Statement of Belief

The College aims to provide children with an education of a general nature consistent with the teachings of Christianity, including religious instruction and education in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments interpreted not inconsistently with the doctrinal basis of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. That basis comprises the Westminster Confession of Faith read in the light of the Declaratory Statement of 1901.

The following doctrines are included in that doctrinal basis:

  1. The unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
  2. The sovereignty of God in creation, revelation, redemption and final judgement.
  3. The divine inspiration and infallibility of Holy Scripture as originally given, and its supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. In accepting the authority of the Holy Scripture, and secondly, the authority of the Westminster Confession of Faith (24.1) we believe that marriage, and therefore sexual intimacy, is to be between one man and one woman (See e.g. Gen 2:24; Ex 20:14; Matt 19:5, 6). As such, we live by the principle that sex should occur only within a monogamous marriage, with abstinence from pre-marital sex, extra marital sex, de-facto ‘marriage’ and homosexual relationships.
  4. The two distinct, complementary genders (sexes) of male and female together reflect the image and nature of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The Bible ties gender identity to biological sex (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:22-24) and does not make a distinction between the two. God’s intended best for humankind is that we live our lives in accordance with our biological sex. According to Scripture, our gender identity is to align with our biological sex, as designed by God. The determination of biological sex commences in the womb and is recognised at birth (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:1-2; Psalm 139:13-14; Mark 10:6). We therefore acknowledge the biological sex of a person as recognised at birth and require practices consistent with that sex.
  5. The universal sinfulness and guilt of human nature since the fall, rendering mankind subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.
  6. The full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God; his virgin birth and his real and sinless humanity; his death on the cross, his bodily resurrection and his present reign in heaven and earth.
  7. Redemption from the guilt, penalty and power of sin only through the sacrificial death once and for all time of our representative and substitute, Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and mankind.
  8. Justification as God’s act of undeserved mercy, in which the sinner is pardoned all their sins, and accepted as righteous in God’s sight, only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, this justification being received by faith alone.
  9. The need for the Holy Spirit to make the work of Christ effective to the individual sinner, granting repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ.
  10. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all those thus regenerated, producing in them an increasing likeness to Christ in character and behaviour, and empowering them for their witness in the world.
  11. The only holy universal Church, which is the Body of Christ, and to which all true believers belong.
  12. The future personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge all mankind, executing God’s just condemnation on the impenitent and receiving the redeemed to eternal glory.