We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and inerrant word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Ps. 19:7-11; Prov. 30:5-6; Jer. 23:29; Heb. 4:12; Matt. 5:18; John 17:17).

We believe there is one God, creator of all things, eternally existent in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (same in substance, equal in power and glory) (Deut. 6:4; I Cor. 8:4-6; Acts 17:24-29; Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:15-20; John 1:1-3; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; I John 5:20; Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 45:6; Isaiah 48:16; Acts 5:3-4; Hebrews 9:14; I Cor. 2:11-16).

We believe in the deity and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead (Isaiah 9:6; Gal. 4:4; John 17:5; Hebrews 10:5; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:34-35; Hebrews 7:26;  John 14:11; I Pet. 2:24; 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:22; I Cor. 15; Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 19:11-21; 20:11-15).

We believe man was created good in the image of God but fell into sin, and is therefore totally depraved, and needs to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit for salvation (Gen. 1:31; Eccl. 7:29; Gen. 1:26-28; Gen. 3; Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51:5; Gen. 8:21; Eph. 2:1-4; Rom. 3:10-18; Rom. 8:7-8; I Cor. 2:14; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44,63,65; John 1:12-13; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:3-5; Acts 16:14; Ezekiel 11:19; 36:25-27).

We believe that salvation is a gift of God given to man by grace alone through faith alone in the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ alone (Jonah 2:9; Eph. 2:8-10; Philippians 1:29; Acts 5:31, 11:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:25; Rom. 3:21-28; Rom. 4:5; Philippians 3:9; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isaiah 53:4-6; Heb. 9:28; John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to regenerate, seal, indwell, teach, convict, and empower the believer for godly living and service (John 1:13; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:3-5; Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30; Rom. 8:9; John 14:16-18; 14:26; 16:13; 16:8; Rom. 8:13; 2 Tim. 1:7; Zech. 4:6; Col. 1:29).

We believe Christ, the Head of the Church, has commanded the Body of Christ to make disciples of all nations. The universal visible Church will extend to all the people groups of the world; therefore all peoples are of equal importance in the Body of Christ (Col. 1:18; I Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:14-20; 4:4-6; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; Matt. 24:14; Rom. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12: 4-26; Gal. 3:28; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 20:27; Titus 2:2).

We believe that Christian parents have the privilege and responsibility to raise their covenant children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Gen. 18:19; Ex. 12:24-27; Deut. 4:9-10; 6:7-9; 8:5; 11:18-21; Joshua 24:15; I Sam. 3:13; I Chron. 22:6-16; Ps. 44:1; Ps. 71:18; Ps. 78:1-8; Ps. 145:4; Prov. 3:12; 4:1-4; 13:24; 19:18; 22:6; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15,17; Isa. 38:19; Mal. 4:6; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 3:15).

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) and that 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) and 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.) and 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 nor the policies of UHC.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the Upstate Homeschool Co-op (UHC)  and to provide a biblical role model to the UHC members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by UHC in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-16; 1 Thess. 5:22.)

We believe the Bible teaches that all humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1: 27), we hold that all human life is sacred and of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life (Ps 139).

We believe that conflict should be resolved in a gospel-centered and biblically faithful manner. (Mt. 18:15-17)

This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of UHC’s statement of faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Board of Directors is the Upstate Homeschool Co-op’s final authority.