Recently appointed chaplain at St John’s College Revd Dr Jeremy Jacobs is excited to critically engage with young minds at the school, enabling them to discover a meaningful sense of their spiritual identity and belonging.
Jacobs previously served as rector at St George’s Anglican Church and worked as a chaplain at Roedean School in Parktown.
“I believe my role is to model Christian life in contemporary society in ways that enable the boys to connect meaningfully with the lives we are preparing them for and integrate that sensibly with what it means to be a Christian in the 21st Century,” said Jacobs.
He looks forward to the challenge of addressing keen minds taught to think critically and analytically from a young age. “It is a great privilege to engage with young minds. I never leave a lesson without being illuminated by them.
“The definition of education has changed dramatically over the years. It is no longer a method of instruction, memorisation and regurgitation. We are not telling the boys what to think but teaching them how to think. When you set young minds free, their capacity for innovation and creativity is phenomenal.”
Jacobs’ job involves running chapel services, teaching conversational, interactional and contemporary divinity classes, and assisting in social outreach projects alongside a long list of other responsibilities.
“Divinity classes are open forums where students can address issues confronting their lives from an open Christian vantage point with much freedom of opinion and thought,” he said.
Jacobs explained that he has lived and worked all over the world with all religious groups. “I believe there are fundamental similarities between these religions… Everybody is looking for goodness, relationship, freedom and identity. Everybody wants to be loved. Religion must enable that process rather than stall it.”
He concluded, “I am so grateful for this opportunity to interact with young minds who have a variety of perspectives. Anything that challenges me is appealing and raises the bar. There is huge potential at this school that I want to contribute to.”
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