Governing Styles and Values B 4.1
DIVISION B POLICIES
Section 4 Governance Process
4.1 Governing Styles and Values
The Christian Academy in Japan board shall govern with an emphasis on:
- (a) Biblically-based values including integrity and truthfulness in all methods and practices. (SY 11-12:108)
- (b) Outward vision
- (c) Strategic leadership
- (d) Clear distinction of board and head of school roles
- (e) Collective decisions
- (f) The future
- (g) A proactive approach
Accordingly:
4.1.1 We believe that all Scriptures (OT and NT) are inspired by God and without error in the original manuscripts, and are our full and final authority for faith and practice. (SY 15-16:80)
4.1.2 We believe that in order to complete our mission, it is essential that God’s Word be taught, modeled, and applied in our daily lives. (SY 15-16:80)
4.1.3 Christian Academy in Japan, in its hiring and all other activities, will not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, age, handicap, or gender. The school’s activities, with the exception of personnel matters and financial records, shall be open and accessible to scrutiny by its owners, sponsors, and supporters. (SY 08-09:78, SY 15-16:80)
4.1.4 The board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility. The board, not the staff, will be responsible for excellence in governing. The board will be the initiator of policy, not merely a reactor to staff initiatives. The board will use the expertise of individual members to enhance the ability of the board as a body, rather than to substitute the individual judgments for the board’s values. The board will allow no officer, individual, or committee of the board to hinder or be an excuse for not fulfilling board commitments.
4.1.5 The board will direct, control, and inspire the organization through the careful establishment of broad, written policies reflecting the board’s values and perspectives about ends to be achieved and means to be avoided. The board’s major policy focus will be on the intended long-term impact outside of the school, not on the administrative or programmatic means of attaining those ends. (SY 15-16: 165)
4.1.6 The board will enforce upon itself whatever discipline is needed to govern with excellence. Discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, attitude, preparation for meetings, policymaking principles, respect of roles, and ensuring the continuance of governance capability. Continual board development will include orientation of new board members in the board’s governance process and periodic board discussion of process improvement.
4.1.7 The board will monitor and discuss the board’s process at each meeting, and its overall performance annually at the last meeting of the school year. Self-monitoring, particularly by the supervisor-auditors, will include comparison of board activity and discipline to policies in the governance process and board/head of school linkage categories. (SY 09-10:80; SY 13-14:26)
4.1.8 Though members may respectfully express their personal disagreements, each member of the board will fully support the final decision of the board on all matters. (SY 15-16:80)
4.1.9 Board action requires approval by simple majority of a quorum (cf. 4.3.5.2), except where otherwise noted (e.g., Act of Endowment, Chapter 6; Constitution, Article V. 3, Article VI; Bylaws II; Policy Sections 4.2.3, 4.2.6, 4.3.5.1). Policy changes will normally require a second reading.(SY20-21:43)
(Page archived 12/14) (Page revised 01/16, 6/16)
