Attending Covenant as a Non-PCA Christian

My Denominational Background

I have a somewhat diverse background when it comes to Christian denominations. My mother was raised Catholic, but later started attending a Baptist church with my dad, which we stuck with until I was about 14, when we moved to a different state. Our new church was Methodist up until a few years ago, when the congregation voted to split from the United Methodist church, making us technically non-denominational. All that to say, my family never really put much emphasis on what denomination you’re from. I was taught that as long as you follow the Sunday School ABCs (Admit, Believe, Confess), that's what truly matters.

The Unfamiliar

During my senior year of high school as a homeschooler, I started visiting Covenant events such as sneakPEAK, Scholarship Weekend, and Summer Institute. My family and I loved seeing Covenant’s commitment to keeping Christ at the center of everything they do. However, I found myself surprised by Presbyterian, specifically Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), traditions with which I was unfamiliar. Some I recognized, such as singing the Doxology after each chapel talk, but others I had never heard of in my life, like the memorization of the five points of Calvinism (TULIP), the Solas, and The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Sitting in the chapel, I easily recognized the biblical scenes in the center stained glass window, but found myself quickly stumped and confused by the two on either side. I had never seen a denomination that put so much emphasis on church history. I noticed names like Calvin, Luther, and Augustine frequently popping up in my classes. They were names I had briefly heard of before, but hardly knew anything about–not to mention the differences in doctrines like predestination.

Acceptance in Denominational Diversity

To be honest, I was a little scared at first. I felt like I was some sort of undercover agent in this Presbyterian world, always at risk of being unmasked. But, to my relief, the staff and many students were very open and understanding of my beliefs. I got to engage in deep theological discussions with people of different backgrounds and gain new perspectives I had never thought to consider. When I came to Dr. Kelly Kapic, one of Covenant’s theology professors, with a complex theological question, he used his lunch break to take the time to learn my background and give me a proper answer.

All in all, Covenant College has a great Christian community. Even though the school itself is Presbyterian, there are many students who come from a variety of theological backgrounds. And while professors' teachings align with a reformed perspective, they are always open to hearing a different perspective. They may disagree or engage in friendly debates, but professors will never try to force a student to change their beliefs. This is because Covenant College understands that the most important aspect of our faith is not winning every argument, but putting Jesus first. Like my family, Covenant understands what it means to follow Christ in community.