Evangel Christian School Standards of Conduct
The Evangel Christian School Standards of Conduct are designed to communicate community expectations of appropriate conduct and to provide guidelines for restoring brothers or sisters who are in violation of this conduct. Living and receiving instruction with other saved sinners, reminds us of our own imperfections, selfishness, and sins and how we must balance personal needs with the needs of others; or for that matter, the needs of the institution.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1,2 (ESV)
Christian freedom is a work of grace not to be denied, but we must also remember what Paul said about "not turning our freedom (liberty) into an opportunity for the flesh." The unity of Christian freedom is Christian responsibility, and each of us must choose to build a habit of life that "captures every thought to the obedience of Christ," "shares the affections of Christ for one another," and "considers the interests of others as more important than our own.” It is our goal to be a community that lives a lifestyle of grace inseparable from obedience. Community takes patience, giving, growing, sharing, and loving, so be patient with one another. Families, therefore, must conduct themselves in a way that reflects a commitment to holy living: doing what the Bible requires, abstaining from what the Bible forbids, and carefully discerning the will of God in every area of life.
Discipline
Evangel Christian School Students found not living according to the Biblical teachings will be subject to disciplinary action from the school. The school recognizes that some breeches of the Biblical teachings are best handled through punitive discipline, some by extended counseling or involvement with an outside agency or church and others by informal admonishment. The school reserves the right to handle each situation in the manner that it deems to be most effective for the correction and development of the individual(s) involved, as well as in the best interest of the school community.
“…My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is training you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb. 12:5-8)
At the least, the following five reasons underline the purpose of discipline:
All members of Evangel Christian School will personally follow and submit to the Biblical principles for settling conflict or offering correction as described in Matthew 18:15 – 17.
If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him – work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church (or, if appropriate, the administrators of Evangel Christian School).
The one-on-one process of discipline allows for the most complete and sensitive understanding of the situation so that the student is not harmed by an unnecessarily rigid or impersonal system. Most discipline should be handled on a peer-to-peer basis. If peer confrontation does not stop and change the behavior, then Matthew 18 provides guidelines for the additional sequential inclusion of higher levels of authority until the inappropriate behavior is discontinued.
If the process should escalate beyond the peer-to-peer step, the school will consider the following criteria when determining the best course of discipline.
If a student self-reports a violation of the Standards as a means to confess, repent, and reconcile an offense, the Administration will work with the student in a manner reflecting the willingness to grow and restore the offended party. Given this heart and spirit of humility, reconciliation and obedience, the offense may not need to be taken to The Board of Evangel Christian School as long as the student and the Administrators can reconcile the offense in the same spirit.
All disciplinary actions are personal concerns of the individual student(s) involved, not for public knowledge. It is to be understood that a "check and balance" system of supervision by the Session of Evangel Church and the Board of Evangel Christian School oversees all disciplinary decisions of the Administrators. This procedure stresses consistency while addressing the needs of the individual student involved.
Families are encouraged to appeal disciplinary decisions with which they disagree through an administrative order of authority and accountability. The decision of any authority can be appealed to the next higher authority. This appeals process is as follows:
1.An Administrator’s decision can be appealed to The Board of Evangel Christian School.
2.A Board decision can be appealed to the Session of Evangel Church, which can either:
a. Refuse to hear this appeal, at which time the decision of the Board will be final, or
b. Lessen, maintain, or strengthen the Board’s decision.
The Session is accountable to Evangel Presbytery, PCA, which is accountable to, and receives its authority from, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.
When confrontation is required to reconcile a grievance, all members of Evangel Christian School and its authorities agree to respond to conflict mindful of the following principles*
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
* Peacemakers: A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1,2 (ESV)
Christian freedom is a work of grace not to be denied, but we must also remember what Paul said about "not turning our freedom (liberty) into an opportunity for the flesh." The unity of Christian freedom is Christian responsibility, and each of us must choose to build a habit of life that "captures every thought to the obedience of Christ," "shares the affections of Christ for one another," and "considers the interests of others as more important than our own.” It is our goal to be a community that lives a lifestyle of grace inseparable from obedience. Community takes patience, giving, growing, sharing, and loving, so be patient with one another. Families, therefore, must conduct themselves in a way that reflects a commitment to holy living: doing what the Bible requires, abstaining from what the Bible forbids, and carefully discerning the will of God in every area of life.
- Students at Evangel Christian School are to practice all the virtues taught in the Scriptures, such as discipline, modesty, patience, and honesty and are expected to worship in a local church regularly.
- Students are also required to abstain from all activities which violate Biblical teachings, such as theft, drunkenness, slanderous or profane language, all forms of dishonesty including cheating, and sexual sins (such as premarital sex, adultery, homosexual behavior and the use or possession of obscene or pornographic material). Students must reject all sinful attitudes, such as greed, jealousy, pride, lust, and prejudice against those of a different race, gender, or socio-economic status.
- Additionally, students are to use wisdom and Christ-like discretion in the application of Biblical principles to decisions regarding all areas of life, such as the involvement with various forms of media, social interaction and the physical expression of intimacy in relationships. When students are not at an Evangel Christian School function, they should select places of business, organizations, or events that would promote and support the Standards of Conduct. Students are expected to use discretion by avoiding events that are not primarily for Christ-like edification and social interaction. Students should avoid, and encourage one another to avoid events or organizations that primarily exist to serve alcohol, encourage lewd behavior, or promote inappropriate physical intimacy and/or sexual behavior.
- The Scriptures call us to obey the authorities that have been placed over us in the civil government. All students are required to uphold local, state, and federal law except on the rare occasions when compliance with the civil authority may be in conflict with the Scriptures. Students violating civil laws, such as arson, criminal homicide (manslaughter by negligence), sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, weapon law violations, drug abuse violations, liquor law violations may be referred to the civil authorities for prosecution, and may also be subject to disciplinary action by the school.
- Realizing that we are daily representatives of the Body of Christ, we establish that students and parents will:
- Maintain high standards of courtesy, morality and honesty◦
- Dress appropriately and modestly, not only while attending specific Evangel Christian School functions, but also in all public appearances.
Discipline
Evangel Christian School Students found not living according to the Biblical teachings will be subject to disciplinary action from the school. The school recognizes that some breeches of the Biblical teachings are best handled through punitive discipline, some by extended counseling or involvement with an outside agency or church and others by informal admonishment. The school reserves the right to handle each situation in the manner that it deems to be most effective for the correction and development of the individual(s) involved, as well as in the best interest of the school community.
“…My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is training you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Heb. 12:5-8)
At the least, the following five reasons underline the purpose of discipline:
- To avoid God's judgment on the individual and/or the Evangel Christian School Community.
- To remove members of the community who are unwilling to abide by the Standards of Conduct,
- To deter others from committing the same violation,
- To assist in reconciliation and change of the behavior, and
- To stop the behavior deemed unacceptable by the Students, Administration, and Board of Evangel Christian School. Scripture clearly states that we are responsible for the actions of one another (Matthew 18). The contemporary idea of everyone minding his or her own business is foreign to the body of Christ.
All members of Evangel Christian School will personally follow and submit to the Biblical principles for settling conflict or offering correction as described in Matthew 18:15 – 17.
If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him – work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church (or, if appropriate, the administrators of Evangel Christian School).
The one-on-one process of discipline allows for the most complete and sensitive understanding of the situation so that the student is not harmed by an unnecessarily rigid or impersonal system. Most discipline should be handled on a peer-to-peer basis. If peer confrontation does not stop and change the behavior, then Matthew 18 provides guidelines for the additional sequential inclusion of higher levels of authority until the inappropriate behavior is discontinued.
If the process should escalate beyond the peer-to-peer step, the school will consider the following criteria when determining the best course of discipline.
- What was the "nature" of the act and the "degree of responsibility" of the student?
- Was the act intentional or unintentional?
- Was the act a first time offense or a repeat offense?
- Is the student currently involved in other disciplinary actions?
- Did the act itself bear disciplinary consequence?
- Is the student self-reporting a violation of the Standard?
- To what extent did the act influence the Evangel or surrounding community?
- What degree of repentance and reconciliation has been evidenced?
- Is the student holding a position of leadership?
If a student self-reports a violation of the Standards as a means to confess, repent, and reconcile an offense, the Administration will work with the student in a manner reflecting the willingness to grow and restore the offended party. Given this heart and spirit of humility, reconciliation and obedience, the offense may not need to be taken to The Board of Evangel Christian School as long as the student and the Administrators can reconcile the offense in the same spirit.
All disciplinary actions are personal concerns of the individual student(s) involved, not for public knowledge. It is to be understood that a "check and balance" system of supervision by the Session of Evangel Church and the Board of Evangel Christian School oversees all disciplinary decisions of the Administrators. This procedure stresses consistency while addressing the needs of the individual student involved.
Families are encouraged to appeal disciplinary decisions with which they disagree through an administrative order of authority and accountability. The decision of any authority can be appealed to the next higher authority. This appeals process is as follows:
1.An Administrator’s decision can be appealed to The Board of Evangel Christian School.
2.A Board decision can be appealed to the Session of Evangel Church, which can either:
a. Refuse to hear this appeal, at which time the decision of the Board will be final, or
b. Lessen, maintain, or strengthen the Board’s decision.
The Session is accountable to Evangel Presbytery, PCA, which is accountable to, and receives its authority from, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.
When confrontation is required to reconcile a grievance, all members of Evangel Christian School and its authorities agree to respond to conflict mindful of the following principles*
- GLORIFY GOD - Instead of focusing on our own desires or dwelling on what others may do, we will seek to please and honor God-by depending on His wisdom, power, and love; by faithfully obeying His commands, and by seeking to maintain a loving merciful and forgiving attitude.
- GET THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE - Instead of attacking others of dwelling on their wrongs, we will take responsibility for our own contributions to conflicts-confessing our sins, asking God to help us change any attitudes and habits that lead to the conflict, and seeking to repair any harm we may have caused.
- GO AND SHOW YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER HIS OR HER FAULT - Instead of pretending that conflict doesn't exist or talking about others behind their backs, we will choose to overlook minor offenses, or we will talk directly and graciously with those who offenses seem to serious to overlook. When a conflict with another Christian cannot be resolved in private, we will ask others in the body of Christ to help us settle the matter in a Biblical manner.
- GO AND BE RECONCILED - Instead of accepting premature compromise or allowing relationships to wither, we will actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation-forgiving others as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven us, and seeking just and mutual beneficial solutions to our differences.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
* Peacemakers: A Commitment to Biblical Conflict Resolution