The Ellenbrook Christian College (ECC) staff gathered with SCEA representatives on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, to commission Mrs Michelle Schouten for her new role as Principal of ECC.
While Mr Doug Lake (ECC’s Head of Secondary) made the opening remarks linking the awkwardness of the terminology around a new Principal’s ‘induction’ and the birth of a new life being ‘induced’, it was Dr Graeme Cross (Chief Executive Officer – SCEA) who saw this process as more of a ‘commissioning’ – a term often used in churches when a missionary is released to far-flung locations in the world as God’s messenger to the people.
The concept of ‘mission’ has connotations within our context, with our Principals leading our open-enrolment schools in communities with numerous opportunities to connect with local churches.
Dr Cross spoke of the anointing in Isaiah 6, symbolising the cleansing and atonement of sins before preparation for ministry.
He also presented Mrs Schouten with a gift on behalf of the SCEA community – a picture of Mrs Schouten with the Head Boy and Head Girl to hang in her office.
Pastor Terry Nightingale from Ellenbrook Baptist Church (which meets at the ECC campus each Sunday) prayed a blessing on Mrs Schouten and the ECC community before the gathered group sang the worship song ‘Goodness of God’ and enjoyed some afternoon tea together.
