As an Episcopal school, WES’s identity is grounded in the Episcopal expression of Christianity. Knowing that the role of a church is distinct from that of a school, we celebrate the religious diversity of our school community, in line with the Episcopal Church’s inclusive perspective. Many faith traditions are represented within WES, and we embrace opportunities for all in our community to share the wisdom and practices of their own religions. Our goal in religious instruction is to inform and explore, rather than to teach the beliefs of any particular tradition as truth, and our desire is to support each child’s spiritual development in ways that enrich their experience of their family’s own spiritual practice.
Episcopal and Anglican Communion churches around the world refer to the Five Marks of Mission to guide their ministries. The Five Marks summarize the mission of the Church and are based on the mission and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. As a school, the ways that we live out these Five Marks differs from those of churches, but these tenets serve as an important guide for our vision and our work together, as described below.