Secondary Doctrine Policy

ADCCA is a Christian school that is independent of any particular church or denomination. An area that each Christian organization must decide on are which biblical truths are primary and which are secondary (1 Corinthians 15:3). Our Statement of Faith focuses on those biblical truths which have defined the primary doctrines of orthodox, Protestant and biblically-faithful Christians across all times and places. 

Thus, our Statement of Faith describes those doctrines that we believe are primary. Those left outside of our statement are not unimportant but are considered vital and secondary doctrines. What follows is ADCCA’s guidelines that apply to all ADCCA teachers in their capacity as teachers at ADCCA. We also ask that any parents, students and/or guests to ADCCA abide by the following policy.

1. Secondary doctrines for ADCCA are those not contained in our Statement of Faith. Primary doctrines will be taught dogmatically through all grade levels without apology.
2. Another way to define secondary doctrine are those areas of sincere disagreement where the Bible-believing Christians have disagreed (and continue to). One may respond with, “Where haven’t Christians disagreed?” While it is true that there hasn’t been an area where all who would call themselves “Christian” have agreed. Our intent here is to deal not with those issues where the Bible speaks clearly but those where fallible believers have and continue to dispute. 
3. Examples of secondary doctrine would include issues such as eschatology, mode and subject of baptism, Calvinistic vs. Arminian soteriology.
4. Classroom discussion of secondary doctrine should be on an informative, non-partisan level.  Teachers must be careful not to speak to the students in a manner that would cause offense to the parents.
5. Presentation of all sides of an issue is encouraged. This will be particularly important during the dialectic and rhetoric stages of our curriculum. Students will learn to debate and disagree in a godly manner over secondary doctrines.
6. The teacher should encourage the students to follow up any questions they have with their parents and pastor. ADCCA gladly acknowledges that the parents, under the authority of their local church, have the final responsibility to search the Scriptures with a sincere heart to come to understand such issues.