Four Years of Biblical Unity and I’m Still Learning 

When I was entrusted with the role of Director of Biblical Unity four years ago, Dr. Daugherty, then President of Valley Christian Schools, handed me seven Biblical Unity Principles and said, “Integrate biblical unity into our school culture.”

This moment was not just a task, but a powerful call to action that filled me with a sense of empowerment. I had a clear theological foundation for a new role, and I was fully supported by our school’s leadership. Today, as I continue to learn and reflect, I believe that our community’s journey has led me to rethink the original seven principles as four transformative words that better capture God’s heart for our diverse school family.  

The original four-paragraph statement and the seven principles derived from it by Dr. Daugherty provided an essential theological foundation. They taught our community that diversity isn’t a challenge to overcome but God’s beautiful design to celebrate. The principles grounded us in Scripture and gave us language for difficult conversations. After four years of implementation, I discovered some overlap in the seven principles, which presented an opportunity to refine them, providing simplicity for daily practice. Our community could benefit from something memorable, actionable, and comprehensive. This led us to four words derived from the original statement that capture the whole heart of biblical unity:  

LOVE • CELEBRATE • CULTIVATE • RECONCILE

LOVE reminds us that true unity flows from Christ’s redemptive work. When we see every person as God’s image-bearer, it transforms how we handle conflict, discipline, and differences. (Genesis 1:27) 

CELEBRATE moves us beyond tolerance to actively honoring the rich tapestry of cultures, abilities, and backgrounds God has woven into our community. (Galatians 3:28) 

CULTIVATE calls us to intentionally build bridges of understanding, partnering with families to create environments where everyone belongs. (Philippians 2:3-4) 

RECONCILE is a step toward peace and forgiveness because Christ first forgave us. And because God showed us mercy, we can equip our students to pursue justice and healing in a fractured world, addressing real issues like racism and injustice while extending grace. (Matthew 5:9) 

Four years of our community effort are reaping benefits. Our high school included community-wide cultural celebrations in the academic calendar. Student cultural club leaders express more creative freedom in planning events. Administrators partner with me to implement biblical unity initiatives in their departments. Most importantly, families are having honest conversations about identity, belonging, and God’s design for human flourishing. 

These four principles can guide both individual hearts and school policies. For instance, they can influence how a third grader treats a new classmate and shape the school’s approach to diversity and belonging. They’re simple enough for a kindergartner to understand, yet profound enough to address the complex identity struggles our teenagers face. They help us navigate difficult conversations about gender, sexuality, race, and belonging with both truth and love. 

Growth in biblical unity comes through listening to our community. Simplicity serves better than complexity. Over the next year, we’ll explore each principle deeply, discovering how love, celebration, cultivation, and reconciliation can transform our families and school community. 

Dr. Daugherty’s wisdom in creating the Biblical Unity Principles demonstrates Valley Christian Schools’ commitment to biblical justice and God’s beautiful design for human flourishing. The foundational work has been challenging, but now we’re seeing the benefits emerging. As we embrace these four principles together, we’re becoming an earthly preview of heaven—a place where people from every background learn, grow, and worship together for God’s glory. 

Join us this year as we explore how these four words can deepen our unity while honoring the beautiful diversity God has entrusted to our care. 

Reflect & Respond 
1. Which of the four refreshed Biblical Unity Principles (love, celebrate, cultivate, reconcile) resonates most with you?
2. In what ways might God be calling you to take an active role in fostering the biblical unity in our community at VCS? 

Prayer 
Lord, You are the creator of all things, and You made us in many diverse ways as a reflection of Yourself. Guide us in honoring others like Jesus does by loving, celebrating, cultivating, and reconciling relationships with us. 

Learn More 
If you would like more information, please visit our Biblical Unity and Spiritual Formation website resources. If you would like to discuss any spiritual formation topics, feel free to contact Dr. Steven McGriff, Director of Biblical Unity, or Pastor Steve Dang, Chief Ministry Officer, for a personal conversation.