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Christian schools often strive to disciple students with a biblical worldview, but without the right legal safeguards, even well-meaning institutions can find themselves in a vulnerable position. Through the ADF Church & Ministry Alliance, we’ve walked alongside many schools dealing with complex challenges that could have been avoided with clearer alignment between their faith and their documents.
Let’s look at three common legal mistakes we see schools make and how your school can avoid them.
Let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation.
A high school basketball coach at a Christian school posted pro-abortion messages on social media. Understandably, parents and school leaders were alarmed. But when the administration looked to their statement of faith for clarity on whether this violated school policy and warranted action, they realized it didn’t actually affirm the sanctity of life. They were left unsure how to respond because their core documents didn’t align with their deeply held beliefs.
This situation isn’t unusual. Many schools have general faith statements that affirm biblical principles broadly, but they lack specifics on culturally contested issues like life, marriage, and sexuality. A clear articulation of these beliefs makes it easier to take appropriate actions and defend your decisons.
Now is the time to review your statement of faith. Does it speak clearly and biblically on specific issues? If not, updating this foundational document is one of the most important steps you can take.
Let’s look at another example.
A Christian school hired an engaging, young history teacher, only to later discover that she was cohabiting with her fiancé, another staff member at the school. The school had strong convictions about modeling biblical values, but those expectations weren’t clearly outlined in the relevant employment documents.
This is where many schools unintentionally create risk. If your policies don’t communicate how your biblical mission informs lifestyle expectations for staff, it’s more difficult to enforce them.
Employment policies, staff handbooks, and job descriptions should all clearly reflect your religious mission and conduct expectations so that staff know what they’re agreeing to from the outset.
Even with clear policies in place, inconsistent enforcement can undermine both your mission and your legal footing. We often tell schools, “Consistency is evidence of sincerity in a courtroom.” Why? Because courts look at how your beliefs are lived out, not just how they’re written.
If a school strictly enforces its code of conduct in one context but overlooks clear violations in another, or handles similar situations differently based on external pressure, it becomes much harder to claim the underlying beliefs are sincerely held.
Consistency matters. It builds trust in your school community, demonstrates integrity, and helps establish the sincerity of your religious convictions in a legal setting. Train your staff to understand and apply your policies faithfully across the board.
Your school’s mission is worth protecting, and you shouldn’t wait for a legal challenge to start preparing. When your documents are clear, your policies reflect your beliefs, and your team applies them consistently, your mission is faithfully lived and legally supported.
Want to assess where your school stands? Get the Christian School Readiness Questionnaire, a free tool to help you reflect on key areas and identify potential gaps in your policies.
Learn how your ministry can communicate, connect, and consistently apply its beliefs to stay faithful and legally prepared.
