Update to DTS Community Covenant

Effective July 1, 2015, Dallas Theological Seminary has revised and clarified the following standards for community and conduct in a new Community Covenant.

“The updated community standards reflect DTS’s commitment to biblical truths about the Christian life as well as its affirmation of the Spirit’s role in guiding believers as they seek to become more like Christ,” says Dr. Mark Bailey, president of Dallas Theological Seminary. These changes and clarifications come as the result of many months of prayer and counsel from the faculty, the administration, the Board of Incorporate Members, and Christian legal counsel. These commitments are all the more important in light of the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. 

DTS Community Covenant (July 1, 2015)

The following text from the Community Covenant will be added to Handbooks for students, staff, and faculty:

The Mission of Dallas Theological Seminary is to “glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.”

As a community dedicated to fulfilling this mission to glorify the Father in the power of the Spirit, the board, trustees, faculty, staff, and students commit ourselves as a seminary to the cultivation of Christian doctrine, purity, and love consistent with the character and person of Christ. As physical-spiritual image bearers of the Triune God, we aspire to be known for excellence in Christlikeness. We commit ourselves to seeking the Spirit’s wisdom and discernment through the study of Scripture as we seek to honor Christ in the following areas:

• We commit ourselves to the biblical model of sexual purity expressed through either celibacy in singleness or fidelity in Christian marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. (See complete Marriage & Human Sexuality policy.)
• We commit ourselves to maintain a drug-free, alcohol-free, and tobacco-free environment with respect to all seminary facilities, events, and activities, knowing that any exception for the liturgical or medicinal use of alcohol on campus is to be approved by the administration.
• We commit ourselves to carefully exercise Christian freedom with regard to the use of alcohol, guarding against the misuse of any substances that might abuse our bodies, foster addictions, or cause others to stumble. (See complete Alcohol Policy and Q&A.)
• We commit ourselves to abstain from the use of tobacco, controlled substances, and any electronic substitutes.
• We commit ourselves to the wise use of the financial resources entrusted to us by God in our time at seminary and in our future ministries. 
• We commit ourselves to build a community that encourages responsible care and stewardship of the human body and soul through spiritual disciplines, a healthy lifestyle, and properly balancing study, work, rest, ministry, and leisure. 
• We commit ourselves to a standard of appearance and conversation that reflects Christian modesty, maturity, discretion, and respect.
• We commit, within the context of our theological convictions and mission, not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, national and ethnic origin, or disability, and to take active measures against discriminatory harassment, and sexual harassment, including any type of violence or misconduct. (See complete Abuse and Harassment Policy.)

As we strive toward these goals, we acknowledge our weakness and our constant need for God’s ongoing redemptive power expressed through his Spirit and fostered in the community of faith. When breaches of these commitments occur, we encourage the practice of repentance, confession, pardon, correction, and redemptive discipline when necessary.

Details on these policies may be obtained from Student Services at [email protected].