Churches of Christ in Tennessee trace their history to the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement that arose in the 19th Century. Members of this movement sought unity with other Christians by removing denominationalism and by simply being followers of Jesus Christ who were trying to “restore” simple New Testament Christianity in faith and practice. Two guiding concepts were “we are Christians only, but not the only Christians” and “we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent.” Columbia Academy continues to embrace that viewpoint. We appreciate and respect our heritage while also recognizing that Columbia Academy is not the Church. 

Each church of Christ congregation is self-governing, and there is no earthly headquarters. Each congregation is free to teach and interpret the Scriptures as it sees fit.

This perspective and history influences how we teach the Bible to our students. Our focus is on doing the will of God and bringing Him glory. We learn how to do this from the Scriptures. The central story of the Scriptures is the gospel, or “good news,” which is summed up in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15).

• Our aim is to point students to the written word of God and the living Word of God in the flesh, His Son, Jesus.
• We aim to teach students how to read and interpret the Bible on their own.
• We teach them that the Bible is the fully inspired, inerrant Word of God that can be trusted.
• We hold the Bible to be the complete and final authority for all faith, doctrine, and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
• Each portion of the Bible is taught. When controversial topics arise, the focus is on “what does the Bible say?” Teachers are encouraged to avoid opinions and to simply teach what the Bible says. Teachers will share what we understand the Scriptures to teach. Students will be challenged to read for themselves and to prayerfully consider what the Scriptures say. When there are differing opinions of what the Scripture teaches or means, those opinions will be respected and will be an opportunity for further family discussion and study.

Methods used to teach the Bible

• Most classes and grade levels cover specific books of the Bible. 
• Starting in 9th grade, each grade will cover a gospel account (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) each year.
• From 7th-12th grade nearly the entire Bible is covered.
• We use the English Standard Version in many classes for the sake of simplicity.
• We distribute Bibles to all new students. These Bibles have study guides included.
• In Lower School, we have whole school chapel assemblies once per week, while in the Upper School we have a daily chapel in different formats. Attendance is required for all students.
• Upper School chapel formats include worship settings, small group meetings, “split chapels” by gender where female speakers are allowed.

Leadership of Worship and Devotionals

Board policy requires that all devotional activities in mixed groups shall be led by male students.

Sexual Activity and Identity (from the CA Student Handbook)

Columbia Academy is a religious institution providing an education in a distinctly Christian environment, believing its role is to work in conjunction with parents and guardians to mold students to be Christ-like. We believe that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman and that all intimate sexual activity outside that marital relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual or otherwise, is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 2:24-25; Ex. 20:14, 17, 22:19; Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13, 15-16; Matt. 19:4-6, 9; Rom. 1:18-31; I Cor. 6:9-10, 15-20; I Tim. 1:8-11; Jude 7). We believe that God created the human race male and female and that all conduct with the intent to adopt a gender other than one’s birth gender is immoral and therefore sin (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5; I Cor.6:9). As such, Columbia Academy reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student who actively demonstrates violations of these Biblical principles. Such violations include, but are not limited to, any sexual relations outside of marriage; public manifestation of a homosexual relationship (including, but not limited to, kissing, holding hands or dating members of the same gender or public announcement of a homosexual preference, on social media or elsewhere); and/or public manifestation of an identification with a gender other than one’s birth gender (including but not limited to social media postings). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no student who admits to a member of the school’s faculty or staff that he/she experiences same-sex attraction or issues with gender identification, without any physical manifestation of that attraction or new gender identification, shall be subject to disciplinary measures.