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Statement of Faith

Adopted: January 19, 2026

Statement of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth

TheApostles’Creed

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

Article I

AdoptingTheApostles’CreedasWesternChristian’sStatementFaith

Our goal was to establish a theologically sound, historically rooted foundation that supports unity across denominational lines while maintaining fidelity to essential Christian doctrines and our distinctly reformed worldview This creed is called the Apostles' Creed not because it was produced by the apostles themselves but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings It sets forth their doctrine "in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity" In its present form it is dated no later than the fourth century More than any other Christian creed, it may justly be called an ecumenical symbol of faith

Basis of Unity: The Apostles’ Creed is used as the basis of unity in Christ, inviting churches to partner in ministry and accept one another as co-laborers in the Gospel

Covenant Partnership Requirement: Churches that participate in the Covenant Partnership must

agree to the faith expressed by the Apostles’ Creed

All staff and board members must: 1) Profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 2) Embrace the beliefs of Christianity as expressed by the Apostles’ Creed, 3) Affirm Western Christian’s Statement of Purpose as expressed in the Bylaws, 4) Affirm Western Christian’s Mission, Vision, and Graduate Profile Statements, and 5) Actively attend a Christian church

Exclusion Criteria for Churches:

Churches belonging to denominations whose official doctrinal positions contradict the historically understood meaning of the Apostles’ Creed or Western Christian’s Statement of Purpose may not participate in the Society of Western Christian even if the individual church affirms the Creed.

We believe this approach promotes a spirit of unity around essential doctrines, provides clarity for organizational identity, and protects the theological integrity of Western Christian’s mission and partnerships.

Article II

Introduction

What does a centuries-old creed have to do with Western Christian High School in the twenty-first century? The original purpose of most ancient Christian creeds was to affirm belief in the Trinity the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and to define the main doctrines of Christianity In the early centuries of the Christian Church, the creeds helped establish the identity of the Christian faith in the midst of a wide variety of religions competing for the world’s attention

The creed we know today as the Apostles’ Creed also served as an educational tool, training new believers in the central doctrines of Christianity At the time of their baptism, Christians would affirm their faith by reciting this Creed as a personal declaration of belief As false teachings circulated in the Early Church, the Apostles’ Creed took on another role: strengthening and clarifying the essential truths of the faith For that reason, it places great emphasis on the Person and work of Jesus Christ while giving less attention to other topics such as the Holy Spirit, Scripture, the sacraments, church government, or eschatology (the end times) In a similar way, the Nicene Creed was developed in the Eastern Church to guard against the false teachings of the Arian movement

Today, we live in a world where confusion about the central doctrines of Christianity remains widespread, and where challenges to the faith still persist in various forms As a Christian high school, Western is committed to equipping students not only with academic excellence but also with a firm foundation in the truth of God’s Word. Adopting the Apostles’ Creed as our Statement of Faith expresses both our unity with the historic Church and our desire to pass on the essentials of the Christian faith to the next generation. The Apostles’ Creed provides a concise and reliable summary of what Christians have believed through the centuries, and by affirming it together, we root our school community in the unchanging truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Article III

PositionPaper

I Believe

The Latin word credo means more than “I think this is true.” It literally means “I give my heart to” or “I entrust myself to.” So when we say, “I believe in God,” we are declaring not only agreement with certain truths but also personal trust in God Himself.

At Western, this confession reminds us that faith is not merely intellectual but relational. It shapes how students approach their studies, athletics, relationships, and future everything is entrusted to God.

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1–12:3; Matthew 9:20–22, 27–30.

In God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth

THE FATHER

We confess God as the Father because of how He has revealed Himself to us in His Word (Mt 7:11)

As such, He is personal, loving, and relational. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and by his grace, He adopts us as His children (John 1:12) For our school community, this means that our identity is not rooted in achievements or failures, but in being beloved children of God

Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:9–13; Galatians 4:1–7

ALMIGHTY

Calling God “Almighty” acknowledges His sovereign power over all things. While human power is limited and often misused, God’s almighty rule is both good and just

Students are reminded that no circumstance is beyond God’s control, and no future is beyond His care

Key Scriptures: Psalm 135:6; Ephesians 1:11.

MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

The Creed affirms that God created both the visible and invisible realms Creation is not random or meaningless; it is the intentional work of a good God.

This gives dignity to our studies in science, history, and the arts All truth belongs to God, and creation points us back to its Maker.

Key Scriptures: Genesis 1–2; Psalm 8; Colossians 1:16 And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord

JESUS

The name “Jesus” means "Jehovah saves.” This points us to the heart of the gospel: that God entered history to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21)

CHRIST

“Christ” means “Anointed One.” He fulfills the Old Testament promises of a Savior-King who would bring healing, justice, and peace (Luke 4:18–19)

HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON

Jesus is God’s unique Son, fully divine and fully human. In Him we see God most clearly (John 1:14).

OUR LORD

To call Jesus “Lord” is to acknowledge His ultimate authority For our students, this means Christ is not just one influence among many, but the One to whom every part of life belongs

Key Scriptures: John 3:16; Colossians 1:13–23; Philippians 2:5–11

Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

This phrase protects two vital truths: Jesus is both fully God and fully man. He is the eternal Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; and having been born of his mother, the virgin Mary, He shares fully in our humanity He truly is Immanuel, God with us

For young people, this means that Jesus truly understands human life He knows our struggles, joys, and weaknesses, and yet He is God with us

Key Scriptures: Luke 1:26–38; John 1:14

Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, Was Crucified, Dead, and Buried

The Creed roots Jesus’ suffering in real history by naming Pontius Pilate. Jesus’ death was not a myth but a public event He was crucified, dead, and buried fully entering into human suffering and death

This is central to the gospel we teach at Western: Jesus bore the penalty of sin so that we might have life

Key Scriptures: Isaiah 53; Mark 15:1–47; Romans 5:6–8.

He Descended to Hell

This phrase affirms that Jesus truly died Christ our Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, on the cross but also earlier, has delivered us from hellish anguish and torment

Key Scriptures: Acts 2:24–27; Isa 53; Matt 26:36-46; 27:45-46; Luke 22:44; Heb 5:7-10

On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead

The resurrection is the heart of the Christian faith. It is not only proof of Jesus’ divinity but also the guarantee of eternal life for all who believe.

For students, the resurrection means hope: our future is secure because Christ lives.

Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, 20–22; John 11:25–26.

He Ascended into Heaven, and Is Seated at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty

Jesus ascended not to leave us but to reign as King. Seated at God’s right hand, He intercedes for His people and rules over history.

This reassures our school community that Christ is sovereign, even now, in every part of our lives

Key Scriptures: Acts 1:9–11; Hebrews 7:25; Ephesians 1:20–23

From There He Will Come to Judge the Living and the Dead

The Creed ends its focus on Jesus by looking forward Christ will return, and all will give account before Him

This reminds students that our choices matter, and that God’s justice and mercy will one day be fully revealed when His kingdom is fully revealed

Key Scriptures: Matthew 25:31–46; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 21–22

I Believe in the Holy Spirit

Though brief, this statement affirms that the Spirit is fully divine and at work in the Church and in the lives of believers The Spirit applies Christ’s work to us, empowers us for witness, and produces spiritual fruit in us

For Western, this means we depend on the Spirit’s power in our teaching, learning, worship, and community.

Key Scriptures: John 14:16–17; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22–25.

The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints

Here “catholic” means “universal ” The Creed affirms that the Church is bigger than one denomination, school, or culture We belong to the global body of Christ, united across time and place

Students are reminded that faith is not individualistic we are part of a great community that is larger than ourselves

Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 4:1–6

The Forgiveness of Sins

The gospel assures us that through Christ, our sins are forgiven. This is not just a theological truth but a daily reality: we live free from guilt and shame because of Jesus.

In our school community, forgiveness also shapes how we relate to one another with grace, mercy, and reconciliation.

Key Scriptures: Psalm 103:8–12; 1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7.

The Resurrection of the Body

Christian hope is not only that our souls live on, but that one day God will raise our bodies to new life Death does not have the final word

For students, this truth grounds hope in the midst of suffering, loss, or fear of the future

Key Scriptures: John 5:28–29; 1 Corinthians 15:42–44

And the Life Everlasting. Amen.

The Creed closes with the promise of eternal life in God’s presence This is the ultimate goal of faith: unbroken fellowship with God in His new creation

At Western, this reminds us that education is not just preparation for college or careers, but for eternity

Key Scriptures: John 14:1–3; Revelation 21:1–4