For Whom the (Chapel) Bell Tolls
Gerrit M. Keator, Headmaster 1979-1989
Ever since its earliest days, the affiliation of Pomfret’s Clark Chapel with the Episcopal Church has been cause for debate and, in the case of progressive headmaster David Twichell, was even a contributing factor in his decision to resign. In the mid-eighties, with the announcement by Gerrit Keator and the Board of Trustees that Thursday chapel attendance would once again be mandatory, and that a full-time Episcopal chaplain was being sought, the delicate issue was raised anew. By way of explaining the position of Pomfret’s Board and administration, Mr. Keator quoted a passage from the Reverend John Verdery (longtime headmaster of Wooster School):
Once, years ago, a young Jewish girl new to our school complained that she didn’t think she should have to go to chapel. She said, “I think you’re brainwashing me.”
“No, Sarah,” I said, “we are not brainwashing you. We are merely confronting you with our convictions in order to make it clear to you that it is terribly important for you to develop your own.”
A few weeks later, she asked me if I would baptize her a Christian. “Your brainwashing worked,” she said.
I said, “Let’s go talk to your rabbi about it first.”
“No,” she said, “I’ll go talk to him myself.” She did, and later finished her Jewish confirmation classes and was accepted in the Temple.
If what I did was right, I think it would have been harder to do in a non-church-related school. There may have been a time when church-related schools thought it their mission to convert all their students to their own faith. I doubt if any think that now. Their communities, both students and faculty, have changed too much for that. And besides, I don’t think it ever was a very sound principle of education.
In his own words, Mr. Keator shared his thoughts on the issue with the student body, and ultimately with the alumni:
“Pomfret School is not out to brainwash you. Our aim is to expose you through the classroom, through every extracurricular activity, through every possible aspect of all of our programs —chapel included — to every possible school of thought, every possible faith, if you will. Clark Chapel is an extension of the School Building, Du Pont Library, Monell Science Building, Hard Auditorium, Main House, Strong Field House and Student Center, Lewis Gymnasium, the playing fields, and, of course, the dormitories. I hope that your experience in the chapel will be one of many important experiences you have at Pomfret and that you will find Clark Chapels wherever you are in your lives.”
