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Studies & Actions of the General Assembly of
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HIGHER EDUCATION

[6th General Assembly (1978), Appendix G, III, p. 209.]

The subcommittee on Higher Education of the Assembly's Committee on Christian Education and Publications continued discussion with the Board of Covenant College as directed by the Fifth General Assembly. Particular attention is called to those matters referred to the Committee by the Fifth Assembly.
In response to the Assembly's directive to "draft a definite statement regarding the relationship of the church to non-theological education," the Committee approved the following statements:
Adopted as amended by the 6th GA.

Part Three: Covenant College's Philosophy of Education

In response to the Assembly's directive in reference to the matter of philosophy of education the Committee approved the following statement:

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
COVENANT COLLEGE

[6th General Assembly (1978), 6-75, III, Items 18, p. 88.]

That the General Assembly approve the statement on Covenant College Philosophy of Education as being consistent with our faith and life as contained in III Part Three of the CE/P Report, assigned by the Fifth General Assembly.

Report on the Philosophy of Education of Covenant College

Covenant's philosophy of education is set forth concisely in its catalogue's "Statement of Purpose" (pages 2-3). The following paragraphs particularly summarize its philosophy:

The College is committee to the Bible as the Word of God written, and accepts as its most adequate and comprehensive interpretation the summary contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. We acknowledge Christ pre-eminent as the creator of all things, as the redeemer of men fallen into sin, as the touchstone of all truth and as the sovereign ruler over all areas of life.

The purpose of Covenant College is stated in its motto--"That in all things Christ must have the pre-eminence (Colossians 1:18)." To serve this end we seek to appropriate the mind of Christ so that we might characterize and respond to reality in accordance with Biblical teachings. In attempting to make a Biblically grounded frame of reference explicit and operative, we are dedicated to excellence in academic inquiry, and we desire to define all areas of the college's structure and program according to this understanding and purpose.

A Christian student should be acquiring the ability to orient his whole life by a perspective based on Biblical revelation.

Covenant seeks to help its students understand more fully the Scriptural implications of Christ's pre-eminence as they study the natural creation, cultivate the arts, and produce sound societal relationships in business, home, school, and state. To accomplish these ends, Covenant bases its academic program on the Bible, the written Word of God.

Other materials produced by the College stress the same emphasis.

For the Christian, faith in Christ and our commitment to all that He has revealed and commanded in the Scripture must govern all our scholarship and all our teaching.

At Covenant we stand squarely on our conviction that the Bible is the infallible, written Word of God, inerrant in its original texts. The College's entire educational program hinges on these four major aims:
1) To see the creation as the handiwork of God and to study it with wonder and respect;
2) To acknowledge the fallen nature of ourselves and of the rest of creation and to respond in view of the renewal which begins with Christ's redemption, by seeking to bring every thought and act into obedience to Him;
3) To reclaim the creation for God and redirect it to the service of God and man, receiving the many valuable insights into the structure of reality provided by the good hand of God through men of learning in every age, and seeking to interpret and reform such insights according to the Scriptures;
4) To think as Christians about culture and endeavor to make it reflect our commitment to Christ -- in order to glorify God and promote the true advancement of men.

To underscore its desire for a Christian world and life view, Covenant requires each faculty member to write a paper integrating his academic discipline with Biblical faith.

Our Committee is most appreciative of these fine statements and of Covenant's earnest desire to be a Christian college. We must, however, express some reservations as to whether these principles are being consistently carried out in the hiring practices of the College. After discussions with the President and board members, we are aware that not every faculty member has a working knowledge of and commitment to the Westminster Standards. However, progress is being made in this area. [Ed. note: Please keep in mind that this was written in 1978 and would not be an accurate reflection of the current state of the school]

M6GA (1978), Appendix G, Section X, Item 9, page 218
9. That the General Assembly approve the statement on Covenant College's Philosophy of Education as being consistent with our faith and life as contained in III. Part Three of the CE/P Report, assigned by the Fifth General Assembly (1977).
Adopted.