School Leadership & the Board Relationship |
One of the most vital relationships for any Christian school is that of the relationship among and between the school board and the school leadership. Why is this relationship so vital? First of all, if any members of the school board or the school leadership team are not passionately seeking after the authority of Christ in their lives - then where does the authority come from that is governing the school? If the school board tolerates anything short of Christlike living and behavior in its members' lives or at its board meetings, then this top down decline of spiritual leadership will permeate throughout the school. Furthermore, if the board not only governs from spiritual indifference but allows such in the school head as well as in the staff, then the Christian school is only such in name but not in function. If the school is to thrive, this relationship must first thrive.
Taking this relationship further, the question also needs to be asked whether your school governance encourages a Christ-honoring relationship between the school board and the school head. Do each truly love one another as God's servants called by Him to advance the school. On the downside, when this relationship is not for the glory of Christ, then there is much too frequent turnover of the school head and even the board members. However, it seems the school head is the first to go as it is easier to replace the coach than to change all the players. There needs to be a God-glorifying dignity that each loves and respects the other to properly use their God-given authority to humbly & lovingly serve the entire school community. Is there a holy reverence for God's authority and is His will prayerfully sought after by a kindred group desiring to glorify Him alone in this responsibility of school leadership? All too often, we see Christian schools fall into leadership strife and turmoil when there is hostility, distrust, micromanagement or contentiousness. However, the encouraging news is that we do not have to lead our Christian schools which are a sacred trust from God according to the methods and principles of the world.
Christian schools belong neither to the school board nor to the school leadership team but to our gracious and Almighty God only. It is therefore by His redeeming grace and His desire to be exalted as Lord in all truth that we get to serve Him by taking every leadership thought & practice obedient and captive to His will. Transformed and renewed leaders along with their leadership are the means by which our Lord Jesus Christ can truly use Christian schools to bring about the Great Commission as well as the Great Commandment within His absolute and universal truths.
When a Christian school encounters leadership strife, the spiritual condition of the leadership is the first area that needs to be assessed. The form or style of governance can only be assessed once the spiritual relationship of the leaders to God and one another has been optimized. Mature and Christlike leaders will rise above the situation. Whereas, merely changing the people, policy, system or style of school governance will sidestep more pressing needs/problems. Furthermore, when personal wills trump over the will of God in Christian school leadership, there will most likely be the ensuing breakdown of unity with its unnecessary dissension and conflict with overall poor school quality.
Because parents are seeking Christ-honoring schools with exacting standards and a razor sharp mission, we as school leaders must always be on the alert to protect the sacred calling of Christian schools. We cannot merely operate Christian schools as cleaned up versions of public education run by the personal wills of its leaders while ignoring God's good, pleasing and perfect will. Christian school leadership that is after the heart and mind of God raises the opportunity to move the school from mediocrity and towards excellence where the school can thrive even in such a time as this. Such leadership will cause others to sit up and take notice that this school is passionate about learning & living the truths after the heart and mind of God.
For further information, you may visit the Imago Dei Group website at www.ImagoDeiGroup.com or contact us for further information. You are most welcome to contact the Imago Dei Group for a complimentary phone consultation regarding how your Christian school's governance can be optimized to God's glory. We can be reached at 912-656-7567 M-F 9AM - 6PM EST.
To leave a comment or ask a question regarding this month's newsletter. Contact the Imago Dei Group at: http://imagodeigroup.com/contactus.aspx. We always look forward to your comments and to serving you.
America does not merely need more Christian schools, but better Christian schools.