Code of Ethics

We, the members of the Cornerstone College of Virginia (“CCV”) community, abide by a Code of Ethics (“Code”). Under this Code, we accept responsibility for maintaining the highest standard of conduct in the academic as well as personal areas of our life together. We will strive for relationships that exhibit honesty, integrity, and decency which are characterized by honor, respect, and love. Thus, we expect that our students, staff, and faculty will adhere to the moral conduct set forth by the Bible itself. We will seek to provide an atmosphere conducive to developing Christ-like character of modesty and humility within the entire community; and any lack of moral or academic integrity will be deemed as inappropriate conduct as set forth by this Code.

Examples of conduct that will constitute a breach of this Code include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, violence, lawlessness, illegal drug use, excessive drinking, and drunkenness. Romantic intimacy and/or sexual acts outside of biblically defined marriage for Christians (i.e., one man and one woman) are not acceptable for any member of the CCV community. Drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited on CCV grounds. Falsely accusing any other member of the CCV community of violating the Code and providing false testimony against any person accused of such a violation are breaches of the Code as well. A person who personally knows a violation of the Code has occurred, but fails to report such information, breaches the Code themselves; the sole exclusion to this requirement is information obtained in confidential faculty and staff counseling relationships with students. This exclusion is intended to provide redemptive mechanism to assist students in integrating theology and practice and in no way is designed to excuse behavior that breaches the Code.

CCV reserves the right to discipline or dismiss any student, faculty, or staff member that is found guilty of violating the Code or whose attitude and behavior are not in harmony with the moral ideals of the school, this Code of Ethics, or the moral standards of the Bible.

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.)
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture.