Appendices

Appendix A

Statement of Faith

This declaration expresses the beliefs common to the administrative officials and the faculty.

1. The 66 canonical books of the Bible as originally written were inspired of God, hence free from error. They constitute the only infallible guide in faith and practice. A careful translation, such as the New International Version, is sufficiently close to the original writings in text and meaning to be entitled to acceptance as the Word of God.
2. There is one God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, infinite in being and perfection. He exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Who are of one substance and equal in power and glory.
3. Humankind, created in the image of God, through disobedience fell from a sinless state at the suggestion of Satan. This fall plunged humankind into a state of sin and spiritual death and brought upon the entire race the sentence of eternal death. From this condition humankind can be saved only by the grace of God, through faith, on the basis of the work of Christ and by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
4. The eternally preexistent Son became incarnate without human father by being born of the Virgin Mary. Thus in the Lord Jesus Christ divine and human natures were united in one Person, both natures being whole, perfect and distinct. To effect salvation He lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the sinner’s substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of sins. On the third day He rose from the dead in the body which had been laid in the tomb. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He performs the ministry of intercession. He shall come once again, personally and visibly, to complete His saving work and to consummate the eternal plan of God.
5. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Triune God. He applies to humankind the work of Christ. By justification and adoption humankind is given a right standing before God; by regeneration, sanctification and glorification, humankind’s nature is renewed.
6. The believer, having turned to God in penitent faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is accountable to God for living a life separated from sin and characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. It is the responsibility of the believer to contribute by word and deed to the universal spread of the gospel.
7. At the end of the age the bodies of the dead shall be raised. The righteous shall enter into full possession of eternal bliss in the presence of God, and the wicked shall be condemned to eternal death.

Appendix B

Life and Conduct at Gordon College

1. Introduction
   
   Gordon College is a Christian community, distinguished from other Christian communities by its primary commitment to provide a liberal arts education. As a Christian community it seeks to maintain itself by fostering those ideals and standards that are consistent with a Christian worldview. These ideals and standards are broadly moral; they would be characteristic of any community that was self-consciously Christian. This document is an attempt to specify those ideals and standards.
   
   Given an atmosphere of free inquiry on a college campus, it is not surprising that the legitimacy of certain standards has traditionally been discussed, debated and argued. Nor is it surprising that such debate is more intense in these days when the orientation of our society is toward freedom and self-determination. Nonetheless, the demands of community life require some mutual understandings, and neither the difficulty of the task nor the imperfection of the end result should deter us from attempting to establish reasonable, viable expectations. A Christian approach to life and conduct seeks to promote freedom without becoming antinomian and to promote responsibility without becoming legalistic. Historically, it has always been difficult to embrace at the same time both the need for rules and the role of individual freedom under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, this, we believe, is the biblical model, and so the course we have chosen.
   
   This statement of life and conduct at Gordon College sets forth (1) those assumptions and principles which should guide the conduct of responsible Christians and (2) the specific rules and regulations which seem most likely to require explicit statement in a community such as Gordon College.
    
2. Assumptions and Principles
   1. Basic Assumptions-Gordon College strives to maintain its identity as a Christian academic community of students, faculty and staff. The College expects that all members of the College community will:
      1. Call themselves Christian by virtue of the grace of God and their personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
      2. Recognize the Bible to be the Word of God and hence fully authoritative in matters of faith and conduct.
      3. Have a sincere desire for that commitment to mature both in insight and behavior.
   2. Biblical Principles-The community recognizes that biblical principles are foundational for corporate life and individual behavior. Those principles which seem most pertinent are the following:
      1. Life within a Christian community must be lived to the Glory of God, daily conforming ourselves to the image of Christ and recognizing the Lordship of Christ in every activity (Matthew 22:36-38, I Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:9, 10, 17).
      2. Love for and accountability to God should motivate Christian conduct (Deuteronomy 6:5, II Corinthians 5:10).
      3. Consistent with the example and command of Jesus Christ, love and justice must be the determinative factors in the relationship of Christians with others (John 15:12-17, I John 4:7-12).
      4. Christians bear responsibility for service to others. They are responsible to serve their neighbors and be involved in the process of alleviating such pressing worldwide problems as poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and racism (Matthew 7:12, 25:31-46, Galatians 5:14, 6:10).
      5. The actions of Christians within a community are not solely a private matter. Accordingly members of the Gordon community must hold their neighbors accountable for the implications of their conduct when it directly affects the welfare of community living (Matthew 18:15-17).
      6. The community collectively and members individually are responsible for the effective stewardship of abilities, opportunities and institutional resources (Luke 19:11-27, I Corinthians 4:2).
      7. Attaining common goals and ensuring orderly community life may necessitate the subordination of some individual prerogatives. Specifically, as servants of Christ we are called to practice forbearance. Christian freedom includes the option of not doing some things in order to contribute to the good of the larger community (I Corinthians 8:9-13, 9:19-23, 10:23-33).
      8. Certain actions are expressly prohibited in Scripture and are, therefore, wrong. Christians are responsible to avoid those practices which are called sinful in Scripture. Similarly, Scripture commends some actions which are, therefore, right. There are other actions which are matters of individual conviction based on the given situation. In this latter area care must be exercised so as not to judge one another or to cause another to stumble or ourselves to fall (Matthew 7:1, Romans 14:1-23).
      9. Christians are not asked to live the Christian life simply on the basis of their own moral character and strength. God has provided the authoritative Word of Holy Scripture, the guiding power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the counsel of the Church-the body of believers both past and present. Christians are expected to study and obey the Scriptures, to cultivate a heart attitude which allows for the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit and to give serious consideration to the counsel of the people of God (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:19-21, I John 2:27, I Peter 5:1-6).
      10. Important to an understanding of all behavioral standards is the obligation of Christians to separate themselves from worldliness (Romans 12:2, I John 2:15). Worldliness is a subtle issue involving uncritical conformity to the prevailing spirit of the age. One’s disposition concerning such matters as materialism, secularism, isolationism, security, success, injustice, hedonism and moral relativism must stand in perpetual review.
   3. General Principles-We acknowledge that it is impossible to create a community whose behavioral norms will be totally acceptable to every Christian. Nonetheless, we believe it is imperative for us to specify certain behavioral patterns which must be sustained in order that the objectives of the College can be met. Therefore, it is assumed that individuals who have voluntarily joined the Christian academic community at Gordon College and are striving to exhibit the behavior characteristic of a mature person will:
      1. Understand that they have become part of an evangelical Christian tradition which is to be respected and valued but which is continually subject to review and evaluation. They also have the freedom to offer constructive criticism of this tradition.
      2. Explore the broad range of human option and ideas without necessarily engaging in the whole range of human behavior.
      3. Strive to exemplify those positive elements of Christian behavior which are taught in Scripture (Roman 12:6-21, Galatians 5:22, 23, Colossians 3:12-17, II Peter 1:5-9).
      4. Be concerned about the welfare of other individuals within the community and of the community as a whole.
      5. Assume responsibility for their own behavior as it reflects upon their Lord, their community and themselves, particularly in the area of personal freedom, where discretion, moderation and restraint must be practiced.
      6. Continually assess themselves, their personal growth and their place within the Gordon community.
3. Behavioral Standards
   
   In light of the above assumptions and biblical principles of Christian conduct, the specific expectations which follow are established for students, faculty and staff of Gordon College. It will be noted that these behavioral standards distinguish between practices governed by Scripture and practices governed by consent of the community for its common good. The latter, which are established to enhance the quality of community living, are not to be confused with specific God-given directives, which are required of all Christians.
   1. Practices Governed by Scripture-The following behavioral expectations are binding on all members of the Gordon community.
      1. Those acts which are expressly forbidden in Scripture, including but not limited to blasphemy, profanity, dishonesty, theft, drunkenness, sexual relations outside marriage, and homosexual practice, will not be tolerated in the lives of Gordon community members, either on or off campus.
      2. Members of the Gordon community will strive to overcome “sins of the spirit,” notably pride, covetousness, jealousy, lust, immodesty, as all are destructive to the unity of the Body of Christ. Instead, each member of the Gordon community will enable and help others to nurture the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
      3. Recognizing the Christian obligation to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1, I Peter 2:13), individuals related to Gordon College are expected to uphold the laws of the local community, the Commonwealth and the nation, except on those rare occasions wherein obedience to civil authorities would require behavior in conflict with the teaching and principles of Scripture (Acts 5:29).
   2. Practices Governed by Consent of the Community for Its Common Good-In addition to behavioral obligations set forth in Scripture, members of this community choose to impose upon themselves the following rules for behavior out of the conviction that they serve both the long-range interests of this institution and the immediate good of its individual members. Violations, therefore, must be regarded as serious breaches of integrity with this community to which each member has voluntarily chosen to associate.
      1. The principle of resting one day in seven was instituted by God for the benefit of the creatures made in God’s image. Because Jesus declared Himself to be Lord of the Sabbath and because the Church celebrates His resurrection on Sunday, the College will avoid business as usual on Sunday, particularly in terms of scheduling events and the use of facilities during the Sunday morning worship hours, unless necessary.
      2. Members of the Gordon community will not use tobacco products on campus, on adjacent properties or while attending College-related events or on College-related business. This standard is in keeping with the findings of medical authorities concerning the danger to one’s health in the use of tobacco products. Further, it recognizes that Christians are responsible to be stewards of their bodies and considerate of the rights of others.
      3. Members of the Gordon community will neither possess nor use alcoholic beverages on campus, nor on adjacent properties. Use of alcohol is prohibited while attending College-related events where students are present. While it is recognized that abstinence is not biblically mandated, members of this community are encouraged for reasons cited above to consider abstinence as a personal practice. This position reflects the College’s concern with the physical, social and personal effects of alcohol use (see II. B. 6, 7 above). At no time will the illegal use or abuse of alcohol be tolerated by members of the Gordon community.
      4. Members of the Gordon community are not to use drugs illegally. This includes the use of those drugs prohibited by law and the abuse of those drugs controlled by law.

Appendix C

Statement of Provision for Students with Disabilities

Gordon College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA). This means that the College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admissions or access to its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding physical access should be directed to the Dean of Student Care from the Office of Student Life.  For issues of academic access, contact the Academic Success Center, asc@gordon.edu.  Accessibility of Gordon College facilities to students with disabilities is as follows:

• A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel-Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator.
• Barrington Center for the Arts- Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator.
• Bennett Athletic and Recreation Center-Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator.
• Frost Hall-Main floor is accessible.  The building primarily houses administrative and faculty offices.
• Health Center-The Health Center in Lane Student Center is accessible.
• Housing-On-campus housing is available in six locations: Ferrin and Nyland Halls, with double-occupancy for men and women; Tavilla Hall, an apartment-style residence; Fulton and Chase Halls with suites. Tavilla, Chase, Fulton and Nyland Halls are accessible with elevators and accessible units. Audio-visual alarm systems are installed to assist hearing-impaired students.
• Jenks Library-Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator. The building houses the library, classrooms, the Academic Success Center (ASC), the Center for Technology Services (CTS), graduate education, Registrar’s Office, and faculty offices.
• Ken Olsen Science Center-Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator. The building houses classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices.
• Lane Student Center-The main level is accessible through automatic doors and includes the dining hall, food court and Bookstore. Lower and upper levels are accessible by elevator. The lower level has a ramp near parking, leading to Gillies Lounge, the Mail Room and Auxiliary Services. The upper level houses the Center for Student Development.
• MacDonald/Emery Halls-Accessible with parking, ramps, elevators and tiecorridors.
• Phillips Music Center-Accessible with parking, ramps and elevator.

Students with Disabilities

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), the College’s intent is to provide students with disabilities access to a Gordon education. Gordon provides support services and reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Any student who intends to request accommodations must provide written documentation from a specialist. Documentation must be current, provide clear and specific evidence and identification of the disability, and verify accommodation needs with specific academic recommendations (e.g., extended test time, reduced course load). Reasonable accommodations must not interfere with academic or technical standards or essential course requirements. For more information, please see the ASC website at http://www.gordon.edu/asc.

Each semester, students obtain a Faculty Notification Form from the Academic Support Center for any class in which accommodations will be requested. Ideally the student should submit the form to faculty within the first two weeks of the semester and discuss specific requests with each instructor. The Academic Success Center works interactively with students and faculty to resolve any accommodation issues. Any questions or disputes about accommodations should be immediately referred to the Academic Success Center. For additional information, contact the director of the Academic Success Center at asc@gordon.edu or refer to the Gordon Student Handbook at  http://www.gordon.edu/studenthandbook/health.  For issues of physical access please contact the Dean of Student Care from the Office of Student Life.

Grievance Procedures Related to Discrimination

Gordon College has established policies and procedures to provide students with prompt and equitable investigation and resolution of allegations of unlawful discrimination based on race, color, gender, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or national or ethnic origin. This procedure covers grievances brought under Title IX which forbids sex discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance; Section 504 and the ADA, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity of the College; and the Age Discrimination Act, which prohibits age discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.

Any student of Gordon College may use this procedure. It is not intended to replace or duplicate existing grievance procedures. This procedure does not deprive a grievant of the right to file a complaint with enforcement agencies external to the College.

For additional information regarding procedural steps, contact the Office of Student Life or visit the Office of Student Life website. In all grievance cases the dean of student life will advise the grievant of the procedural steps involved, advise the grievant of the various internal and external options available to him/her, assist in the definition of the charges made and seek a timely resolution. It is the responsibility of the grievant to meet all the conditions for filing a grievance.

There are also grievance and appeal procedures that relate to student issues such as sexual harassment, grades, academic standing, behavior on campus and petitions over billing and parking violations. For information on such appeals, consult the Office of Student Life or the Student Handbook (go.gordon.edu website). The director of human resources will handle employee discrimination issues under the College’s employment policies.