Part of Trinity Prep’s mission has, for decades, been to help its students “grow spiritually.” This goal gained a new neighbor in 2023: “embrace diversity in thought and perspective.” Today, we are successfully fulfilling both.
In line with its Episcopal values, Trinity has proved that promoting Christian doctrine and championing openness are not competing objectives, but complementary ones.
“One of the tenets of Episcopal schools and Trinity is to be a place that is Christian but welcoming to all faiths,” chaplain Russell Wohlever said. “That’s one of the (reasons) why I felt very comfortable in the Episcopal Church and why I feel comfortable here.”
Trinity has done a lot in recent years to embrace this tenet of inclusivity. The Diversity of Spirituality, Thought and Perspective Student Advisory Council was established last year, and it now routinely hosts interfaith events that bring together belief systems ranging from Judaism to Buddhism and secular humanism.
The accepting atmosphere transcends these events, though. It is ingrained in how faith manifests on our campus. Our community comprises students of all backgrounds and beliefs, and this reality is at the forefront of weekly chapel.
“Chapel is walking that tightrope,” Wohlever said. “Everyone, I believe, is searching for something or believes in something greater than them. For some people, it is science. For some people, it’s this sense of justice. For other people, there is a personal God.”
Wohlever appeals to this commonality by focusing on universal ideas and presenting them in a relatable way, often through personal anecdotes. During more solemn religious observances, he remains considerate of his diverse audience, giving each student the option to come forward and receive a blessing or remain seated.
These efforts combine to make chapel something all students can attend not just harmlessly but happily. Many non-Christian students have told Wohlever that they look forward to chapel and that it has made them think more deeply about their own beliefs.
“There’s a good balance between (religion) being there, but more of it’s there for the students who want it,” said senior Ajay Maniar, who comes from a Catholic and Hindu family but does not consider himself very religious. “Chapel does a good job not making it too text-heavy … and more (Wohlever’s) stories and his homilies, because I think that gives better real-world advice.”
Trinity’s unique approach to religion also offers Christian students an opportunity to see their faith in a new light. Senior Reese Macau, who previously attended Annunciation Catholic Academy, believes Wohlever’s style has increased her comfort and connection with her own Catholic faith.
“The first chapel I went to, Father Russell came out, and he was tangoing, and I think we were singing Adele,” Macau said. “That was a big shift, but I think it … helped me open up more and just (helped) with my relationship with God.”
The welcoming campus we have built is especially valuable when compared with other religious institutions in the area that have a more restrictive approach to faith.
English teacher Rachel Luckenbill recently moved to Trinity from Bishop Moore Catholic High School. In her first quarter here, several of her students have opened up to her about their religious traditions, such as Yom Kippur and Ramadan — something not all schools facilitate.
“It’s exciting that students feel free to be open about what their faith practice is,” Luckenbill said. “Not to say that it wasn’t that way at Bishop Moore, but I think that students who were not Catholic were less likely to speak openly about that.”
We should be grateful to have an environment that encourages us to explore, learn and grow in our spirituality freely. Together, we have built a Trinity family where every member is loved.
“I do not believe the Christian faith is something to be imposed on others,” Wohlever said. “Everyone’s on their path with God … and where it leads, that’s their narrative. It’s their story.”
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