Seeking fullness of life: Wesley College and the Uniting Church of Australia
Over the past 150 years, we have seen the relationship between Wesley College and the Uniting Church of Australia grow and change but the partnership has managed to stay strong. I often wonder how through such profound changes in Australian society, particularly in the 20th century, the relationship has remained as steadfast as it has. This relationship has been dynamic and not just a torch of tradition that has been passed from chaplain to chaplain - it’s much more profound than that. I believe that at the heart of this relationship is the breadth of shared values which both institutions seek to embody.
When I arrived on staff at the beginning of the year, the first thing I did was read Andrew Lemon’s A great Australian school – Wesley College examined. I read about the foundation of the College by a group of wise and driven young Wesleyan Methodist ministers in a distant colony, arising from the principles of John Wesley himself. Education for them was seen as a social justice issue.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “I have come that they may have life in its fullest”. In the earliest days of Wesley College, the founders established a school where boys from all denominations and religions could have access to a classical and general education, be taught by masters of great ethical and theological standing and grow together, so that they would have every opportunity to make a positive mark on our world. It was a radical idea in 1860s Melbourne, and an expression of what the ministers saw as “life being lived at its fullest”.
Today, Wesley College continues in the tradition of giving all students the opportunity to live life to the fullest through its ethos to know, to do, to live with, to be. In every endeavour, students are challenged to reflect on moments of learning, so that they may go on to use their gained wisdom to realise fullness of life for themselves and others.
Saint Ignatius is quoted as saying that our calling is “where the world’s greatest need meets our greatest desire”. Theologically speaking, the Uniting Church believes that each one of us is gifted with unique qualities and opportunities so that we may use them in contributing to the world around us. Both the Uniting Church and Wesley College see our role in forming young people as giving them the tools and inspiration to go out into society, equipped with the knowledge and inspiration to seek fullness of life; a life where equality, sustainability and the celebration of all creation are at the heart of all we do. Through education, Wesley College students are gifted opportunities that most children in the world today can only dream of. This is a blessing so great that the natural response is to go out and bless others.
