Immanuel School founder would question defiance of county health order over COVID-19

I, a Mennonite with strong roots in the Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches, am grieved to see Immanuel High School’s decision to meet face to face this fall amidst a raging pandemic. I want the public to know that not all Mennonites/MB’s agree with this decision. In fact, many of us are dismayed by it. Let me give more context and explain why I feel I can speak to this matter.

My grandfather, J.N.C. Hiebert, was one of the very first principals of Immanuel High School, a man with high integrity as well as care and compassion for those around him. He was instrumental in getting this school off the ground, and I am proud of his work laying the groundwork for a fine Christian school. My father was a dedicated church leader in the M.B. Church and at one time president of the M.B. Biblical Seminary (now the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary). Although both of them are no longer living, I am confident that both of them would have opposed this opening, for reasons which I will explain.

In addition, my husband graduated from Immanuel High School and was the student body president his senior year. He is strongly against Immanuel opening. There are other graduates of IHS, former parents of IHS students, as well as former faculty of IHS who also disagree with Immanuel’s decision.

The school is arguing that “Preventing schools from teaching students on campus is detrimental to students’ academic, physical, emotional, and spiritual development.” But the decision to open a school to face-to-face instruction is putting the larger community at risk of COVID-19 spread. Such a risk to other people in the community flies in the face of Mennonite belief in Biblical teaching about caring for others, particularly the most vulnerable. Jesus’ words are paramount here: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40). If the young people, teachers or staff get exposed and take this out in the community, those who are more fragile, elderly, or struggling with crowded housing conditions will suffer most.

Furthermore, the Mennonite’s belief in the value of community means that we care about others at least as much as ourselves. To put the needs (education) of those in the Immanuel community above those in the larger Reedley and Fresno communities (the rest of whom have reluctantly but prudently moved to temporary on-line education) is not the Mennonite way.

While Immanuel might think it is their “religious freedom” to conduct school, this decision has little to do with religion or freedom. Freedom must be acted on in the context of responsible community behavior, and the act of Immanuel disregarding the health and safety protocols of local, state, and federal officials gives a stain on the reputation of Christians generally and of the real meaning of freedom. There is no state mandate saying Immanuel cannot operate because it is a Christian school, but rather that we all need to creatively educate in the present situation to prevent the death of additional innocent people.

As good as Christian education is, or any education for that matter, it is not something that we pursue at the cost of the health and safety of those most vulnerable in our society. To defy that order is like declaring the ‘freedom” to not wear a mask: a misplaced freedom that elevates individual rights far above society’s right to have a reasonable assurance for health and safety.

My hope and prayer is that the great legacy of Immanuel, which has produced so many wonderful leaders, teachers, pastors and more, will not be defined by this contentious moment but the ideals of love and compassion for all God’s people — the way my grandfather and father would have intended it to be.

This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 11:58 AM.