Graham C Preston and John Norsworthy 

On behalf of 

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

Contents

1.  Why You Should Consider a Christian School

2.  Where Do We Start? – Clarifying the Vision

3.  Promoting the Vision

4.  Steering Committee Stage

5.  Defining the Parameters and Governance Structures

6.  Government Requirements

7.  Board of Trustees

8.  Board of Governors

9.  Board of Reference

10. Parent Teacher Association / Friends of the School

11. Things Not to Do !

12. Support and Advice

13. Some Helpful Reading

1 . Why You Should Consider a Christian School

1.1 God is the creator of the universe, the source of all knowledge and wisdom.

1.2 The 1877 New Zealand Education Act requires that state provided education be secular. This has come to mean without reference to God as the source of meaning. Instead of discovering God's meaning in creation, man becomes the meaning­maker whilst claiming to be neutral. It is actually man-centred.

1.3 God has given mankind the task of developing and caring for his creation in fellowship with the Creator. Humanism as a religious force has taken on the tasks on man's own terms.

Christian education should prepare our children to take this God-given task in the Spirit and Power of the Gospel. We need to live out a Christian World View if we are to live for Christ.

1.4 The Church's task is to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples and encourage them in their calling. The State's task is to maintain law and order, and to promote justice. The parent's task is to educate their children. That involves deciding what type of education they desire for their children. A Christian School helps Christian parents give the best possible God-centred education.

1.5 A Christian School is one where the Bible, devotions and prayers are more than a religious extra to the curriculum. The Word of God should be central to the whole curriculum.

1.6 The Christian School prepares a child to serve the Lord in his world, rather than being a mere 'hot house' to separate them from the community. It helps children to appreciate the fullness of the Christian task and to be “salt” in the earth.

1.7 The Christian School demonstrates principles, attitudes and ideas that are rooted in the Gospel

1.8 A Christian School can be interdenominational, controlled by an association of parents or a board of Trustees.

1.9 A Christian school should not be elitist, but open to all. The Biblical teaching regarding the Christian's responsibility of sharing finance is taken seriously.