Regarding school employees, the historic understanding of The Cornerstone Christian School and the Church of the Nazarene, with respect to alcohol, is that abstinence best reflects our commitments to Christ, our community, and holy living. This position is rooted in our acknowledgement of the destructive consequences in individuals, families, and communities that can stem from the use of alcohol; it demonstrates our commitment to standing in solidarity with those who have suffered from these consequences. As a result, it continues to be our strong preference that all employees abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages. However, we respect the fact that our employees come from a variety of denominational backgrounds that may not share this commitment to abstinence. Our expectation, therefore, is that all CCS employees will abide by the behavioral commitments of their local church, will avoid drunkenness, and will under no circumstances possess, use, promote, or distribute alcoholic beverages on campus, at any school event, or in the presence of students.
Stance on Human Sexuality The Church of the Nazarene( refer to the Church of the Nazarene Manual found at Nazarene. org / manual) views human sexuality as one expression of the holiness and beauty that God the Creator intended. Because all humans are beings created in the image of God, they are of inestimable value and worth. As a result, we believe that human sexuality is meant to include more than the sensual experience, and is a gift of God designed to reflect the whole of our physical and relational createdness.
The Church of the Nazarene affirms that the human body matters to God. Christians are both called and enabled by the transforming and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to glorify God in and with our bodies. Our senses, our sexual appetites, our ability to experience pleasure, and our desire for connection to another are shaped out of the very character of God. Our bodies are good, very good.
We affirm belief in a God whose creation is an act of love. Having experienced God as holy love, we understand the Trinity to be a unity of love among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are made with a yearning for connection with others at the core of our being. That yearning is ultimately fulfilled as we live in covenanted relationship with God, the creation, and loving one’ s neighbor as one’ s self. Our creation as social beings is both good and beautiful. We reflect the image of God in our capacity to relate and our desire to do so. The people of God are formed as one in Christ, a rich community of love and grace.
Singleness Within this community, believers are called to live as faithful members of the body of Christ. Singleness among the people of God is to be valued and sustained by the rich fellowship of the church and the communion of the saints. To live as a single person is to engage, as Jesus did, in the intimacy of community, surrounded by friends, welcoming and being welcomed to tables, and expressing faithful witness.
Marriage Also, within this community, we affirm that some believers are called to be married. As defined in Genesis,“ a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”( Genesis 2:24) The marriage covenant, a reflection of the covenant between God and the people of God, is one of exclusive sexual fidelity, unselfish service, and social witness. A woman
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