Commitment to Faith

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PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

A Geneva graduate is a disciple of Jesus Christ, exhibiting excellence, passion, and integrity as he leads for Christ’s cause in the world. He is a critical, logical thinker, able to discern absolute truth from cultural trends and philosophies. As one who loves the Lord with all his mind, the Geneva graduate will be a lover of learning, and have the ability to grasp new ideas throughout his lifetime in pursuit of truth. These qualities, clothed in humility, create a foundation that will enable him to present engagingly articulate and persuasively winsome arguments. A Geneva graduate honors God’s image within himself and thus, is interested in all people because of God’s interest and image in them. The classical education and biblical worldview gained at Geneva will equip the graduate to exhibit vocational excellence to the glory of God.

FOUNDATIONAL STATEMENTS

All Geneva parents have agreed at the time of admission that they will support Geneva in educating their child classically and acknowledge and they support the Foundational Statements: Statement of Faith and Statement on Identity, Sexuality and Gender.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

Geneva School of Boerne is very eclectic when it comes to the Christian denominations represented on campus. We do, however, operate from the following broad Statement of Faith.

We believe in one God eternally existing in three persons, of one substance, power and authority, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The whole universe was created by God from nothing for His own pleasure. He is rightfully sovereign and rules over all creation. He is entirely good and gracious, all-powerful, all knowing and all loving. Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:31; John 1:3.

We believe that man was originally created in the image of God to enjoy fellowship with God and to have responsibility for the earth. God created male and female and He established marriage as a holy union between a man and a woman for the purposes of love, companionship, blessing, procreation and family. As such, it is a reflection and expression of His life-giving, self-giving and moral nature. Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18, 21-25; Mark 10:6-9, Psalm 139:13-16.

We believe that humanity was alienated from God by Adam’s sin and it is now man’s nature to be disobedient to God. However, man still bears God’s image and thus has dignity and worth. Nevertheless, man’s sin causes him to be separated from a life-giving relationship with God and utterly lost. Genesis 2:15-17; Romans 3:11; Romans 5:12; Genesis 3.

We believe that Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary and that He is both undiminished deity and genuine humanity in one person forever. John 1:1; Matthew 1:20-21; Philippians 2:7.

We believe that entrance into a state of fellowship with God is secured entirely by God’s grace through a person’s belief that Jesus Christ bore our sins in His sacrificial death, was bodily resurrected from the dead and was glorified as Lord and Ruler of all creation. This faith and the outworking of it are evidence of God’s salvation unto eternal life. John 1:12; I Timothy 2:6; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-10.

We believe Jesus Christ is the head of “one holy catholic* and apostolic Church, the universal body of Christians. His authority is typically and practically expressed through local churches and through families. Parents are responsible to raise their children in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:4-6; Ephesians 4:11-16; Ephesians 5:21-6:4; Deuteronomy 6:4-7.

We believe the Holy Spirit witnesses to Jesus Christ, convicts men of sin, regenerates them from spiritual death to spiritual life and is responsible for continuing the work of Christ in believers. Christians are thus enabled by His indwelling presence to enjoy God and to grow in Christ-likeness. The chief means and fruit of growth are: intimacy with God through the study and observance of His Word, prayer, worship and the sacraments, active love of fellow Christians and being salt and light to the world. John 16:13-14; John 16:8; Titus 3:5-6; II Peter 1:5-8; John 17:17; Colossians 3:14-17; Matthew 5:13-16.

We believe the 66 books of Holy Scripture as originally given are the complete Word of God, without error, divinely inspired, recorded by men and are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12-13. 

*the word “catholic” as used in the Nicene Creed (from which this phrase is taken) means “universal”

STATEMENT ON IDENTITY, SEXUALITY AND GENDER

We believe in the Lordship of Christ over all of life. We believe we are called to be faithful disciples of Christ, pursuing our callings in love and obedience until He comes again to consummate His kingdom. We believe that God’s commandments are relevant and necessary to our present culture and that our faith should be visible in concrete models of personal and social behavior. We recognize that sins of a sexual nature often receive great attention, while other sins such as greed, slander, gossip, neglect of the poor, oppressed and marginalized do not. While rapidly changing cultural trends warrant an expanded statement on identity, sexuality and gender, we are concerned with the impact of all parts of our fallen nature.

Therefore, we submit to the following truths:

  1. Identity
    • God creates all people as divine image-bearers who have inestimable value and dignity from conception.
    • All forms of mistreatment, oppression, cruelty, dehumanization, abuse and slander are an offense against God’s sacred image in which all people have been made.
    • A Christian’s foundational identity is in Jesus Christ alone and is not found in a self-ascribed or cultural identity.
  2. Sexuality
    • God decreed marriage to be a covenantal relationship between one man and one woman that reflects Christ’s relationship with the Church.
    • God’s will for all people is chastity outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage. No affections, desires or commitments ever justify sexual acts outside of marriage.
    • Geneva students, faculty and staff should resist any and all same-sex sexual attractions and refrain from all same-sex sexual acts or expressions.
  3. Gender
    • God created male and female with the distinct and biological sex of each person immutably determined and manifested at conception by God.

DISCIPLINE & DISCIPLESHIP (SEE APPENDIX FOR ENTIRETY)

Geneva disciples by teaching, mentoring, encouraging and assisting students. A necessary component of discipleship is discipline (Heb. 12:5-11).

Successful resolution to behavioral problems requires school and parental cooperation. For the school personnel to stand in loco parentis, the school and the home must be in agreement regarding values, goals and desires for the child.

A discipleship-oriented approach considers difficult events (relationship problems, failures in the classroom, defeat in competition, etc.) as essential for spiritual growth and maturity. This approach provides a process for dealing with heart issues. This approach does not expect perfection. Children are given freedom to interact with one another, make choices and face the consequences for those that are poor.

At Geneva, discipleship-oriented discipline:

  1. Addresses outward behavior with the goal of transforming the heart. Since discipleship-oriented discipline is aimed at changing hearts, students need to acknowledge that their bad behavior is a consequence of a sinful heart.
  2. Values biblical confession and repentance.
  3. Seeks to restore relationships.

Discipleship-oriented discipline does not eliminate the consequences of sin. Students may still experience detention, suspension, loss of extra-curricular privileges, etc. as a consequence for their actions. Eliminating consequences is not the goal of discipleship-oriented discipline. Christian maturity is the goal.

The headmaster determines the appropriate consequences needed for instilling discipline in school. During the course of investigating actions and events concerning possible student incidents, the school may seek to question students alone or in groups. The headmaster has full discretion in the questioning of students, and in the evaluation of events may conduct an investigation without parental notification or attendance. Failure of parents or students to cooperate fully in related investigative or disciplinary proceedings by the school may result in further disciplinary action.

The school’s interest in the conduct of students away from campus is the same as it is in their conduct on campus. The school may hold students accountable for their off-campus and online conduct.

Students are expected to represent Geneva in a positive manner when they are on school grounds and/or attending school functions. Students and their parents acknowledge and understand that students are subject to discipline for conduct occurring off-campus and even when they are not or during non-school hours, including weekends, holidays and summers.