Philosophy Statement

Rationale

The Philosophy document is an important, foundational document for a school. It is the first of all documents and has an over-arching influence on every policy and document that follows. Its influence reaches to the most fundamental level of decision making in the school and shapes the spiritual, ethical and moral perspectives that direct the school’s actions and of its employees and stake-holders.

Purpose

This document aims to outline the overriding principles that guide and support Grace Christian College. These principles express the core beliefs, goals and values of the College. Throughout this document, the term ‘Christian’ and related terms referring to faith and belief should be understood in reference to the Orthodox Evangelical Christian faith.

Guideline 1  /  Christian focus and Vision Statement

The individual’s relationship with Jesus Christ is an essential concern and focus for the Orthodox Evangelical Christian life. It is a core responsibility of the school to promote and educate students to understand how this relationship defines the Orthodox Evangelical Christian believer. As it is the Orthodox Evangelical Christian belief that a relationship with Jesus Christ provides emancipation from sin and guidance for daily living along with the provision of eternal life, the school holds a vision for the transformation of our community through each individual engaging in this relationship.

* Note 1 – Vision Statement

From the principles in our Philosophy statement Grace Christian College holds to the following vision statement: “Our vision is for Christ to rule in the hearts and minds of our students so they are able to contribute as citizens to a peaceful and just society through a biblical understanding of family, community and human endeavour.”

Guideline 2  /  Biblical Foundation

The Bible, viewed as the divinely inspired Word of God, is a central part of the Christian Faith. It is the Bible that delivers to us the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and gives historical accounts of his life. Given that the Bible is the sole rule of faith for the Christian, any person who wishes to establish a Christian College will aim to make the teaching of the Bible foundational to any decision regarding the life and teaching that will take place within the College. Our understanding of the nature of human thinking, behaviour, and learning will be informed by the Bible and then, in turn, direct us in our development of curriculum, discipline and teaching. To establish the base for our system of principles the following articles have been prepared into a “Statement of Faith”.

Guideline 3  /  Mission Statement

To enact and achieve its vision, Grace Christian College has established this Mission Statement:

*Note 1 – Grace Christian College seeks, in cooperation with parents, staff and students to: 

• Provide a Christ-honouring learning environment
• Develop each student’s God given potential
• Encourage students to have a life long commitment to be enquiring seekers of truth
• Inspire students to have compassion and understanding for the world as demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

Guideline 4  /  Operation Implications

The underlying assumptions and beliefs of an organisation’s philosophy influence that way it thinks and behaves. The following notes are intended to be general guidance for the school to make ethical and moral decisions within a Christian framework of thinking. This mission statement can be expanded into the following statements of practice:

*Note 1 – Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ 

The school holds the view that each person is made whole and complete through their relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, for each child to develop their God given potential requires them to come into relationship with Jesus Christ as their creator, Saviour, Lord and God. The sharing of the ‘Good News‘ with the students of the school is there for an outworking of the school’s philosophy.

*Note 2 – Call to ‘Put on Christ’ 

Christians are exhorted to “put on Christ” which is a request to imitate His behaviour.

12: The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light. 13: Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 14: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Rom 13:12-14)

The theme of imitating Christ in his humility and submission to God’s purposes is repeated in the New Testament with an emphasis on “conforming” to his image. Identity for a Christian is therefore found in who they are “in Christ” and not in who they were before beginning their relationship with Christ. However, this does not mean that an individuals personality or abilities are null and void, rather they are to be brought into line with God’s purposes and Christ’s example of a life lived well for God through the power of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace.

*Note 3 – Bible 

As has already been clearly stated in the Philosophy earlier, the Bible is the foundation of the College and will be studied by students and referred to throughout the College curriculum.

*Note 4 – Christian Growth

Biblically, next to the home, the church is the prime means of developing Christian growth. Grace Christian College encourages students to be fully involved in their local church. At the same time, Grace Christian College is by its nature evangelistic, pastoral, and nurturing. Grace Christian College is in fact the wider church in action and fulfils in practice the role of nurture and growth for students yet to find a local church and in provoking all Christians within the College to Christian growth living. In particular, assemblies and pastoral care lead students in worship and provoke them to prayer, praise and Christian growth.

*Note 5 – Fellowship Orientation 

For many families, the school will be a place of Christian Fellowship as they engage with Christian staff and other Christian families who are seeking to raise their children to ‘know and love the Lord‘ as God has asked them (Deut 6:4-9). The school will provide a connection point to build community and allow families to share in a common vision and mission to create a place of learning and opportunity for its students around the teaching of Orthodox Evangelical Christian Faith.

*Note 6 – Mission Orientation 

God expressly states that it is His will for all Christians to be involved in outreach to others (Matthew 28:18-20). Thus as a Christian institution it is the task of Grace Christian College to encourage students towards personal evangelism and mission and to provide both training and opportunity for that mission work. The school will seek to Inspire students to have compassion and understanding for the world as demonstrated by Jesus Christ and to seek to live a life of service to others.

*Note 7 – Parents 

Because we believe Parents are the primary educators of their children, and have appointed Grace Christian College to help them fulfil part of that responsibility we will maintain close contact with parents regarding the academic, spiritual, social and behavioural progress of their children. The mission statement requires working with the parents, and a building into the lives of the families and parents of the students of the College to teach them what God asks of them and their families, and to encourage them to take responsibilities which God has given them both in spiritual leadership and in education.

*Note 8 – Curriculum 

Because we believe that God has created each child with individual abilities and gifts and desires that each individual lives in community with others, we will seek to provide a balanced curriculum that recognises both individual and co-operative learning. Grace Christian College aims to offer a wide curriculum which offers quality programs that provide pathways to careers or further study at the tertiary level and enables each student to achieve their potential.

*Note 9 – Allowance for Individuals 

Grace Christian College believes that every person has been created by God to love and serve Him and God has a plan and purpose for each person. When Jesus refers to a blind man in John 9:3 he says “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” With this thought in mind, Grace Christian College will aim to support all students to reach their full potential and support all students to learn and grow to the best of their abilities.

*Note 10 – Staff 

To achieve its mission, Grace Christian College must have staff who are called and equipped by God, for this work. Such staff will be Christians who are walking close to God, obedient to God on a daily basis, who understand the vision statement and are dedicated to enacting the mission statement. They will be people who are involved in their local church and engage in prayer, bible study and devotion on a regular basis.

*Note 11 – Australian Democracy and the rule of law 

Scripture teaches that every Christian should “be subject unto the higher powers” and that those in authority “are God’s ministers”. (Rom 13).

Therefore, Grace Christian College is committed to support elected governments, the rule of law, equal rights for all, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and association and the values of openness and tolerance.