STATEMENT OF FAITH
I affirm and uphold the same core doctrines and foundational beliefs that are taught and held by the leadership of Calvary Chapel Prineville.
Jonny
Calvary Chapel Prineville Elder
As an Elder at Calvary Chapel Prineville, I joyfully serve under the authority of my local church. Accordingly, I affirm and uphold the same core doctrines and foundational beliefs that are taught and held by the leadership of Calvary Chapel Prineville.
These beliefs are grounded in Scripture and reflect the historic Christian faith that has been widely affirmed by the church throughout its history.
Core Beliefs
The following are the core beliefs of Calvary Chapel Prineville based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
There is only one true God, Creator of heaven and earth, who eternally exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Statement Regarding the Teaching of Science – Jonny Oelkers
I believe that God is the Creator of the universe and the author of the natural world. Because of this, I see science as the study of God’s creation, and I aim to teach science clearly, honestly, and with a sense of wonder about the world God has made.
I have learned a great deal from both the Intelligent Design movement, which is often associated with an old-earth perspective, and from organizations like Answers in Genesis, which advocate for a young earth. Rather than focusing on the disagreements between these groups, I try to focus on the important truths they share; especially the conviction that life and the universe ultimately point to a Creator.
In biology, I believe it is essential to emphasize that life clearly reflects intelligent design. There are moments in studying biology that truly are acts of worship, as the complexity and beauty of living things point us toward the wisdom of their Creator. One of my hopes is that students will learn to see God’s glory in the remarkable systems found throughout the natural world.
Another goal of my curriculum is to help students think carefully about evolution. The word evolution is often used in sloppy ways in scientific discussions. Sometimes it is used to claim that all life descended from microscopic organisms through an unguided evolutionary process. This view is false.
At other times, the word evolution is used to describe observable changes within populations, such as bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. These kinds of changes clearly occur in nature and are part of the biological processes God designed that allow populations to survive in changing environments. I want Christian students to understand the difference between these very different uses of the word so they can think clearly and give thoughtful answers when questions about evolution arise.
Christians hold different views about the age of the earth. Some believe the earth is young, while others believe it is very old. I respect both perspectives and do not spend much time addressing this question in my curriculum.
My goal is to help students explore science thoughtfully while recognizing that the study of creation ultimately points us back to the Creator.