June 9, 2020
Dear CCS Families,
Yesterday, the funeral of George Floyd once again brought this horrific miscarriage of justice to the forefront of our nation’s consciousness. The manner of Floyd’s death was a travesty, and there are no words to describe the righteous outrage against such an action, as well as many, many previous examples of such brutality. To the African American community, Calumet Christian School extends to you our deepest sympathies and solidarity in the cause of erasing racism from our nation. We acknowledge in our own history as a school that we have not elevated this cause to a high enough level of priority, for which we ask your forgiveness.
The mission of Calumet Christian School is to support families by equipping students spiritually, academically, socially, and physically through Biblical truth to serve God faithfully. This mission is true for all families and all students who are willing to have an education built on the Word of God. There is no tolerance for racial discrimination in our admission or academic policies and practices. Prejudice, when found in the actions and attitudes of teachers and students, is dealt with as the sin for which it is. But in the words of Pastor Steve Wells in George Floyd’s funeral today, “We are better than we used to be, but we are not as good as we ought to be and that is not good enough." We pray that we will continue to grow in our sensitivity to the racial imbalance, throughout history and in the present.
We are proud of the diversity of the CCS student body, but we will continue to seek to strengthen that in our student body and staff. We recognize not only our African American community but our Hispanic population as well, knowing that each individual minority student faces challenges of different types to be overcome. As a start, we will pursue parent, student, and alumni input toward fostering improved race relationships, and we will seek opportunities to expand diversity in chapel worship.
The heavenly kingdom of God is described in Revelation 7: 9, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’" (NKJ). It continues to be the prayer of our administration that CCS will reflect on earth what God promises to be the eternal state – all races together unified to the glory of God. This is essential as CCS truly desires to be a community Christian school in NW Indiana.
Let me conclude with an admonition to hold the gospel in highest priority. All the peace we may achieve on earth still is not enough if you do not have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Eternity in true heavenly unity is only possible through faith in Christ.