Statement on Denominational Diversity

While many Christian schools are associated with particular churches and emphasize those church's doctrinal distinctives, HCA is an inter-denominational Christian school whose values and confession of faith could be considered broadly evangelical. Our Statement of Faith is obviously theologically conservative, Protestant and historically evangelical. What does all that mean?

The Trinity

We assume the existence of God and emphasize his Trinitarian nature (that is the coeternality and sovereignty of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). This definition of God places us at odds with strict monotheist religions such as Judaism and Islam, or cults such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons or the United Pentecostal Church. It does however place us in the great ecumenical and catholic faith that affirms the teaching of God given in the Apostles' Creed (2nd century AD), the Nicene Creed (327 AD), and the Definition of Chalcedon (451 AD).

Catholicity

Our school is specifically Protestant, though consciously catholic. We recognize that the Christian faith is broader than any denomination. Christianity teaches us that all Trinitarian baptized persons are members of Christ's church; we acknowledge our common catholicity with all believers in all denominations throughout the world. We emphasize the sufficiency of Scripture for all people and saving faith as a gift from God. We acknowledge those great Biblical truths of the Protestant Reformation that human salvation is sola fide (by faith alone) through sola gratia (grace alone) provided solus Christus (Christ alone) on the authority sola scriptura (Holy Scripture alone) all soli Deo gloria (for the glory of God alone). We recognize that our Roman Catholic and Orthodox brethren have historically framed these issues differently. This leads us to the point...

Mere Christianity

We employ the model that the late C.S. Lewis wrote about in Mere Christianity. Christendom is like a house-- the door on which is baptism (Gal. 3.27; Rom. 6.1ff). Once in the house, a person will find many rooms which Lewis said represented the denominations of Christianity. According to Lewis' step-son Douglas Gresham, he was an Anglican by convenience; he did not care much for Christendom's divisions. He lived in England and the state church was the Anglican church; he attended as a matter of convenience. What was important for Lewis is that one "is in the house." He sought to defend what he believed was indeed mere Christianity; that is, Lewis was writing to unchurched people about the basic beliefs of the Christian religion. Many of his comrades criticized him, a professor of medieval literature, for trying to authoritatively say what "mere" Christianity actually is. The point is this: if in the house, one may not like the arrangements in several rooms, so Lewis says "go across the hall." Maybe they speak Latin in one room, go to the English room. Maybe one likes tea and doesn't like coffee-- go to the room that makes the tea. Get the point? There are essentials to being an orthodox Christian and we believe we have spoken to those in our Statement of faith. We will find those essential doctrines in a variety of churches-- from Rome to Louisville. However, there are doctrines that are emphasized in particular churches that may not be emphasized at others: go to the room that makes the tea. In other words, worship where you honestly believe the whole counsel of God is being proclaimed. If you believe your brother to be in error, obey the rules of the house and pray for him. If he is as Lewis says, "your enemy" you need to pray for him all the more and hope he comes into the house.

E Pluribus Unum?

While we have stated our basic theological commitments, as an inter-denominational school we recognize our doctrinal diversity. One cannot attend HCA and be in disagreement with either the ACCS statement of faith or our Statement of faith; however, issues regarding the nature of baptism, election (predestination), church government, the nature and frequency of the use of the Lord's Table (communion), sanctification (the "Christian life"), eschatology (doctrine of the "end times") are openly debated and discussed among genuine Christians of various denominations. In contrast to non-denominational schools and/or churches that de-emphasize these doctrines for the sake of unity, HCA as an interdenominational school celebrates our diversity in unity. Such a concept is patently ecumenical and historically American (e pluribus unum sound familiar?). These issues ought to be discussed freely in an educational environment that is Christian and as Christians, teachers, students, and parents, we ought to be able to agree to disagree. "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" (Aristotle).

No "isms"

In addition to defining ourselves theologically, we are also a conservative educational institution. A conservative is one who believes in the conservation of certain ideas, beliefs or traditions. Thus, modern philosophical and cultural trends we find to be in conflict with Holy Scripture. Such trends are any form of socialism (Marxism or Communism), egalitarianism, radical feminism, social or scientific naturalism (aka "Darwinism") educational progressivism, postmodernism, multiculturalism and open sexuality (embracing and practicing any form of sexuality not defined Biblically as monogamous and heterosexual with permanent sexual fidelity after marriage). We believe all these worldviews to be antithetical to historic orthodox Christianity, the family unit and a threat to the progress of Western civilization.