UNPACKING STRATEGIC PLAN 2024:
NO ORDINARY PEOPLE B Y P AT R I C K C A R R U T H
I D E N T I T Y I S I M P O R TA N T. We spend much
compassionate by engaging human diversity with dignity
of our lives searching for identity—trying to create and
and respect, and to courageously center our identity
build an identity for ourselves. Whether it is through
in Christ. As fallen image bearers, the Scriptures tell
work, social media, family, friends, intellect, sports, or
us to recognize that we both love our neighbor and
the arts, each of us seeks to create an identity by our
we sometimes treat our neighbor poorly, and that
very nature, one which helps us understand who we are
only through Christ, who makes us just before God,
and validates our worth. The ironic thing about trying to
can we demonstrate justice, respect, and grace to our
compose an identity is this composition is never finished
neighbor. As new creations in Christ, we can affirm and
and can never satiate our desire. As noble creations, we
extend dignity, value, and worth to each human being
long for dignity and respect. It is part of our nature as
in creation. The fall of humankind does not erase our
creatures. And the Scriptures are clear why this is so.
inherent value, but it separates us from the source of
The first two chapters in the book of Genesis establish
our value and worth and moves the locus to within.
the basis for human dignity and worth.
Our culture is currently having many conversations
In the beginning, God created each human being to
about dignity, value, worth, and identity, and we
be a unique and individual bearer of His image (Gen
think it is important for us as a school to engage that
1:26, 27). He created each of us as an individual, with
conversation from a Christian worldview, to equip our
different gifts, perspectives, and ways of being in the
students with a foundational eternal perspective in
world, and we honor God’s creative and bountiful
which they can ground both their own identity, value,
diversity through exercising our unique individualism,
and worth, and the identity, value, and worth of other
while also being united imago Dei. In light of this, every
people. Without an eternal external reference point
person is inherently worthy of dignity and respect. God
as a foundation, such an undertaking is incomplete
is omnipotent and imbued humanity with power and
and ultimately ineffective. The Bear Creek School’s
command to steward the creation (Gen 1:26 – 30).
definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion is grounded
That visage is tarnished in Genesis 3 by the fall: humanity’s rebellion against God and His good creation. As a result, each human being also shares a common fallen nature (Gen 3:15) before God and is graciously offered redemption and restoration by confession and
in the belief that everyone is made uniquely in God’s image. This belief provides an entry point to meaningful conversations, interactions, and programming that are influenced by the school’s commitment to honoring the individual as a unique creation of God.
faith through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19 – 21; Rom 10:9 –
As part of Strategic Plan 2024, we have created the No
10; 1 Cor 6:9 – 11).
Ordinary People plan. This phrase is taken from a phrase
Additionally, the Scriptures command us to love the Lord and to love our neighbor (Mark 12:28 – 31; Luke 6:31), which encourages us to be wise and aware of the unique cultures the Lord has created, to be
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MODUS VIVENDI – Summer 2021
in C.S. Lewis’ book The Weight of Glory and serves as a literary anchor to where we believe true human value and dignity lie and how we can love our neighbor well. Lewis writes,
