Bishop’s Update St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Middletown Beloved of God in Delaware, This past Saturday evening (February 1), I shared a brief notice with the diocese regarding the January 31 arrest of the former head of school at St. Anne’s. My message followed an all-day emergency meeting of trustees with senior staff and faculty. A number of immediate steps flowed from that meeting, including a provision for a three-and-a-half-hour open forum for parents on Sunday afternoon. The open forum was a very important moment for the school. As you might imagine, community members rose to express anger, fear, uncertainty, and anxiety. At the same time, and as you would hope, community members also rose to express resolve, loving kindness, mutual support, and a firm recognition that as tragic as this moment is, this sad incident need not define the school. There was a great deal of soul searching but little finger-pointing. It was not an easy event to attend. But it was honest and, I think, an incredibly positive step toward the future. On the following afternoon (Monday)—the first school day since the arrest—the board of trustees sent a message to the entire St. Anne’s School community which included, “… We want you to know today was a great day for our students. Counselors were present throughout the day. The fact that ninety-four percent of St. Anne’s students arrived this morning ready to share the joy of learning with their teachers and friends inspires our work. Thank you for your faith, and thanks to your children for making this day full of warmth, joy, and spirit.” One item that is hard to see from the outside is how much St. Anne’s has leaned on its foundation as an Episcopal school to guide it in this time of shock, dismay, and uncertainty. The school has rooted its crisis response in prayer and genuine concern; it has valued honesty and grace, not defensiveness or blame-setting, as framing the long path to wholeness; and it has sought the presence and wisdom of God to inform and inspire. Don’t think for a second that this is an accident! When you ground yourself from the start in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and water yourself in prayer and the expectation of God’s good abundance, you know where to turn when the storms come. Much work remains for this beloved school. Please keep St. Anne’s School in your prayers. | 
