Life Together Covenant

"EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR COMMUNITY LIFE AT TAYLOR UNIVERSITY."

Taylor University is a community of Christians who have joined together for the purpose of academic progress, personal development and spiritual growth. Participation in the University community is based on the foundation of our commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Together, we seek to honor Him by integrating faith and learning while our hearts and lives reflect the process of maturing in Christ.

The purpose of this covenant is to identify the expectations for participation in our community that will assist us in living together and in meeting our institutional objectives. We acknowledge that it is impossible to create a community with expectations which are totally acceptable to every member. Nevertheless, certain expectations must be specified to assure orderly community life.  When individuals join the Taylor community, they freely and willingly choose to take upon themselves the responsibilities outlined in this covenant.

ASSUMPTIONS

  1. Loving God and being accountable to Him are the primary motivations for Christian relationships and behavior.
  2. The Bible is our authority; it provides the essential teachings and principles for personal and community conduct.
  3. God, through the Holy Spirit, places in every believer the inner resources and attributes to minister to others through supportive relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS
Living in daily fellowship with other Christians is a privilege and an expression of God's grace. In recognition of this privilege, great value is placed on the quality of relationships in our community.  We acknowledge that we are living in a fellowship where we are dependent on and accountable to one another. The New Testament word for fellowship is koinonia. It is translated as partaker, communion, communication, contribution or distribution. Members, therefore, are encouraged to seek as many opportunities as possible to demonstrate koinonia.

Within our community the greatest expression of fellowship and the highest principle for relationships is love. As Scripture states: 11 "We should love one another. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers . . .  18 let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 11 Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 21 Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (I John 3:11, 16, 18 and I John 4:11, 21 NIV)

For the purpose of our community, we have identified the following specific expressions of love as being among the most desirable in our relationships.

EDIFICATION
We expect each member of the community to strive consciously to maintain relationships which support, encourage and help others.  "We who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Romans 15:1-2 NIV)

BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER
Because of our humanness, difficulties in relationships can occur.  In such cases, we are to respond as the scripture states; ". . . clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." (Colossians 3:12-13a NIV)

BURDEN-BEARING
We are responsible to come alongside those experiencing grief, discouragement, illness, tragedy or other personal trials. Expressions of bearing one another's burdens include comfort, encouragement, consolation and intercession.

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE
A community such as ours can be strengthened by speaking the truth to each other with love. Problems in relationships and behavior can be resolved constructively by confronting one another in an appropriate spirit. If the welfare of the one being confronted is paramount and if the confronter is acting in love, the process can produce growth.

RECONCILIATION, RESTORATION AND RESTITUTION
Healing broken relationships is necessary for a healthy community.  When relationships have been harmed, regardless of the reason, individuals are expected to reach out to one another, to forgive one another, to restore relationships and to make restitution. II Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV states: ". . . and He [Christ] has given us the ministry of reconciliation . . . and He has committed to us the message of reconciliation."

Implementing the above expressions of love in relationships requires continual effort and sensitivity to others. Relationships of this quality enrich our lives, honor God and assist in meeting the goals of the University.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES

BIBLICAL EXPECTATIONS
Scripture teaches that certain attributes are available to individuals through the Holy Spirit. These attributes include: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV) This "fruit of the Spirit" is to be sought, encouraged and demonstrated in our relationships.

In contrast to encouraging these positive attributes of the heart, scripture condemns attitudes such as greed, jealousy, pride, lust and hatred. Although these attitudes are sometimes difficult to discern, they can hinder relationships with God and others and lead to unacceptable behavior.

Certain behaviors are expressly prohibited in scripture and therefore should be avoided by members of the University community.  They include theft, lying, dishonesty, gossip, slander, backbiting, profanity, vulgarity (including crude language), sexual promiscuity (including adultery, homosexual behavior and premarital sex), drunkenness, immodesty of dress and occult practices.

In keeping with scriptural admonitions to bring ourselves under the authority of government, members of the Taylor University community are expected to uphold the laws of the local community, the state of Indiana and the nation. An exception would be those rare occasions in which obedience to the civil authorities would require behavior that conflicts with the teaching of scripture. On such occasions, each individual would submit voluntarily to the civil penalty for this behavior. Behavior resulting in civil arrest on or off campus is subject to review within the University's disciplinary procedures.

UNIVERSITY EXPECTATIONS
In addition to subscribing to Biblical expectations, members of the Taylor University community voluntarily commit themselves to the following standards of behavior. This commitment results from the conviction that these standards serve the good of the individual as well as the institution. These standards are not set forth as absolutes or as an index of Christian spirituality, but rather as expectations of this community. Because of the importance of trust in and responsibility to one another, violations of these standards are regarded as a serious breach of integrity within the community.

The following standards apply to students, faculty and administrators at Taylor University.

Members of the community are to observe the Lord's Day (Sunday) as a day set apart primarily for worship, fellowship, ministry and rest. While activities such as recreation may be a part of the day, "business as usual" relative to University programs and services will not be sanctioned or encouraged except where absolutely necessary.

Corporate worship, fellowship, and instruction are essential for our community. Therefore, students, faculty, and administrators are expected to attend chapel. Regular attendance is understood as a mature response to our community goals. The attendance policy is not a voluntary one; it is dependent upon individual honor and allows three or fewer absences each term. In addition, members of the community are encouraged to participate in university-related religious activities as well as those of their own church.

The community recognizes the danger to one's physical and psychological well-being in the use of certain products. Therefore, members of the community are to refrain from the use of tobacco in any form, alcoholic beverages, hallucinogenic drugs and substances (including marijuana) or narcotics not authorized by a physician. Under no circumstances are the above to be used, possessed or distributed on or away from campus. Members are expected not to abuse the use of legal substances.

Gambling (exchange of money and goods by betting or wagering) is viewed as an unwise use of God-given resources and therefore is not acceptable in any form.

In order to enhance and preserve the ethos of Taylor University, social dancing by community members is not permitted on or away from campus. However, acceptable forms of expression by the University may include sanctioned folk dances, ethnic games, dancing at weddings not in campus facilities, dances that are designed to worship God, and the use of choreography in drama, musical productions, and athletic events.

Because of our concern for the worth and dignity of persons, each member of the community is expected to be sensitive to special needs existing in our society and on our campus. Therefore, discrimination against others on the basis of race, national origin, sex or disability is not acceptable.

Any kind of demeaning gesture, threat of violence or physical attack directed toward another person will not be tolerated. Vandalism of property is also unacceptable.

The University urges its members to be selective in their choices of entertainment and recreation. Activities and entertainment that are of questionable value or diminish a person's moral sensitivity should be avoided.

The pornography industry exploits people. Further, the use of the industry's products is immoral. Therefore, pornographic materials are not to be used, possessed or distributed on or away from campus.

Consideration for others and standards of good taste are important to Taylor; therefore, all activities should be limited by this principle.

Members of the community are subject to the demands of academic integrity such as honesty and giving credit to sources.

Compliance with day-to-day policies and procedures of the community is expected from members. These routine items are listed in the Student Life Handbook, the University catalog and the Faculty and Administrative Staff Handbook.

CONCLUSION

The intent of this covenant is to identify expectations that assist Taylor University in functioning as a Christian community and in achieving its goals as an institution of higher learning. The covenant addresses relationships and behavior; these emphases are parallel and vital to the quality of our experience together.  The behavioral portion of the statement includes standards that are specific to the University. These standards are important to our community and must be consistently maintained to assure a proper climate for learning. Nevertheless, these standards must be kept in perspective with the Biblical responsibilities for relationships and behavior.

The book of Colossians provides an appropriate summary of the goals for our community: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. . . And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. . . Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another. . . And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God . . ." (Colossians 3:12-17 NIV)

All students (single and married) are responsible for implementing the relational and behavioral expectations listed above when the University is in session, (beginning of first semester through the end of second semester and/or summer sessions) when they are part of a university program or when they are living in university-approved housing.

Because the policies of the University are not intended to infringe upon the government of the home, students who are in the presence of their parents/ guardians are assumed to be part of the family unit and under the direction of their parents/guardians. Students who commute from the home of their parents/guardians are expected to abide by these policies except when university regulations conflict with the governance of the home.

Employees of the university are responsible to abide by the Life Together Covenant.

Multicultural Philosophy Statement

We believe in equality of all people as imbedded in biblical teachings and as an integral part of Christian commitment. We acknowledge that this is affirmed in the Constitution of the United States of America. We believe in an environment in which people can live and work cooperatively, valuing the multiple cultures from which they have come without violating institutional values. We believe in multicultural education as an interdisciplinary effort to prepare graduates who understand, appreciate, and work effectively with those who are different from themselves. We believe in global interdependence, implying the need to graduate individuals capable of functioning as global citizens.

Sanctity of Life Statement

Scripture affirms the sacredness of human life, which is created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 NIV states: So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Therefore, human life must be respected and protected from its inception to its completion.