ABOUT THE FCPC
HISTORY
The FCPC is based in Florida and is a voluntary membership organization founded by Dr. Earle E. Lee responding to leaders of degree granting faith based institutions seeking an association to fulfill the purposes stated. Our early beginnings began in 1980 with eight institutions agreeing to voluntarily uphold quality degree granting standards. In 1992 we chose the name Florida Council of Private Colleges and officially incorporated as a Florida non-profit corporation in 1993. The FCPC membership growth continues with a base of fifty or more faith based institutions. The FCPC is honored to achieve being the only association serving degree granting, faith based institutions continuously in Florida since 1980 by the support of its voluntary members. In 2010 the FCPC celebrated its 30th Anniversary of continuous service to its members.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Florida Council of Private Colleges (FCPC) is to serve private, degree granting, faith based, institutions with students in Florida that provide quality faith based education. The FCPC has a proven track record that supports, “Keeping the Lord’s testimony above reproach!” and, “United We Stand In Florida, Divided Individually We Can Be Conquered.”
MISSION
The mission of the Florida Council of Private Colleges is:
1. To promote academic excellence standards of the FCPC which are patterned after our early historical U.S educational institutions of higher learning that equal or exceed the minimum standards of the State of Florida.
2. To promote quality, degree granting, faith based education in Florida that “Keeps the Lord’s testimony above reproach.”
3. To protect the Florida historic, constitutional right of member, faith based institutions to grant degrees without government interference.
4. To represent member faith based educational institutions before any government and/or educational agency.
5. To provide joint legal representation for religious freedom issues that supports the mission and purpose of FCPC. member institutions in Florida.
6. To support and participate in the annual CPCA Christian Education Conference reaffirming quality, degree granting, faith based education that, “Keeps the Lord’s testimony above reproach.”
7. To provide direction through knowledge of support services and resources for FCPC member institutions in Florida to accomplish their institution’s purpose and mission.
8. To provide FCPC web site with services for and recognition for FCPC members and their prospective students, pastors, and supporting churches.
FCPC DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God and that He has preserved it.
2. We believe that there is one God, the source, support, and end of all things, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Virgin Birth; in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the Father's right hand, and in His personal return for His saints and with His saints at the Revelation.
4. We believe that man is totally depraved, a sinner (lost) by nature and by divine decree, therefore in need of the convicting and regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit.
5. We believe in the personality of Satan, in his power and kingdom, in his wiles, in his judgment at the cross, and his eternal destruction in Hell.
6. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, that He convicts the sinner, regenerates the one who believes, indwells, seals, instructs, reproves, and guides the believer, that He fills and controls every life that is wholly yielded to Him, however,
the manifestation of any particular filling is not required as evidence of salvation.
7. We believe that salvation is the gift of God offered to man by His grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved unto life and the unsaved unto judgment and everlasting damnation.
9. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, not in the organized unity sought by the ecumenical movement.
10. We believe in the special creation of the existing space-time universe and all its basic systems and kinds of organisms in the six literal days of the creation week and in the full historicity and perspicuity of the biblical record of primeval history, including the literal existence of Adam and Eve as the progenitors of all people, the literal fall and resultant divine curse on the creation, the worldwide cataclysmic deluge, and the origin of nations and languages at the tower of Babel.
Notes
1. The Florida Council of Private Colleges, Inc. holds that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizens the freedom to practice their faith in daily living.
2. The Florida Council of Private Colleges, Inc. uses solely the wording of the Authorized King James Bible 1611 to conduct its affairs, and to mediate any differences of opinion which may arise with member private faith-based institutions to provide for consistency, and to avoid possible confusion. This does not mean that we do not recognize the right of our members to value and use other translations of the Bible.
3. The Florida Council of Private Colleges, Inc. recognizes and acknowledges that their doctrinal statement does not represent the total doctrinal statement or position of its member private, faith based institutions.
FCPC Biblical Ethics Policy
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Matthew 18:15&16.
You are FCPC Members by choice because you have chosen to mutually serve and protect the freedom to provide quality Christian education pursuant to God’s leading and direction for your respective ministries. You recognize that each of you has the common God given purpose and mission to practice the pursuit of educating men and women in the Word of God to impact the world in accordance with your doctrinal persuasion. You have acknowledged that the Authorized Version 1611 King James Bible shall be the standard for all truth and justice establishing ethics principles for life and practice among our FCPC Members (See FCPC Doctrinal Statement Notes).
Step 1: As a Member of the FCPC you will uphold Biblical ethics in life and practice when difficulties arise between our respective institutions by applying these Scripture verses as follows:
A. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
B. A true Christian will hear and admit their offence in the spirit of meekness and seek forgiveness and resolution which shall cause the trespassed party to gain their brother.
Step 2: If the FCPC member does not admit their offence the offended member may ask the FCPC to select a neutral party that will go with them the second time they approach the FCPC member that trespassed against them.
Step 3: The FCPC neutral party shall seek to use Bible principles to bring the matter to a Biblical resolution. The FCPC is not the church and therefore does not have church authority to resolve the matter.
Step 4: All affected FCPC Members shall follow the Biblical admonitions stated above.
Step 5: The FCPC may upon consultation with appointed neutral party in egregious situations have to suspend FCPC Member’s status until the matter is Biblically resolved.
Step 6: Any FCPC Member may appeal a decision made under Step 5. to the Executive Board of the FCPC.. An Executive Board member shall recuse himself or herself if his/her institution is involved in either side of the dispute. Recognizing that there may be a humanly irreconcilable situation we would have to regretfully agree that the decision of the Executive Board will be final.
NOTE: The FCPC Biblical ethics policy shall not be construed in any way, shape, or form to mandate that FCPC Member institutions will be required to accept academic credits from each other. The FCPC will always support the sovereign right of each institution to determine credits they will or will not accept for transfer.
Florida Council of Private Colleges, Inc.
41 N. 20th Street, #17 - Haines City, Florida 33844-4638
Voice: 850-633-4080 - Fax: 850-270-1094
Email: info@fcpc-edu.org
