Support Staff Application

1. We believe the Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.

2. We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

3. We believe that in the beginning, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, created the Heavens and the Earth, their contents, and their kinds of creatures, including mankind. God made mankind, a man and a woman in His own image to glorify Him. (John 1:1-3; Genesis 1:1-31; Colossians 1:16)

4. We believe that all are sinners and therefore unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure.

5. We believe that salvation is by God alone, by grace alone, by Christ alone, and received by faith alone, and is not based upon any human merit.

6. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who, through His perfect life and sacrificial death, atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him alone for salvation.

7. We believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father.

8. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust and follow Christ.

9. We believe that God has established His Church and is gracious and faithful to His people according to His Covenant promises.

10. We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.

11. We believe that the term marriage has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (Genesis 2:18–25; 1 Corinthians 6:18, 7:2–5; Hebrews 13:4)

12. We believe that God wonderfully created each person, and although in fallen creation some of God’s image bearers are born with disorders of sex development, this does not nullify the two genders of Creation or God’s sovereignty in determining gender. (Genesis 1:26–27; Matthew 19:12)

13. We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

1. God is the source of all truth, and the Bible is given by Him as our supreme and final authority.

2. All aspects of our educational program will be taught from a Biblical perspective.

3. Students are created in the image of God with unique physical, social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual gifts, and therefore are valued individuals, whose primary purpose is to glorify God.

4. Students will model what they see; therefore, by God’s grace, all faculty and staff should strive to be Christian role models.

5. Students will be challenged through a variety of appropriate instructional strategies and extracurricular activities.

6. Students are personally responsible and accountable for their behavior and personal integrity.

7. Students learn most effectively in a safe, structured, healthy environment.

8. Faith Christian School works in partnership with families in education, yet the final responsibility for children’s academic and spiritual development is at home.

9. Commitment to continuous school improvement is essential for students to become confident, self-directed, life-long learners.

10. Faith Christian School emphasizes spiritual development, academic excellence, and extracurricular activities as a means to glorify God.

Faith Christian School strives to assist students to “Find God’s Path for You” by preparing students for college, career, life, and eternity.

Faith Christian School endeavors to further God’s kingdom by providing an exceptional college and career preparatory education from a biblical perspective in partnership with families and churches, so that students are socially, emotionally, academically, and spiritually (SEAS) equipped for servant leadership to the glory of God.

1. Necessity of Christ – 1 Corinthians 2:2

A Faith Christian School student should:

• See, Join, Disciple, and Minister.
• See the miracles that God does.
• Join others in exploring his or her purpose to worship, learn, and lead in the school student body and in the community.
• Disciple others as he or she continues to mature and be coachable.
• Minister to others as Christ ministers to all

2. Authority of the Bible – 2 Timothy 3:14–17

Faith Christian School graduates should:

• Believe that the Bible is true in all that it affirms.
• Believe that God wants to know them and be known by them.
• Submit to God’s will by applying His Word in all their circumstances and in all their actions.

3. Community of Grace – Titus 2: 11-14

Faith Christian School graduates should:

• Believe that God in His grace secures our place in His family.
• Believe that God in His grace sustains us in the Christian life.
• Believe that God in His grace moves us to love and forgive others.

4. Excellence in Academics and Preparation for Life – 2 Peter 1:3, Romans 12: 1-2

Faith Christian School graduates should:

• Communicate
• Collaborate
• Contribute
• Comprehend
• Create

Faith Christian School is a religious institution providing an education in a distinct Christian environment, and it believes that its biblical role is to work in conjunction with the home to mold students to be Christ-like. On those occasions in which the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home is counter to or in opposition to biblical standards the school teaches, the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, living in, condoning, or supporting illegal activities, sexual immorality, homosexual acts or sexual orientation, gender identity different from one’s biological gender, promoting such practices, or otherwise the inability to support the moral principles of the school (Leviticus 20:13a, Romans 1:27, Matthew 19:4-6).

It is the opinion of the School Board that the role of staff (and Head of School) is one of the critical keys to the overall effectiveness of the ministry of FCS. In many respects, the entire fruitfulness of the school stands or falls on the quality of our teachers and staff. Therefore, these criteria are requirements for FCS teachers and staff:

1. Walk with Christ

• Profession of Faith (must be a believer)

• Active membership and participation in a Biblical evangelical church

• Life exemplifies a walk with Christ.

2. Professional Competence

• A successful experience in the necessary field of work is needed.

3. Enthusiastic Support for the School

• Gives only good reports of school and follows principles outlined in Matthew 18.

4. Character

It is the opinion of the Board that the character of the teacher or staff member is an important component to evaluate in our hiring process. It is, however, much more subjective and thus more difficult to evaluate. Here is a non-exhaustive list of factors which may be examined:

• Reputation in their community

• References

• Witness of their family

Note: We must be careful here, because examination of the “family” necessarily involves examining “other persons” whom the teacher candidate may or may not be able to influence. It is permissible to consider such dynamics as:

1. Witness of their marriage

Policy: Divorce is not a prima-facie disqualifier. The issue of divorce should be tested by the guidelines of the Sessional position on divorce as it applies to officers. Any divorcee approved by the Board for a teacher position will have to meet with the Session to discuss this particular dynamic.

2. Witness of their children

Policy: It is appropriate here to mention a Sessional policy concerning the issue of working mothers: While it is our preference that mothers of small children stay at home with their children, it is not our policy to have an absolute bar against hiring mothers of small children.

• Critical Spirit/Propensity to give “Bad Reports”, Gossip, i.e. students, teachers, parents

• Submissiveness to authority

• Opinions of previous employers

The teacher or staff member’s inability to render adequate service because of inefficiency, physical disability, or conduct detrimental to the school shall constitute just cause for termination contract. Termination of contract, whether initiated by Faith Christian School or the employee, shall be in accord with the following procedure:

• Documentation of cause for termination shall be the responsibility of the Head of School after observation, conference and recommendations for improvements. The Head of School shall have the authority to determine if actions by the employee justify immediate dismissal according to the employee conduct detrimental to the school.

• Upon termination of employee’s employment contract, the employee shall receive the salary due, computed on a pro rata basis, up to the effective date of termination.

• The Head of School has the authority to place an employee on Leave Without Pay status pending investigation of conduct if questions persist concerning an incident. If the employee is reinstated, then back pay shall also be reinstated.

Dismissal Process:

Step 1: The decision to fire a teacher or staff member or not to ask a teacher to return belongs to the Head of School and must be confirmed by Senior Pastor.

Step 2: If Senior Pastor fails to confirm, Head of School has the right to appeal to the School Board.

Step 3: The teacher may appeal through the Head of School to Senior Pastor (a joint meeting of all three and no one else).

Step 4: If Senior Pastor confirms Head of School’s decision, there is no other right to appeal. The decision is final.

Step 5: The matter will be reported to the School Board for information purposes.

Alcohol

The Biblical Perspective – The Word of God is our authority on all matters of faith and practice. It is our understanding that the teachings of the Scriptures on the issue of the consumption of alcohol is as follows:

1. Consumption is not a prima facie sin

• Jesus Himself drank real wine – the kind of wine which breaks wineskins during fermentation process
(Mk. 2:22)

• Paul’s advice to Timothy to drink wine for medicinal purposes (1 Tim 5:23)

2. Consumption can lead to sin:

• Drunkenness
• Violation of the Love Ethic (1 Cor. 8, 1 Cor. 10)
• Violation of the civil government guidelines (Rom 13)

3. As much as we might wish all consumption of alcohol to be a sin per se, we cannot go beyond what God teaches. While we may individually choose not to consume, we cannot mandate a behavior upon this issue which God Himself has chosen not to do.

The Experiential Perspective – The consumption of alcohol is the source of deep serious societal problems today. Consumption has destroyed families, destroyed lives, and has threatened to destroy our society as a whole. People drink excessively. People drink to escape. People become addicted without ever intending to do so. People who drink and drive take the lives of the innocent. Alcohol Consumption has left a trail of bodies—the dead and the wounded.

School Guidelines

We feel that two positions are permissible for our faculty and staff.

1. Abstinence: While this position is not specifically required by the Scriptures, it may indeed be the wisest choice. It is a position worthy of serious consideration by the mature Christian who desires not to bring his witness for Christ into question by participation in behavior that has led to much sin. This position also avoids the ever-constant possibility of causing a fellow Christian to stumble.

2. Moderate consumption in extreme sensitivity to the conscience of others:

• School Time – Obviously, any consumption of alcohol during school hours, at school events, on school property, or at any time in which a student at a “school” event could smell it on one’s breath would be inappropriate.

• Personal Time

Observation #1: We want to be very careful as an employer to ensure that we do not fall into the sin of “legalistic rule setting” in order to prevent behaviors which we might feel could jeopardize the witness of our school to Christ. We want to be clear in saying that in those areas of Scripture which allow for Christian liberty, we do not want to usurp the role of the Holy Spirit. It is the conviction of the Spirit of God, not external rules, which should guide each of us in drawing our own limits in areas of Christian liberty.

Observation #2: Having set down the principle of observation #1, we want to emphasize that the Holy Spirit has set down a clear guideline in His word. The guideline is as follows: Our liberty to enjoy a behavior is limited by the Love Ethic—i.e. “take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1Cor. 8:9) Our liberty to participate in a behavior must always be tempered with our sensitivity to others who may be caused to stumble.

Observation #3: The role of a teacher or staff member at Faith is a high visibility position within the broad “Biblical-evangelical” community in Anniston. That community includes a number of parents who teach in their homes that the consumption of alcohol is a behavior which Christian believers
should forsake for the sake of their witness to Christ. For these parents (or their children) to observe a Faith Teacher or staff member consuming alcohol may well result in their “stumbling”. As a School Committee, we must ask that our teachers/staff be sensitive to this dynamic, and exercise great care in the public use of their liberty for the sake of those who will misunderstand it. At times, it may be wise to restrain from public consumption.

Observation #4: Obviously, any consumption (public or private) which is immoderate or leads to ungodly behavior would be inappropriate.

Tobacco Usage

1. The general principles governing the “Christian Liberty vs. Love Ethic” dynamics may be found in the FCS Guidelines on the Issue of Alcohol Consumption.

2. Evidence shows that the use of tobacco is detrimental to one’s health, and the School Committee would prefer that all our teachers and staff refrain from using tobacco products.

3. For those that the Lord may call to teach or serve here who may choose to use tobacco products, the following tow guidelines apply:

• School Time: Any usage of tobacco (in any form) during school hours, at school events, on school property, or at any time in which a student at a “school” event could smell it on one’s breath (or see it in their mouth) would be inappropriate.

• Personal Time: The role of a teacher or staff member at Faith is a high visibility position with the broad “Biblical-evangelical” community in Anniston. That community includes a number of parents who teach in their homes that the usage of tobacco is a behavior which Christian believers should forsake for the sake of their witness to Christ. For these parents (or their children) to observe a Faith Teacher or staff member using tobacco may well result in their “stumbling”. As a School Committee, we must ask that our teachers/staff be sensitive to this dynamic, and exercise great care in the public use of their liberty for the sake of those who will misunderstand it. At times it may be wise to restrain from public usage.

Abstinence from Illegal Drugs

All FCS faculty and staff should abstain from the use of illegal drugs while employed as a faculty member at Faith Christian School