The Blue
Tribune
The Blue Tribune is your place to learn about all things Covenant and keep up with stories from campus and beyond. By guiding you through the different aspects of Covenant, we'll help you decide if you want to pursue your very own Covenant experience.
Do I have to be PCA?
While Covenant College is proud to be the college of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), you don’t have to be a member of a PCA church to come to (or graduate from) Covenant. We encourage students from a variety of Christian denominations to be a part of our community.
One Church, Many Denominations
About 50% of our students come from PCA backgrounds, and the other half come from a variety of denominations such as Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, non-denominational, and more. In America, we have the freedom and privilege to choose between denominations, but we know that the Church universal is united in Christ. Therefore, believers from all denominations can learn and grow side-by-side.
“Coming from a Southern Baptist Church and school to Covenant College has added another beautiful facet to my walk with God. My peers, professors, and mentors have challenged my thinking in a way that has stretched and grown me. Often, I have run into things that come against what I have grown to know and still hold to; however, it has made my walk with the Lord so much more personal, and I have loved every moment.” - Elise Ulrich ’23
Reformed Teaching, Vibrant Discussion
Covenant College professors teach from a Reformed perspective, and each faculty member subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith, but this does not mean that they indoctrinate students. Our professors encourage believers to discuss different viewpoints together through a biblical lens. With this biblical foundation, Covenant’s classrooms offer a challenging yet non-threatening environment where students can think theologically. Our professors know that thoughtful conversations lead to intellectual, spiritual, and relational growth. Our community is stronger when every student, each with their own background, pours into fellow believers.
“As a Southern Baptist preacher’s kid, I never once felt pressured to become Presbyterian. I didn’t really know I was getting Reformed theology - my professors just kept saying, ‘Let’s look at what the Bible says. Are your views biblical? Can you back them up?’” - Dave Gambrell ’06
An Entire Campus Committed to Spiritual Growth
Every first-year student at Covenant takes a course called The Christian Mind. This course provides a foundation of Reformed theology for incoming students. Whether you are familiar with the doctrines and history of the PCA or not, this class helps prepare you for other courses you’ll take at Covenant, like Doctrine I and Doctrine II. Professors who teach The Christian Mind also foster discussion so students can reflect and share their personal experiences and backgrounds.
Watching our students, faculty, and staff grow in Christ’s likeness together is a joy to witness. We know that this growth is bolstered by our willingness to share our different ideas in a biblically grounded environment. Whatever denomination you come from, you’ll find a place in the Covenant community and classrooms to grow in biblical truth.