NOTICE OF
PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
Educational Philosophy: As a ministry of the
Mountain Park Baptist Church, Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy is a
boarding school with twin missions.
I. To provide an environment of faith that nurtures
Christian values of respect for authority, of Biblical self-image, and of
Christian service. Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy has the following
basic religious beliefs:
A.
The Holy Scriptures.
1. We believe that God gave His words to men who faithfully transmitted them in the original autographs. (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
2.
We
believe that God has kept His promise to preserve His words
perfectly and has delivered them to us out of the original tongues so that we
have a complete Bible that has every word exactly as He intended us to have it
namely the Authorized Version; the King James Bible of 1611. (Psalm 12:6-7;
Matthew 4:4; 5:18)
3.
We
believe that the Bible is essential to proper living on this earth and that it
is the only guide to salvation and ultimately to heaven. We believe that the
Bible is the Manual God has given where by His people (the Church) can
establish and govern the local assembly. We believe the local church has no
right to establish laws for itself that are not based on the proper
interpretation of the Holy Scripture. In areas where the Bible is silent human
authority has no right to interpose its will in the polity and practice of
God’s church. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
4.
We
believe that the 39 books of the Old Testament (Genesis –Malachi) and the 27
books of the New Testament (Matthew – Revelation) are all that are to be
included in the Holy Bible. We reject the inspiration of the inter-testament
books commonly known as the Apocrypha.
5.
Because
we believe that God has perfectly preserved His words for us in the King James
Bible, we reject all other books that claim to be the Bible. (Deuteronomy 4:2;
Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19)
NOTE: When examining a King
James Bible it is best to look at II Timothy 3:17 and Psalm 51:2 as “test
verses” to assure that the Bible will be acceptable. Look for the word
“throughly”. If the word is “thoroughly”, it is not correct and you will need
to find a King James Bible that reads “throughly” in II Timothy 3:17 and Psalm
51:2.
B.
Dispensationalism. We believe that the Scriptures
interpreted in their natural, literal sense reveal divinely determined
dispensations or rules of life that define man’s responsibilities in successive
ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather are divinely
ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His purpose. Three
of these dispensations- the law, the church, and the kingdom- are the subjects
of detailed revelation in Scripture. (Genesis 1:28; 1 Corinthians 9:17; 2
Corinthians 3:9-18; Galatians 3:12-25; Ephesians 1:10; 3:2-10; Colossians
1:24-25, 27; 2 Timothy 2:15; Revelation 20:2-6)
C.
The Godhead. We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons-
Father, Son and Holy Spirit- each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature,
co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.
(Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10, 26)
D.
The Person and Work of Christ.
1.
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without
ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the
virgin, Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isaiah
7:14; 9:6; Luke 1:35; John 1:1-2, Acts 2:2; 10:38; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21;
Galatians 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-8)
2.
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his
death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice;
and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical, resurrection
from the dead. (Acts 2:18-36; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter
2:22-24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5)
3.
We
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the
right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of
Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25;
Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2)
1.
We
believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in
regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and
sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 1
Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:5)
2.
We
believe that He is the Divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and
appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all the
saved to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:17-18; 5:18; 1 John 2:20,
27)
3.
We
believe that God is sovereign in the bestowal of spiritual gifts to every
believer. God uniquely uses evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip
believers in the assembly in order that they can do the work of the ministry.
(Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28; Ephesians 4:7-12)
4.
We
believe that the sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues was
never the common or necessary sign of baptism or filling with the Holy Spirit and
that ultimate deliverance of the body from sickness or death awaits the
consummation of our salvation in the resurrection, though God frequently
chooses to answer prayers of believers for physical healing. (1 Corinthians
1:22; 13:8; 14:21-22)
H.
The Eternal Security and Assurance of Believers.
1. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:4-5)
2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Romans 13: 13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)
I. The Church.
1. We believe that the church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
2. We believe that the Holy Spirit baptizes every individual believer into the church. We believe that this baptism is the literal operation by which God makes us one with Christ and identifies us totally with His death, burial, and resurrection. We believe this baptism takes place the moment an individual places his personal faith in Christ for salvation and is bom again. (1 Corinthians 12:12- 14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1 ;22-23; 5:25-27; Romans 6:3-4)
3.
We believe that water
baptism by immersion pictures the union and membership with the body of Christ
and is a fitting public testimony of the union and membership with the local
body of Christ. We reject the false doctrine of baptismal regeneration, but
believe that a pastor of a local Baptist church, or church of like faith should
baptize every member of the body of Christ as they unite with that local
assembly. We intend to encourage every person that places his or her faith in
Christ for salvation to be baptized. Any believer baptized by the pastor of
Mountain Park Baptist Church becomes a member of Mountain Park Baptist Church.
(Acts 16:14-15, 25-34)
4. We recognize water baptism and the Lord's Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
5. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is dearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
6. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Romans 16:1,4; 1 Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
J. Separation. We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and, that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (Romans 12:1-2; 14:13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11)
K. The Second Advent of Christ. We believe in that "blessed hope," the personal, imminent return of Christ Who will rapture His Church prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly ret»<rn with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel. (Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
L. The
Eternal State.
1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25-26; Revelation 3:10; 19:11-16; 20:1-6)
2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul, and body are reunited to by glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:4-6)
3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious punishment and torment until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment and torment. (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6-7; Revelation 20:11-15)
N. Creation.
1. We believe that God created all things visible in six literal twenty-four hour days. We reject the false claims of the theory of evolution in any of its forms as unscriptural theories of origin'. (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20; Psalm 82:12; Isaiah 42:5; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16)
2. We believe that God not only created all things but also sustains His creation. (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17) We believe that God is constantly, actively, and directly involved in His creation. (Psalm 135:6; Daniel 4:35; Acts 17:25-38)
0. Civil Government. We believe that God has ordained and created all authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home; 2) the church; and 3) the state. Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-24; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14)
P. Human Sexuality.
1. 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
homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, gender changing, bestiality, incest,
fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of
sex. Any employee of the church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a
result of consensual intercourse, outside of the marriage relationship, shall
be terminated from employment. (Genesis 2:24; Genesis 19:5, 13; Genesis 26:8-9;
Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thessalonians
4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4)
2. We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23)
3. We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12)
Q. Divorce and Remarriage. We believe that God hates divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of God for Christian services, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Malachi 2:14-17; Matthew 19:3-12; Romans 7:1-3; 1 Timothy 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
R. Abortion. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth of population control, or the mental well being of the mother are acceptable. (Job 3:16; Psalm 51:5; 139:14- 16; Isaiah 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Lukel:44)
S. Missions. We believe that God has committed to each Christian the ministry of reconciliation. As ambassadors for Christ we must use all available means to spread the gospel of the grace of God to the unsaved at home and abroad. We are to take the gospel to them and not wait for them to come to us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 10:13-16)
T. Lawsuits Between Believers. We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32)
U. Giving. We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God's wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to support his local church financially. We believe that God desires every Christian to give as he purposes in his heart; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. We believe that the Bible example is to give in order to support the church, for the relief of Christians in need, and for the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of any contribution once the gift has been made. (Acts 20:35; Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:6; Ephesians 4:28; Philippians 4:15-16; 1 Timothy 5:17-18)
II. To provide a college preparatory academic program that serves both the
student of high academic ability through an accelerated progression of
college-level courses, and the student of more modest abilities, through a
flexible curriculum, that allows the time for mastery of fundamental concepts
and skills.
Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy's specific objectives and programs in all areas of school life (academic, religious, social, athletic, musical, and extracurricular) are designed to nurture in our students' growth, respectfulness, self-discipline, leadership, and creativity. All objectives and programs are subordinate to and supportive of the twin goal of the school, developing to the fullest potential in each student Christian principles and academic scholarship.
Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy has a Model School accreditation by the School of Tomorrow. This places Mountain Park among the top five percent of the more than seven thousand Christian schools using the curriculum. Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy is not accredited by the State of Missouri due to a Biblical conviction against state licensure or accreditation.
Exemption from State Licensure: Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy is exempt from state licensing as a residential care facility operated entirely by a religious organization; and, therefore, is not inspected or supervised by the State of Missouri as provided in Missouri Statute 210.516.
Philosophy concerning Lawsuit: Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy believes that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or Christian ministries to resolve personal disputes. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:21-32)
Philosophy concerning Medical Care: Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy is not a medical treatment facility. Parents retain the responsibility for the medical care of their student. Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy does, however, intend to work with the parents and local health care providers in order to meet the medical needs of each student. Prior to enrollment, it should be determined, the best the parent knows, that the prospective student is in overall good physical health. The enrollment of a prospective student with specific medical problems will be determined by the administration of MPBBA (the appropriate staff officials) on a case-by-case basis. Under no conditions will MPBBA assume the liability expected of a medical treatment facility.
Philosophy of Discipline: Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy has a unique philosophy of discipline. Due to a positive peer influence among the students of Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy, brought about by their response to Biblical direction and the presence of the Lord Jesus, discipline is primarily limited to verbal guidance. Repeated infractions will result in a verbal rebuke by an appropriate staff person. Further infractions may result in the loss of entertainment privileges such as movies, special treats or seconds of treats, free time, and freedom of campus movement. Students may be required to sit in a designated location upon a chair designated as the "baby chair." The writing of lines referencing the offense may also be administered. When all other choices of discipline have failed, corporal discipline (swats) may be administered. There is a five (5) swat maximum upon the buttocks, duly witnessed by an adult and only administered by the highest ranking supervisor of the same gender. The student will acknowledged in writing the corporal discipline as to the offense and the number of swats before the corporal discipline is administered. The Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy discipline policy has the goal of giving each student the maximum opportunity of exercising self-discipline. By the time corporal discipline is administered, the student will have to acknowledge two things:
1.) That the student's attitude and actions warranted corporal discipline much sooner than it was actually administered,
2.) That every opportunity was presented to the student to avoid corporal discipline.
Student to Staff Ratio: Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy has an overall student to staff ratio of 8 to 1.
Bob Wills/Sam Gerhardt
Pastors, Mountain Park Baptist Church
Submitting myself to the Christian philosophies of the Mountain Park Baptist Church and Boarding Academy, I acknowledge that I have read with understanding and accepted the information contained in the Notice of Parental Responsibility provided by Mountain Park Baptist Church and Boarding Academy.
______________________________________
______________________________________ Parents of __________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As stated over and over previously, I have
no quarrel with Mountain Park’s choice of religion. This fight has never been based
on religious persecution. Their religion is their choice, and I believe
everyone has the right to choose their own way of believing. However, I DO NOT
believe that ANYONE has the right to FORCE another person to practice a
religion they do not feel comfortable with or that they do not believe.
Obviously, the State of Missouri holds the same opinion:
RSMo
211.221. In placing a child in or committing a child to the custody of an
individual or of a private agency or institution the court shall whenever practicable
select either a person, or an agency or institution governed by persons of the
same religious faith as that of the parents of such child, or in case of a
difference in the religious faith of the parents, then of the religious faith
of the child or if the religious faith of the child is not ascertainable, then
of the faith of either of the parents.
Mountain Park is strictly Fundamental
Baptist. In their enrollment application, they ask the church affiliation of
the family. It has been estimated that only 1% of the students entering
Mountain Park come from a Fundamental Baptist background, however upon
enrollment, parents are encouraged to seek out a Fundamental Baptist Church.
In an email I received from a parent who
recently removed her daughter from Mountain Park, I was told, “During our visit, my daughter questioned me
regarding the difference between the beliefs of Mountain Park and our own
family. My beliefs are based on years of studying the Word of God. Her
questions were valid, and deserved to be answered. However, my answering
her questions, placed her in a position where her return was made
difficult. I was told I had no right to "set her back". I
was reminded that I could come and get her whenever I disagreed with
them........and my concerns were brushed aside.” Why would a school’s authority over a
child supercede that of the child’s parent? What would give them that right?
If
a child enters MP and is not of the Fundamentalist faith, they will still be
forced to attend church, to the point of being physically dragged into the
service and tied to a chair to prevent them from leaving. Is this not religious
persecution in reverse? Is this not forcing the child to believe or practice a
faith that they have not chosen?
My main concerns with the Parental
Responsibility Notice given by Mountain Park is in the areas where a
double-standard seems to be prevalent, specifically the areas of Civil
Government, Lawsuits Between Believers, Giving, and the Accreditation of the
school vs. the Religious Exemption statute.
In the area of Civil Government, MP claims that
they believe God has given authority through the home, church and civil
government. They also say that they believe none of these institutions has the
right to infringe upon the others. In the case of Bethesda Home for Girls- the
predecessor of Mountain Park owned by the Wills- Wills was being sued for
allegations of child abuse, and was issued a court order that included a temporary injunction
against removal of any individual from the home, and demanding production of a
list of the residents "by 8 o'clock this evening," including the
minors' names, ages, parents' addresses and telephone numbers. This order, when
appealed, was affirmed, and the temporary injunction was made permanent on September
24, 1984.
Wills was not on trial for his religion. His
church was not being persecuted. He was being sued for, and was found guilty of
operating a youth detention facility, which is only lawful when operated by
state authority. However, Wills simply defied the court, and refused to comply
with this order, failing to produce a list of the girls’ names or other
information requested, and in the end removing 137 girls from the premises and
relocating them without consent from the court. This was a willful act against
the civil government which had jurisdiction over Bethesda. In what way was this
act showing the “righteousness and true holiness” depicted of the outward
testimony in the above section of Salvation?
In the area of Lawsuits Between Believers, going back to the
same time frame, when Wills was under judicial scrutiny for his actions as
owner of Bethesda, a court order was later issued taking temporary emergency
custody of the remaining 117 residents of Bethesda. Realizing that his efforts
to keep Bethesda open had failed and not liking the outcome of the trial,
Wills, along with several employees and parents of residents, filed a $44
million lawsuit against several local officials, even citing 2 Episcopal
clergymen as defendants. If the Scriptures never change, and God does not
change, how could this hold true to the belief that Scripture prohibits
lawsuits among believers? Is it for Mountain Park’s owners and administrators
to decide who is Christian and who is not? Or is it that only Fundamental
Baptist clergymen are considered true Christians when this belief is upheld?
Just recently, on January 13, 2003, a letter was sent
by the Christian Law Association (CLA) on behalf of and at the request of
Mountain Park Baptist Church and Boarding Academy and Palm Lane Baptist
Church and Boarding Academy (Palm Lane is a "ministry"
of Mountain Park) to a former financial supporter of Mountain
Park (Mr. Graves attends a church that formerly collected offerings for
Mountain Park after staff and students came to perform and give testimony). In
the letter a lawsuit was threatened over a website which told basically the
same things that this one does, but used a name similar to the schools and used
the non-trademarked school emblem in the background of the page. Mr. Graves’
Christianity was never questioned, nor was he ever asked by the school to
remove the emblem or change the name, a letter was simply sent from a
representing attorney. Again, if the Scriptures
never change, and God does not change, how could this hold true to the belief
that Scripture prohibits lawsuits among believers?
In the area of Giving, I find the
following statement rather convenient for an organization which receives so many
donations themselves to make: “We believe that a Christian relinquishes all
rights to direct the use of any contribution once the gift has been made.” I
find this also convenient, seeing as these are the same people who, in their
financial page, make the statement: “MPBBA does not give money back. We reserve
the right to use the money any way we deem necessary.” I may be mistaken in
this judgment, but I always assumed that the opportunity to give to the Lord’s
work was a conscious decision made on the part of a believer, not like paying a
bill, and that if you paid something for services rendered, like tuition for
your child’s education, it was not considered a donation unless you specified
it beforehand.
In the area of School Accreditation vs.
Religious Exemption Statutes, First of all, the school is not accredited because
they CHOOSE not to be accredited. The administration makes that choice. There
are many Christian schools in this country who choose to be accredited, and yet
do not compromise any religious right or moral code in doing so. Second, the
statute which Mountain Park uses to cite religious exemption from state
licensure is superceded by another statute which expressly lists theirs as
being null and void because they are in operation 24 hours per day.
RSMo 210.484. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
department of health and senior services shall license residential care
facilities, as defined in subdivision (10) of section 210.481.
RSMo 210.481. As used in sections 210.481 to 210.536, unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall mean:
(10) "Residential care facility", a facility providing
twenty-four-hour care in a group setting to children who are unrelated to the
person operating the facility and who are unattended by a parent or guardian.
Mountain Park claims faith-based exemption based on Missouri
Statute 210.516, which is clearly included as being covered by the requirement
of RSMo 210.481.
Missouri Law plainly says, "Notwithstanding" which
means, "in spite of", and subdivision 10 requires that a RESIDENTIAL
CARE FACILITY providing 24-HOUR CARE must be licensed. They make the
choice to be opened 24 hours a day. They must follow the law based on that
choice.