STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES
CITE is a Christ-centered, non-denominational council. We do not require institutions to adopt a single denominational creed. We do require that every institution we accredit affirm the following principles.
The Authority of God
All authority originates with the Most High God. No created thing, whether spiritual being, heavenly body, or human tradition, holds independent divine authority.
The Foundation of Scripture
Scripture is the foundation of theological education. Institutions may study Second Temple literature, early Christian writings, and other ancient texts as historical and theological witnesses, but they must clearly distinguish what Scripture states, what other ancient texts expand, and what later interpreters conclude.
Study Is Not Endorsement
Serious scholarship examines texts fully and honestly, including those outside a given canon. Studying a text does not mean endorsing it.
The Importance of Context
Sound interpretation considers the literary, historical, cultural, linguistic, and theological setting of every passage.
Truth Over Tradition
Institutions should teach students how to study, weigh evidence, and reach conclusions for themselves rather than simply repeating inherited positions.