2016 ALC Opening lecture

Transcription

1 Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls By Tania Nelsn 2016 ALC Opening lecture

2 Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls By Tania Nelsn 2016 ALC Opening lecture Published by Australian Lutheran Cllege 104 Jeffctt Street Nrth Adelaide SA 5006 Australia Ph: + 61 (0) Fax: + 61 (0) alc@alc.edu.au Cpyright 2016 Australian Lutheran Cllege Versin 1.00 C911 Apprved: 17/04/2018 Australian Lutheran Cllege

3 Cntents Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls... 4 Intrductin... 4 Cntext... 4 Research design... 5 Findings... 5 Characteristics f missinal leadership... 8 Recmmendatins Appendix A: Self-reflectin Tl References Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 3 f 16

4 Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Intrductin Leadership des matter. We applaud leadership skills like decisiveness in decisin making and the ability t plan strategically, and we readily recgnise gd rganisatinal skills in ur leaders. We are als quick t nte when leadership gets it wrng. We may ntice a lack f cnsultatin befre a decisin is made, r a shrt term slutin with n apparent lng term plan. On the whle it is fairly easy t list varius managerial skills that leaders require, thrugh recgnising what we admire in ur leaders and perhaps what is lacking in sme thers. But what abut the leadership skills required when the leader has versight f a schl cmmunity and a faith cmmunity? Schl and cngregatinal leadership matters t. The skills required t lead a schl cmmunity and faith cmmunity are far mre than having gd managerial skills, thugh these skills are helpful. Tday s pening lecture draws upn my research int the cntributins f pastrs and principals t the missin f Lutheran primary schls. In sharing with yu tday abut the research yu ll hear f the perceptins f primary principals and cngregatinal pastrs in the field in regard t their cmmunity leadership actins, their spiritual leadership actins, and their views f Lutheran schls. Thugh the current research was limited t leadership in Lutheran primary schls, I cntend that many f the findings are transferable t Lutheran secndary schls and faith-based schls wh are cncerned with being a Christian witness in the wrld. I ll cnclude tday s lecture by prpsing eight characteristics f missinal leaders and by making sme recmmendatins that are applicable t principals, pastrs, district and reginal ffices, Lutheran Educatin Australia and the Cllege f Bishps and even ALC is nt immune t my recmmendatins. But befre I begin I had better lay ut my credentials fr speaking n this tpic as I am neither a principal nr a pastr and this lecture fcuses n the leadership prvided by the Lutheran schl principal and the pastr f the supprting cngregatin. Cntext Firstly, my backgrund in teaching in Lutheran schls and service in varius rles n schl and church cuncils and n the Bard fr Lutheran Educatin Australia has allwed me t have an understanding f the cntext f leading in Lutheran schls. Perhaps a mre imprtant credential fr speaking n this tpic is the research I cnducted in My dctral research (which is almst cmpleted) is titled Building Bridges: Explring the cntributins f principals and pastrs t the missin f Lutheran primary schls. As a backgrund t the research, my passin t explre, t uncver, hw pastrs and principals cntribute t the missin f Lutheran schls was ignited in I was a delegate t the Natinal Synd held in Tanunda where Synd verwhelmingly vted in favur f the Hand in Hand Schls and Missin Visin Statement. BE IT RESOLVED that the fllwing Visin Statement be adpted. The missin f the LCA is t share the lve f Gd in Christ with the wrld. Lutheran schls prvide the church with many pprtunities t make cntact with the peple f lcal cmmunities and t respnd t their physical and spiritual need, and s t bth demnstrate and declare the gracius lve f Gd. Cngregatins and schls are encuraged t be mre intentinal, diligent, sensitive and flexible in respnding t these missin pprtunities (LCA, 2000). Page 4 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

5 I was ne f the many delegates wh prudly vted fr cngregatins and schls t be mre intentinal, diligent, sensitive and flexible in respnding t missin pprtunities. I was als struck by the hw f this statement. Hw culd I, as a cngregatinal member and a staff member in a Lutheran schl, be mre intentinal, diligent, sensitive and flexible? S the jurney began t uncver hw excellent, innvative leaders respnd t missin pprtunities in schls. T cut a lng stry shrt, I had cnversatins with the District Bishps f the LCA and the Executive Officers f the Lutheran Educatin regins. Six schls and cngregatinal sites were identified as being prgressive and successful in fulfilling the missin f the Lutheran primary schl tw sites frm each f the three Lutheran Educatin regins. The lcatins frtuitusly included rural and metrplitan Lutheran primary schls, small and large schls, a mixture f male and female principals and leaders with extensive experience and limited experience. Research design The research methds included unstructured interviews f the principal and pastr tgether at their site. The interviews were unstructured s that the leaders culd direct the cnversatin t what was imprtant t them. The nly guidance regarding the directin f the interview was in the frm f the research questins: Hw d principals cntribute t the missin f Lutheran primary schls? Hw d pastrs cntribute t the missin f Lutheran primary schls? Naturally the cnversatins uncvered what the interviewees perceived as the missin f their schl, and Lutheran schls in general, and their actins that cntribute t the missin, and cvered tpics such as preparatin fr leadership and what is spiritual leadership? Using grunded thery methdlgy, with line by line cding f the interview transcripts (Denzin & Lincln, 2003), themes began t emerge. These emerging themes were further verified by surveying (via SurveyMnkey) the chrt f primary principals (there were 46 primary principals in 2013) and the supprting pastr identified by the principal. In the case f a schl with mre than ne supprting cngregatin r multiple pastrs invlved in the schl the principal was asked t select the pastr wh was mst invlved in the schl at that pint in time t participate in the electrnic survey. Findings Hw did the principals and pastrs perceive the missin f the Lutheran primary schl? Befre I answer that questin, please nte that I did nt prvide a definitin fr missin in the interviews and survey. Rather the perceptins f missin arse frm the data, that is, frm the grund up, hence the research methdlgy is termed grunded thery (Charmaz, 2000). The principals and pastrs perceived the missin f the schl as intrinsically cnnected t the schl s culture. They were deeply aware f the culture and needs f the schl cmmunity and their rle in meeting the needs. In ne lcatin bth pastr and principal cmmented n the extent f psitive male rle mdels within the schl cmmunity which had develped ver time and was largely due, they believed, t the strength f the shed-men grup and its influence ver bth church and schl. The principals and pastrs perceived the missin f the schl as strengthened thrugh staff and parent partnerships. They valued and invested in thse relatinships in mney, time and resurces. They saw the missin as multi-faceted including the educatin f the whle child fr life; nurturing staff, students and parents in the faith; reaching ut t all with the faith; and serving the cmmunity and beynd. The persistent use f the metaphrs f nurture, utreach (r missin), service and vcatin cnfirms and builds upn frmer ALC lecturer Meryl Jennings dctral research (2009) n Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 5 f 16

6 dminant metaphric cnstructs f Lutheran educatin. They viewed the missin f their schl as primarily witnessing the faith. And they viewed their rle in regard t the missin f the schl as a calling r having a deep mral purpse. They were cmmitted t their schl and t Lutheran schling. When separating the data int principal and pastr chrts sme differences in perceptins were evident. The principals perceived the missin as part f the brader reasn fr the existence f Lutheran schls, believing that Lutheran schls exist firstly t prepare students fr their vcatin and fr life and secndly t reach ut t thse wh dn t knw Jesus as their Saviur. The pastr chrt als perceived the missin f the schl as ne part r aspect f the brader reasn fr the existence f Lutheran schls. They believed that Lutheran schls exist primarily t prepare students fr their vcatin and fr life, hwever the pastrs rated nurturing students and their families as the secndary reasn fr the existence r purpse f Lutheran schls. This is a subtle thugh interesting difference between the pastr and principal chrts, and may be explained by the inherently nurturing rle r nature f the pastr, r the servant rle that they play within the schl. The principals and pastrs were asked t cmment n each ther s cntributins t the missin f the schl. Generally the principals and pastrs perceived each ther s cntributins as evidence f cmmitment t a shared ministry and they valued the imprtance f their unity and shared visin. A small number f surveyed principals and pastrs hinted at lcal difficulties between the pastr and principal. Pastr attitudes are cited as detrimental t schl grwth by past parents. (principal: SurveyMnkey) it is difficult when ne party des nt immerse themselves int the cngregatin s the cngregatin can better cnnect t the schl. (pastr: SurveyMnkey) Our relatinship is gd, trusting and significant but is nt all that it culd be. (pastr: SurveyMnkey) These cmments are hardly surprising when we are dealing with peple and relatinships and, in the case f the pastr and principal, what shuld be a significant prfessinal relatinship. It was pleasing t nte hwever the verall high level f cperatin and cllabratin between principals and pastrs which appears t represent a shift in practice frm that reprted in Bartel s dctral research (2004). When separating the data n perceptins f each ther s cntributins, the principals perceived the pastr s cntributin as enhancing a united and caring cmmunity. In answering the survey questin regarding the pastr s actins, the principals reprted that the pastrs firstly prmte student participatin in Sunday wrship and, equal secnd, prmte child/yuth prgrams and the ffering f cunselling and supprt. The pastrs perceived that the principals actins impact the missin f the cngregatin and the pastrs reprted that the principals prmte parental invlvement and jint schl/church activities. The principals and pastrs were asked t cmment n the extent that they prmted the missin f the primary schl cmmunity. This is an area that is difficult t quantify. It wuld have been cunterprductive t ask the interview r survey participants t calculate the amunt f time spent in leadership actins that cntribute t the missin f the schl as they clearly viewed their rle twards in missin as part and parcel f their calling and f all their actins. One principal said: Everything that we d is abut prmting the missin f the schl, therwise what s the pint? It cmes dwn t the peple yu emply, the prgrams that yu run and the things that yu say, that s the main thing. It s gt t be at the frefrnt f every decisin that yu Page 6 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

7 make. It s whether r nt it s really ging t serve the schl and its purpse (principal: interview E). The principals and pastrs perceived that they prmted the missin by valuing students and families as c-cntributrs t, and beneficiaries f, the missin. They placed wrship as central t the life f the schl (and this priritising f wrship has implicatins n timetabling as well as prmtin and resurcing). They valued and wrked t enhance the culture f care and cmmunity. They recgnised the imprtance f staff recruitment and develpment, valuing staff as frnt-line prmters f the missin. In all the interviews the imprtance f emplying Christian staff was highlighted. Investment in the staff, nt nly in terms f recruiting staff, but als in terms f the spiritual develpment f staff was cnsidered an essential aspect f furthering the missin f the schl. One principal cmmented: S that gets back t the imprtance t emply peple wh are passinate abut their wrk, cmmitted t their faith, their beliefs, and being able t bring thse tw tgether t give that quality in educatin (principal: interview A). The data frm the principal chrt shws that the principals perceived that they prmted the missin in all their actins, and devted significant time t encuraging parental invlvement and ensuring the centrality f wrship within the schl. The pastrs reprted that they devted their time in the schl t invlvement in, and prmtin f, child and yuth prgrams and jint schl/church activities. S hw did the principals and pastrs perceive that they cntributed t the missin f Lutheran primary schls? They cntributed t the missin in their rle as schl missinal leaders; alngside staff as valued partners, that is, they viewed their leadership as a partnership with the staff r, t use an educatinal leadership term, they were practising distributed leadership (Harris, 2008); by uniting the cmmunity fr missin; and by priritising the spiritual dimensin f the schl. Again, if we separate the data, the principals perceived that they cntributed t the missin f their schl by invlving themselves acrss the breadth f the schl cmmunity, and by their spiritual versight f the schl, whereas the pastrs perceived that they cntributed t the missin by invlving themselves acrss the schl and church cmmunity, and by serving the schl. S far I ve presented varius aspects f my research frm the principals and pastrs as a grup and then frm the principal chrt nly and the pastr chrt nly. It was als interesting t separate the interview data, and the survey data. Here we nte again that the interviewees were purpsefully sampled. That means that the interviewees were intentinally selected in cnjunctin with the District Bishps and reginal executive fficers because they were recgnised as leaders wh were prgressive and successful in furthering the missin f the schl. The survey, in cntrast, went t all primary principals and lcal supprting pastrs, s this grup was mre likely t respnd with a greater range f views. When cmparing the interview and survey respnses, f particular nte was the discussin n the spiritual headship f the principal. The interviewed principals and pastrs all agreed that the principal was the spiritual head f the schl. One pastr said: It is s imprtant fr the pastr and principal t have a relatinship and a gd understanding. And my understanding always is, we bth understand that, Christ is the head f the schl but under Him [the principal] is the spiritual head f the schl. We supprt that and we are ministers f the gspel but the head f the schl, I ve always cntended sme chaplains have argued we can t talk abut the [principal s name] as the spiritual head. Of curse they are! (pastr: interview D) Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 7 f 16

8 One principal, in acknwledging his spiritual headship rle, was keen t pint ut that his relatinship with his pastr was deferential and respectful: The nly bit that wrries me abut that [being the spiritual head f the schl], I still wuld dip my hat and defer t the pastr, being respectful t the pastr in that ne. He s ur trained thelgian. I als feel that I need t be [the spiritual head], being the CEO f the schl, and my rle is t link the schl int the church. And bviusly there s a lt f wrship that happens in the schl withut Pastr being invlved. But I wuld still defer t the pastr (principal: interview B). The majrity f the survey respndents als viewed the principal as the spiritual head f the schl. One survey questin asked the respndents t indicate hw cmfrtable they are with cnsidering the principal as the spiritual head f the schl. Seventy-five percent f all respndents replied that they were cmfrtable with the ntin f the principal as the spiritual head f the schl. There was hwever quite a spread in respnses n the five pint scale, with twenty-five percent either neutral, smewhat uncmfrtable r nt cmfrtable. The discrepancy between the interview and survey results in this area indicates that there is mre t d in understanding the spiritual leadership rle f the principal. The tpic f preparatin fr leadership arse in the interviews and was further explred in the survey. A number f the interviewed pastrs acknwledged that a paradigm shift was required t minister in a schl, thugh they apprached this required shift by accepting that they were nt the experts and had much t learn frm the principal. The survey respndents were asked t cmment n whether the training and preparatin they received fr their rle in the schl reflected the demands placed n them. There was a brad mix f respnses t this pen-ended questin. Of the 30 substantive respnses, nine were psitive, six were neutral, and fifteen were negative. With regard t the psitive respnses, ne pastr was thankful fr the time spent in Lutheran primary and secndary schls as part f the seminary field educatin prgram, as well as his vicarage placement in a cngregatin attached t a schl. A principal cmmented: I was blessed with cmpleting ver tw years at Luther Seminary and have als cmpleted a Master f Educatin with ALC. Over the years I have taken advantage f many excellent inservice pprtunities i.e. Grief Cunselling, Cnflict Management, etc. (principal: SurveyMnkey) Amng the negative cmments, mentin was made f a general inadequacy f training, and cmments were included such as: What training? ; I was trained as a pastr with n preparatin being given fr schl pastr ; Little preparatin and training fr the rle f principal ; and Very little n leadership thrugh initial training The six neutral respnses had a qualifying r justifying cmment. These neutral respnses emphasised the fllwing training and preparatin was gained ver time and with n the jb experiences; training and preparatin was intentinally sught by the principal r pastr; training and preparatin ccurred thrugh being part f a team and/r a District. The high level f negative cmments in regard t leadership preparatin, particularly frm the pastr chrt, shws that there is mre t d in this area. Characteristics f missinal leadership In explring the cntributins f principals and pastrs t the missin f Lutheran primary schls, a set f characteristics f missinal leaders emerged. The fllwing statements frm a prpsed thery, which has emerged frm analysis f the findings, n what cnstitutes principals and pastrs cntributins t the missin f the schl. Page 8 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

9 Table 1. Characteristics f missinal principals and pastrs Table 1 Twards a thery: characteristics f missinal principals and pastrs in Lutheran primary schls Lutheran primary principals and pastrs: read the culture f the schl cmmunity, enhance its psitive elements and meet needs within the cmmunity. understand and articulate the missin f their schl and Lutheran educatin. They view the missin as witnessing the faith. understand the distinctin between the reasn fr the existence f Lutheran schls and the missin. They view the purpse f Lutheran educatin is t prepare students fr life in vcatin. perceive the missin, and their rle in the missin, as a calling and are cmmitted t their schl and t Lutheran educatin. wrk tgether cllabratively t prmte and enhance the missin. unify the cmmunity in and fr missin. are active in bth cngregatin and schl, and value each ther s distinctive cntributins t the missin. develp, value and invest in relatinships t benefit the missin. value students and their families as missin cntributrs and beneficiaries. fcus n prmting and resurcing a caring cmmunity. fcus n develping, nurturing and valuing staff fr the benefit f the missin. serve the schl as missinal leaders. place Christ at the centre f the life f the schl cmmunity. are spiritual leaders f the schl cmmunity. The cntributins f principals and pastrs t the missin f their schls has been cnceptualised in the current research int eight categries. The categries witness, vcatin, calling, unity, relatinships, care, service and Christ-centredness are the elements f the thery as illustrated in this visual representatin (see Figure 1). The image f the Luther Rse has been used t cnvey the essential elements that principals and pastrs bring t the missin f the schl. Missinal principals and pastrs ensure the schl is Christ-centred, as depicted by the crss f Christ, and that Christ is at the heart f the schl cmmunity. This Christ-centredness impacts and radiates frm the schl s cre t all elements f the schl cmmunity. Principals and pastrs enhance, prmte and strive t build a unified cmmunity as shwn thrugh the gld ring that envelpes the rse. Gld, a precius metal, represents the preciusness f a united cmmunity under Christ. Principals and pastrs build and enhance a culture f care, and bring an attitude f service t their leadership. They perceive Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 9 f 16

10 their leadership rle as a calling and having a deep mral purpse. They value relatinships with staff, students and families fr the benefit f the missin f the schl. Their actins and activities aim t ensure that the schl is a witness fr Christ t the cmmunity. Caring, serving, viewing their rle as calling, valuing relatinships, and witnessing are the petals f the rse and imbue their leadership rle with perfume. These elements sit under the principals and pastrs view f Lutheran educatin as vcatin, that is principals and pastrs view their actins and the actins f thers arund them as participating in Gd s cntinuus creative wrk in the wrld. Figure 1. Visual representatin f the characteristics f missinal principals and pastrs Lutheran educatin as Vcatin Unify Care ensure Christ is central are Called Serve Witness Value Relatinships Figure 1. Elements that principals and pastrs bring t the missin f the Lutheran primary schl. Recmmendatins In light f the findings and the emerging characteristics f missinal leaders in Lutheran schls, the fllwing recmmendatins are ffered. Recmmendatins 1 and 2 Cntributing t the missin f the schl A self-reflectin tl was develped based n the emergent characteristics f missinal leaders (see Appendix A: Self-reflectin Tl) which may assist leaders t reflect n their individual characteristics and lcal circumstances. Leaders f faith-based schls, wh perceive the missin f their schl as a witness t the grace f Gd, are encuraged t reflect deeply n their leadership and explre the dimensins f missinal leadership. It is recmmended that principals, pastrs and leaders f faith-based schls regularly reflect n the missin f their schl, and their cntributins t the missin. In cnsidering hw Page 10 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

11 they prmte and enhance the missin f their schl, it is further suggested that they reflect n their cntributins by cnsidering dimensins f missinal leadership as articulated in the Self-reflectin Tl (see Appendix A). The principals and pastrs wh participated in the interviews articulated sme cmmn actins in regard t the missin f their schl. The survey data revealed that the relatinship between church and schl leadership was nt psitive in sme instances. The fllwing recmmendatin suggests that leaders f faith-based schls adpt missinal actins fr the benefit f the missin f their schls. It is recmmended that principals, pastrs and leaders f faith-based schls ensure that the witness f the schl t the saving grace f Gd remains at the frefrnt f their cnsciusness. In cnsidering their actins t prmte and enhance the Christian witness f the schl, it is further suggested that leaders: meet regularly t discuss the missin f the schl; cllabrate with staff and parents in furthering the missin; develp and prmte a cmmn visin fr the missin; priritise spiritual leadership f the cmmunity; and invlve themselves acrss the schl and lcal faith cmmunity. Recmmendatin 3 In-service training f principals and pastrs The need fr in-service training fr principals and fr pastrs wh minister in a schl was evidenced in the current research. While the principals and pastrs agreed that the leadership f bth pastr and principal is extremely imprtant in furthering the missin f the schl, a majrity f principals and pastrs perceived that they had received little r n preparatin fr schl leadership. It is recmmended that the Lutheran Church f Australia (LCA) district ffices and Lutheran Educatin Australia (LEA) reginal ffices priritise facilitating regular principal/pastr seminars where reflectin and dialgue can ccur n issues such as missin f the schl, ministry rles, schl/church cmmunity leadership, and leadership f the pastr within the schl. The aim f such seminars wuld be t build bridges, and remve barriers, between the schl cmmunity and cmmunity f the lcal cngregatin r faith cmmunity. Recmmendatins 4 and 5 Pre-service preparatin and in-service training f pastrs Lutheran Educatin Australia (LEA) recgnises the imprtance f principal preparatin as demnstrated by the develpment and ffering f the Leadership Develpment Prgram (the sixth iteratin f the Leadership Develpment Prgram begins in 2016). The majrity f surveyed pastrs, hwever, viewed that insufficient preparatin fr schl ministry was received frm the pre-service pastral thelgy prgram ffered at Australian Lutheran Cllege and n crdinated training r frmatin was available fr pastrs upn entering ministry that included a schl. It is recmmended that the LCA thrugh the Cllege f Bishps and Australian Lutheran Cllege explre the suitability f pastral candidates fr schl ministry rles and prvide intentinal pre-service training fr schl ministry with input frm serving principals and schl pastrs. It is als recmmended that the Cllege f Bishps, tgether with LEA and Australian Lutheran Cllege, develp a prgram f schl pastr preparatin and supprt. The preservice cmpnent f the prgram culd aim t prvide graduate pastrs with knwledge and skills t minister within the schl setting. The in-service training cmpnent culd aim t supprt pastrs transitining frm cngregatinal ministry t schl, r schl and cngregatinal, ministry. Additinally it culd aim t prvide pastrs with leadership training t equip them t serve in the schl under the versight f the principal. The in-service Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 11 f 16

12 cmpnent may benefit frm the learnings gained thrugh the develpment f Lutheran Educatin Australia s Leadership Develpment Prgram fr aspiring principals and leaders. Recmmendatin 6 In-service training fr leadership The current research supprts a rigrus training pathway t assist Lutheran educatin in its prvisin f leaders. The fllwing recmmendatin urges in-service training fr staff in faith-based schls that develps understandings f the values and beliefs that underpin leadership actins and engages in the dialgue between educatin and thelgy. It is recmmended that Lutheran Educatin Australia set a high and aspiratinal standard fr the training f Christian Studies teachers and fr leaders which ensures that participants explre mtivatins/persnal values and the dialgue between educatin and thelgy. The training wuld assist participants t embed reflective practice and nging dialgue between thelgy and educatin int their leadership actin. Recmmendatin 7 Dialgue n spiritual headship and spiritual leadership The spiritual headship f the principal and the spiritual leadership f the pastr and principal are areas that require further explratin fr bth pastrs and principals in Lutheran schls. It is recmmended that LEA, in cnjunctin with the LCA, prvide pprtunities fr dialgue n the spiritual headship f the principal and the spiritual leadership rle f the pastr. It is further recmmended that the dialgues lead t a discussin paper t assist future pastrs and principals t define and enact their spiritual leadership rles within the schl. The dialgues and discussin paper wuld assist in defining ministry and spiritual leadership rles and in the prvisin f innvative missinal leadership. Recmmendatins 8 and 9 Prvisin f spiritual frmatin pprtunities fr leaders In the current research the need fr nging spiritual frmatin f principals and pastrs fr their missin rles in the schl was highlighted. It is recmmended that the LCA district ffices and LEA reginal ffices prvide pprtunities fr spiritual frmatin f principals, schl pastrs and ther key missinal leaders in rder t cnnect the leaders, ffer them pprtunities fr spiritual renewal, and prepare them t serve their cmmunities. The prvisin f spiritual frmatin pprtunities fr all in leadership priritises persnal spiritual renewal, creates cnnectins and develps missinal leaders wh are prepared fr service. It is als recmmended that the district and reginal ffices cllabrate t establish a prgram f intentinal mentring fr new schl pastrs, principals and ther key leaders t assist them t define and prmte a cmmn visin fr the missin f their schl, and a shared understanding f their rles in cntributing t the missin. Recmmendatin 10 Explring missinal leadership in faith-based schls The current research identified a lacuna between the interviewed pastrs and principals wh readily expressed a cmmn visin fr the missin f their schl and the surveyed pastrs and principals. This gap highlights the need fr dialgue. The current research als revealed that lcal difficulties between pastr and principal meant that the partnership between the cngregatin and the schl was impacted. It is recmmended that regular pprtunities fr lcal dialgues be facilitated by reginal and district ffices t encurage pastrs, principals and key stakehlders t explre the characteristics f missinal leadership. These dialgues wuld aim t assist schls and cngregatins t walk hand in hand in missin and ministry. They wuld prvide leaders with understanding and skills t enact their missinal leadership rle. Page 12 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

13 T cnclude tday s lecture, I ask yu t cnsider yur missinal leadership rle. We are all called t be missinaries, t further Gd s missin. I pray that yu take time t reflect n yur missinal actins and cntributins and be a light in yur cmmunity. Preach the gspel at all times and, when necessary, use wrds. Francis f Assisi Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 13 f 16

14 Appendix A: Self-reflectin Tl Prmting and enhancing the missin f the schl: a self-reflectin tl fr leaders in Lutheran primary schls Characteristics f missinal leaders Cmment I am able t articulate the culture f the schl. I recgnise the psitive and negative elements f the schl s culture. I enhance the psitive elements f the schl s culture by I minimise the negative elements f the schl s culture by I recgnise the needs within the schl cmmunity. I meet the needs within the schl cmmunity by I develp and value relatinships with teaching staff by I develp and value relatinships with nn-teaching staff by I develp and value relatinships with students by I develp and value relatinships with families by I priritise the develpment f relatinships by I am able t articulate the missin f the schl. I am able t articulate the missin f Lutheran educatin. The schl is a Christian witness t the cmmunity thrugh I am able t articulate my rle in regard t the missin f the schl. I participate in Gd s cntinuing creative wrk in preparing students fr life in vcatin by I participate in Gd s cntinuing creative wrk within schl families by I participate in Gd s cntinuing creative wrk within schl staff by I am able t articulate the relatinship between the Lutheran church and the schl. I am able t articulate the reasn fr the existence f the schl. I cllabrate with fellw schl leaders in prmting and enhancing the missin f the schl by I mdel cllabratin in the schl and church cmmunity by I value the leadership f thers in the schl and church cmmunity by I am active in the church cmmunity thrugh I value the cntributins f students t the schl cmmunity by Page 14 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls

15 I value the cntributins f families t the schl cmmunity by I value wrship in the schl by I place wrship at the centre f the life f the schl cmmunity by I prmte the faith cmmunity within the schl by I enhance the caring nature f the schl cmmunity by I resurce the schl fr its ministry f care by I nurture schl staff by I encurage schl staff in their missin rle by I view myself as a missinal leader. This is demnstrated thrugh I prvide a bridge frm the schl cmmunity t a wrshipping cmmunity by I prmte jint prgrams and activities f the schl and lcal church/faith cmmunity. I priritise jint prgrams and activities f the schl and lcal church/faith cmmunity thrugh I am develping a missin fcused schl cmmunity by I view myself as a servant leader f the schl cmmunity. This is demnstrated thrugh I view myself as a spiritual leader f the schl cmmunity. This is demnstrated thrugh Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls Page 15 f 16

16 References Bartel, K. C. (2004). Leadership in a Lutheran schl: An explratin f principal and schl pastr wrldviews and their ptential impact n the transfrmatin f the schl learning cmmunity. (Dctr f Educatin), Australian Cathlic University, Fitzry, Victria. Charmaz, K. (2000). Grunded thery: bjectivist and cnstructivist methds. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincln (Eds.), Handbk f qualitative research (2nd ed., pp ). Thusand Oaks, CA: Sage. Denzin, N. K., & Lincln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2003). Strategies f qualitative inquiry (2nd ed.). Thusand Oaks, Califrnia: Sage Publicatins. Harris, A. (2008). Distributed schl leadership: develping tmrrw's leaders. Lndn: Rutledge. Jennings, M. (2009). Nurture, Outreach and Beynd: recnceptualising Lutheran educatin fr the cntemprary Australian cntext. (Dctr f Educatin), Australian Cathlic University, Fitzry, Victria. LCA. (2000). Hand in hand: schls and missin visin statement Lutheran Church f Australia Natinal Synd. Tanunda, Suth Australia: Lutheran Church f Australia. Page 16 f 16 Opening lecture 2016: Leadership matters: principals, pastrs and the missin f Lutheran schls