VCS Lifestyle Agreement
Valley Christian Schools (VCS) is a flourishing, faith-based, education system serving families in the Mahoning Valley. VCS strives to fulfill its mission, to transform lives, through faith-integrated, Christ-centered relationships with its students and their families. These transformative relationships are built on mutual trust, respect and accountability, and as such, require all employees to be Christian role models. While scripture is clear that we all sin and fall short of God’s plan, continued “lifestyle choices”, that willfully violate biblical standards, call into question the ability of a VCS employee to be a Christian mole model.
Valley Christian Schools requires its employees to be born-again Christians, living their lives as Christian role models based on biblical standards of moral conduct (Rom. 10:9-10; I Tim. 4:12; Luke 6:40) and according to VCS’s Statement of Faith, in order to preserve VCS’s function and integrity. Employees will conduct themselves in a way both inside and outside of the school that will not raise questions regarding their Christian testimonies. A Christian lifestyle should reflect the biblical perspective of integrity and appropriate personal and family relationships, business conduct and moral behavior. An employee is expected to demonstrate a teachable spirit, an ability to share love for others, a willingness to live contentedly under authority and a commitment to follow the Matthew 18 principle when an issue arises with fellow employees and administration.
Moral misconduct, which violates the bona fide occupational qualification for employees to be Christian role models, includes, but is not limited to, promiscuity, homosexual behavior and/or sexual orientation, transgender identity, or any other violation of the unique roles of male and female. (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 18:7–23; 20:10–21; Deuteronomy 5:18; Matthew 5:27–28; 15:19; Romans 1:21-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20). In addition, cohabitation with an individual, who is not your spouse, in an intimate personal relationship, is deemed to be a violation of the requirements of being a Christian role model. VCS believes that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive covenant union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen 2:18-25). VCS believes that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other and that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity/gratification is engaged in outside of marriage between a man and a woman. (Genesis 1:27–28; 2:21–24, Matthew 19:4–9; Mark 10:5–9; Ephesians 5:22–33).
Certain other behaviors are to be avoided by members of the body of Christ, and, therefore, avoided by those involved with Valley Christian Schools. They include but are not limited to theft; lying; dishonesty; gossip; slander; backbiting; bullying; crude and vulgar or profane language; harassment; hate crimes; intoxication; illegal drug use; substance abuse; pornography; immodesty; and occult practices.
Additionally, Galatians 5:22-24 tells us that the “fruit of the Spirit” is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes are to be sought, encouraged, and demonstrated in our relationships.
VCS’s faculty and staff should be kind, empathetic, sympathetic, and understanding to all people. They should BE CHRIST-LIKE no matter how diverse the circumstances may be. VCS’s faculty and staff should be courteous to, polite to, and respectful of all people. The demeanor we present is a direct reflection on each of us as Christian individuals and displays our work ethic and professionalism.
VCS’s faculty and staff should practice loyalty. They should be loyal in their position in Christ Jesus to their leadership and to their fellow employees. They should be supportive of one another and be concerned that those around us are seeing Jesus in us each day. Working together as a team we will minister effectively and create a joyful and professional workplace.
VCS’s faculty and staff should be above reproach in all we say and do. We should choose our words, tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language carefully. We should be honest and truthful in our words and in our retelling of circumstances so that God will be glorified through us and in us. Additionally, we are a representative of VCS both inside and outside of the school at all times and as such should refrain from any public behavior, including social media activity or posts, which would call into question the values as outlined in this Lifestyle Statement.
In keeping with Scriptural admonitions to bring ourselves under the authority of the government, those affiliated with VCS are expected to uphold the laws of the local community, the state of Ohio, and the nation.
Valley Christian School reserves the right to address, directly with the employee, any perceived violation of the Lifestyle Statement of which it becomes aware. . Failure to adhere to VCS’s Lifestyle Statement may result in a reprimand or, in some cases, dismissal from employment. It is the goal of Valley Christian Schools that each employee will have a lifestyle where "...He might have the preeminence." Col. 1:18.