or indifferent, valuing each human being demands the active pursuit of equity and justice. The prophet Micah’s timeless words resonate at the heart of our mission: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
The baptismal covenant’s commitment to “respect the dignity of every human being” is a dynamic call to action that must be continuously interpreted and implemented in our educational contexts. Micah’s profound wisdom challenges us to embody justice, mercy, and humility in every aspect of our educational practice—a transformative approach that serves as a pillar of our work with young people.
For these reasons, NAES is proud to partner with the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the work of Bryan Stephenson for our upcoming Episcopal Identity: Equity and Justice Conference. EJI’s mission of challenging racial and economic justice while protecting human rights for the vulnerable is consistent with the biblical mandate that has informed NAES and its programming since our inception in 1965. In addition to networking and fellowship, this event will provide a collaborative space for participants to reflect upon the transformative work they are called to do in their communities. In addition, experiencing EJI’s Legacy Sites (The Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park) will inspire us and remind us of the critical nature of this work during these increasingly complex and challenging times on our campuses.
This conference is not merely an event, but an opportunity to come together and recommit our efforts to building educational communities in alignment with our most profound values. By gathering, learning, and encouraging one another, we can continue our work of “respecting the dignity of every human being” on all of our campuses.
Please join us—both for this event and in our commitment to baptismal covenant work. Together, we can create Episcopal schools that truly reflect the radical inclusivity of the Gospel—where every student is known, valued, and loved.
The Rev. David A. Madison, D.Min.
NAES Executive Director