by Jeremy Halcrow
Dubbed a ‘pyramid scheme of grace’, the concept of ‘pay it on’ where you give money away with the request the recipient uses it for the good of others has received much publicity in the United States. Now the idea has received a new twist at Penrith Anglican College, in Sydney’s west.
Inspired by a church in Western Australia who gave cash to its parishioners with the request they use it for ministry, a school parent generously gave $50 to each of the school’s 42 chaplaincy groups.
“We explained to them the purpose was to see what they could generate for an organisation that was overtly Christian,” said headmaster Barry Roots.
Each chaplaincy group chose its own organisation to partner with the final list of groups supported by the students ranging from well known organisations such as Anglicare and CMS to struggling ministries such as one outback church. This partnership program was backed by teaching on the concept of ‘partnering in the gospel’ from Philipp-ians in school chapel and divinity classes.
The chaplaincy groups devised ways to use the $50 to raise more money for their ‘partner’ organisations. Ideas included a car wash, food stalls and a fashion parade. Most chaplaincy groups at least doubled their $50, with the total amount raised by the students in excess of $6,000.
George Statheos, who co-ordinated the program with fellow chaplain, the Rev Greg Lees, admitted that sometimes evangelicals struggle with promoting charity out of a fear of encouraging a ‘good works’ theology. He said the advantage of the partnership program is that it ‘genuinely supports people but within a biblical framework’.
“It’s been an exciting way to teach a Christian principle – that self is not first,” he said.
Designed literally submerged into a hill, the state-of-the-art college is one of a new breed of Anglican schools being established on Sydney’s fringes. The students are not taught in classes based on age but on ability groupings. Such innovation also extends to the religious education program, and chapel is always led by the students.
“There aren’t many schools that employ two full time chaplains,” said Mr Roots. “The message of the gospel and academic excellence have on par emphasis here. They are wholly compatible and equally important.”
