<p><b>The centrality of school vision to inspire learning is shaped by the principal, leadership, and staff. School vision cannot remain aspirational but must be consciously constructed showing the distinctive character and culture attributed to schools by their guiding statements. Due to the paucity of empirical research within Christian educational contexts, this thesis presented insight into how understandings of mission and vision, embedded in school guiding statements, are enacted in three New Zealand Christian schools. Further to this, the thesis showed the ways in which these practices are shaped by personal and professional leadership influences and culture.</b></p>
<p>Qualitative methodologies, Appreciative Inquiry (AI), and Arts-based inquiry methods informed the research process to ascertain what narrative themes predominated. Participants were positioned to actively engage in crafting participatory methods as a lens through which to study the culture of their schools. The accumulative work (Photovoice and art assemblage) and findings were presented in an exhibition that traveled to each school. Through the narrative process of “storying”, participants gave voice to their schools’ cultural stories. The resulting metaphorical and polyvocal portraits reveal that Christian educators have a shared stewardship responsibility to govern, lead, serve, equip, inspire schools as collaborative learning spaces and constructively be culture creators. </p>
<p>The findings suggest that the schools’ guiding statements are grounded and engineered within the multiple ecologies and etymology of community. Furthermore, the growth and formation of school leadership and culture are symbiotic typologies of organisational structure. For the schools in this study, cultural unity has been achieved through a focus on leadership development, service, and strong generational connections between school, Church, and home. The study raised an appreciation for the cultural and leadership influences within each school. This suggests that the use of school guiding statements for systematic and systemic reflection holds promise for both the research community and various educational stakeholders.</p>