What We Believe
Covenant Classical Academy follows a covenant-theological model expressed in its institutional practices following historically reformed doctrines that were derived from the Protestant Reformation. Though this is our cherished heritage, we recognize and embrace our brothers and sisters of other historically orthodox Christian traditions/denominations and have a strong desire to cooperate with them in educating Christian students to the glory of God. Our heart is to put first things first and keep secondary, or tertiary beliefs, and practices in their place in good faith of ecumenical charity.
The Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried:
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The holy Catholic Church;
The Communion of Saints;
The Forgiveness of sins;
The Resurrection of the body,
And the Life everlasting.
Amen.
The Nicene
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory,
to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord, and Giver of Life,
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Creed of Chalcedon
We, then, following the holy fathers, all with one consent teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and body; coessential with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the mother of God, according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one person and one subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the creed of the holy fathers has handed down to us.
“In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity”
Rupertus Meldenius -“Christian Unity” circa 1726
Theological Stances
The Bible
Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
Secondary Christian Doctrines
The best way to understand CCA and its theological framework is that we have structured it to be open to every Christian that can affirm and believe the Apostles, Nicene, and Chalcedonian Creed. These can be believed and confessed by every Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Christian around the world. These are the most basic beliefs that encompass the historic and biblical Christian Faith. Though we are a reformed protestant school, we don’t expect all our students, faculty, and staff to unilaterally agree on all the secondary issues or doctrines of Christendom. Examples of these secondary doctrines are credo-baptism vs paedo-baptism, speaking in tongues, communion wine vs juice, Sabbatarianism, Calvinism vs Arminianism, etc. Though these doctrines are important, they are peripheral and not primary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and can cause unnecessary devision amongst Christians. Secondary doctrines are left to the student, their parents, and their church. Though every student in the upper school will be exposed to these various concepts through study, conversation, and debate we do not mandate secondary doctrine assimilation.
Marriage and Family
We believe that God has defined marriage as the life-long covenant between one man and one woman and that all forms of sexual activity outside of marriage such as adultery, fornication, polygamy, and homosexuality are sin. We believe that God immutably creates each person to reflect His image as male or female and that this definitive distinction is not a fluid social construct or convention of society but a declaration of God’s explicit will revealed in Scripture.
Gender and Sexual Identity
As with all else, we seek to say what God says. While some say these things are debatable we find them quite clear and irrefutable in scripture and reality. We only recognize the male and female sex and their respective biblically complementarian gender roles. We affirm that God made Adam and Eve male and female, respectively. Also, while we do consider anything to the contrary illogical and unbiblical, we understand the very real fallen nature and depravity of all mankind, as well as the confusion and pain that comes with it; for all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It is in this truth that we humbly pray for the redemption and restoration of Christ’s perfect order while always operating in grace and love; treating all people with respect and dignity.
Covenant Classical Academy 