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2017-2018 CIU Student Handbook
48
I.
General Philosophy
A. The Student Life Disciplinary Process is designed to assist individual and
community spiritual formation and to aid the university in maintaining
a grace-filled environment conducive to Christian living and learning.
Personal growth and maturity are encouraged most when each member
of the CIU community practices self-responsibility and shares the
responsibility of creating a community of caring involvement to support
and confront one another when appropriate.
B. The responsibility to confront one another in a loving manner should flow
out of natural and intentional relationships with friends, peers, faculty,
and staff. This approach, if functioning properly, should enable spiritual
formation with confrontation and accountability as needed to take place on
a personal, informal level.
C. The Scriptures do not describe a precise model for discipline. However,
they do prescribe that when necessary we are to confront one another in
love. The university’s model has been adopted from Matthew 18:12-22.
1.
Attitude – Matt. 18:12-13, 21-22: “‘What do you think? If any man has
a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave
the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that
is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices
over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray....’
Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother
sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to
him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times
seven’” (NASB).
2.
Process – Matt. 18:15-17: “‘If your brother sins, go and show him his
fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he
does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the
mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he
refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen
even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.’”
(NASB).
D. This biblical model suggests a redemptive attitude and a progression with
confrontation. Members of the CIU community are expected to apply these
biblical principles in supporting and holding one another accountable.
1.
This model assumes that students will conduct themselves
appropriately by implementing self-responsibility. 1 Cor. 11:31-32:
“But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when
we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be
condemned along with the world” (NASB).
2.
If that fails, individuals of the CIU community — friends, other
students, resident assistants, faculty/staff, director of Residence Life,
Student Life deans, etc. — should assume the responsibility for caring
involvement to support and confront each other when needed.