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Statement of Faith:

The Statement of Faith defines the essential beliefs that guide the ministry of Providence Christian School. The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe(1) . For the purposes of Providence Christian School’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Dothan, AL is our final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. These primary doctrines below, along with the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), are key elements of Christianity that are taught in various ways throughout all grade levels. Secondary doctrines, which includes chapter 21 section 3, chapter 23 of the WCF, and other topics such as baptism, the gifts of the Spirit, and the end times, will not be emphasized in the teaching of the school. PCS recognizes secondary doctrine is important, but within the Christian community, there is liberty to interpret such matters differently. Since we encourage Christ honoring discussion and debate among PCS students, these subjects are likely to arise. The school’s official position on secondary doctrinal issues is to have the students always go to the Scripture and then go to their family and church as they seek to define their own beliefs on these secondary doctrines.

The following Statement of Faith, drawn from the Westminster Confession of Faith, defines the essential beliefs that guide the ministry of Providence Christian School:

Sovereignty of God: God sovereignly controls all that occurs in His world and in His Church. His plans and purposes always prevail; nothing can thwart them.(2)

Inerrancy of Scripture: God’s written Word, the Bible, is free from error and completely trustworthy. It is His Truth and the final authority in all matters.(3)

God’s Creation of the World and Man: The Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, alone has existed from eternity past and in His wisdom decided to create the universe from nothing. God spoke and it came into existence. Humanity did not evolve from lower life forms, but was created by God. (4) Mankind, male and female, was created with dignity in that they are made in God’s image and created in humility in that their purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In creating mankind male and female, God created them with distinct biological genders. Gender is both sacred and established by God’s design. It is impossible to glorify God and enjoy Him forever while rejecting one’s biological sex. (5)

The Family: God created the natural family as the fundamental, sovereign unit of society. God created the natural family to be a conjugal union of one man and one woman through marriage for the purposes of sharing love and joy, propagating children, and providing their moral education. Marriage was also given as a representation of the union between Christ and His Church. Any union other than a one-man, one-woman union for life is a violation of God’s design and is therefore not a biblical marriage. (6)

Fall of Mankind: All mankind participated in Adam’s fall from his original sinless state and is thus lost in sin and totally depraved. (7)

Jesus, Savior of Sinners: Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God and the only Savior of the World. He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life. He purchased redemption by His substitutionary atonement on the cross. Jesus bodily rose from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father and He will come again in power and glory. (8)

Justification by Faith Alone: Sinners are justified by faith alone. They don’t deserve salvation and they can’t earn or work for it. Justification is totally due to God’s grace and received by faith in Jesus Christ. (9)

Empowering Holy Spirit: Every true believer in Jesus Christ is indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables believers to live a godly life and to perform good works. (10)

Final Judgement and Resurrection: At the Second Coming of Christ, the saved and the lost will be bodily resurrected and judged. The saved are resurrected to eternal life and the lost are resurrected to eternal condemnation. (11)

Body of Christ: All believers are spiritually united in the Lord Jesus Christ. Every believer is a member of the Body of Christ. (12)

1) 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Peter 1:19-21, WCF Chapter 1.1 and 1.6

2) Psalm 33:11, Ephesians 1:11, WCF Chapter 3.1

3) Matthew 5:18, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, WCF Chapter 1.8-9

4) John 1:2-3, Genesis 1, WCF Chapter 4

5) Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2; 22-23, WCF Chapter 4.2

6) Genesis 1:28, Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:22-33, WCF Chapter 24

7) Genesis 3:6-8, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, WCF Chapter 6.1-3

8) Isaiah 42:1, John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:19-20, Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 4:15, Luke 1:27-35, Romans 5:19, Philippians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Peter 3:22, Acts 1:11, Matthew 13:40-42, Matthew 24:36-44, WCF Chapter 8.1-4 & Chapter 33

9) Romans 3:10-13, 22-28, Romans 4:5-8, Romans 5:15-16, Ephesians 2:8-9, WCF Chapter 11.1-3

10) 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 15:4-6, Romans 8:4-14, Philippians 2:13, WCF 13.3, 16.3

11) 1 Thessalonians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, John 5:22-29, Acts 24:15, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 25:31-46, WCF Chapter 32.2-3 & 33.1-2

12) 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, WCF Chapter 25.1-2

 

Loco Parentis Policy:
 

The God-ordained institution of the family (not the school or the state) is given the primary authority and responsibility for the education of their children. Parents of PCS students understand that they are directly responsible before God for their child’s education.  (Ephesians 6, Deuteronomy 6)

PCS operates with delegated authority (in loco parentis) from the parents (not the state or the church) to assist parents in fulfilling this responsibility.

This does not mean that parents dictate the curriculum or methodology of the school. It does mean that parents will take their responsibility seriously by encouraging their child to be disciplined and diligent in their work, provide assistance in areas of struggle for their child, and be supportive of the teachers and staff of the school as we strive to teach, train, guide, and disciple their child. The expectation is that the parents of the student will support the school in key aspects of school policy. Likewise, the school’s perspective is that the parents, specifically the father of the student, will take a primary role in addressing school-related concerns.

This type of partnership necessitates that parents agree with the core values, beliefs, and educational goals of the school.

The key aspects of this agreement are covered in the parent-administrator conference prior to enrollment. Upon satisfactory completion of the family conference, and in conjunction with the parental signature on the Statement of Faith, the family agreement is secured for support of the in loco parentis policy.