17 Mar A Word From Dr. Satterly—March 17, 2022
Dear WA Community,
It has been said that on March 17, everyone is Irish. I am not sure what the good citizens of the emerald-isle think about that, but I do know that many yield to social convention and wear some sort of green attire on St. Patrick’s Day. When we lived in Chicagoland, this was a particularly big holiday featuring parades and a green Chicago River. Regardless of your affinity for corned beef and cabbage, it is hard to miss the celebration of this particular identity.
This identity issue seems to dominate the news these days as we see and read news reports of citizens fighting to maintain their Ukrainian identity or an increasingly unstable despot insisting on exporting Russian identity. We note with sadness and confusion any number of identity-laden social issues, particularly among our youth. If we are honest, all of us struggle with identity from time to time, as this is indicative of the nature of man. We forget about the Imago Dei and its implications and instead turn to other distinctions which only serve to highlight our differences rather than build unity.
II Corinthians 5:17 reads, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” In this passage, Paul engages this concept of identity, reminding us that our identity comes from one place—Christ. It does not come from anywhere else—not our performance, not our ethnicity, not our status, and not even our sin.
Our identity is in Christ—full stop! It is in this identity that we pursue shalom, and it is from that place we get unity.
The Westminster Academy community consists of a rich diversity that is bolstered by different backgrounds, experiences, and gifts, all for the Glory of God, sola Gloria (I Corinthians 12:4). It is our union with Christ that makes us community (Galatians 2:28) and shapes our diversity into unity. We are one with Christ.
We believe that the pursuit of Shalom (Jeremiah 29:4-7) is integral to our mission as the passion to engage, shape, and transform the world is an enduring mark of the Church and God’s people. To be Christian is to be involved in restoration, that is, as co-regents with Christ (II Timothy 2:12) working for the renewal of all things—this is the mandate of Creation.
This is also integral to the mission of our school, for how else can one excel by using their gifts and talents for God’s glory other than from the firm foundation of the work of Jesus on our behalf? We are His people. That is our identity.
To God be the Glory!
Joel Satterly
Headmaster