Zollikon Community Covenant
Zollikon Institute is a learning community that focuses on equipping individuals with steadfastness of faith, integrity of character, and excellence of skill through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Zollikon Institute provides quality post-secondary, accredited, certificate, and professional courses of study for the student from the plain Anabaptist community, along with mentoring.
Our mission is to build this community of scholars on a foundation of historic Christianity made manifest in a two-kingdom theology, and the priesthood of all believers, as manifested in early Anabaptist theology and perspective. We seek not to destroy a culture, but to restore, build, and grow it.
Zollikon Institute is founded on these guiding truths:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sightto the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18)
Zollikon Institute is based on these beliefs and values:
Authentic and historic Christian faith
We hold to the historic Christian faith and our Anabaptist peace interpretation of Christianity. This means God’s kingdom comes to our present world; Matthew 5 is God’s Kingdom come to earth in the here and now. God is the ultimate standard for all Truth. This Truth came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit active within the believer, and in the inspired words of Scripture. When examined in the light, and brought to rest on this ultimate Truth, the information and ideas of each discipline find coherence and purpose. Yet, each person must take this personal journey of struggle to arrive at faith. Our faith in God may be inspired through viewing the lives of others, but it is only acquired within the individual through a personal commitment and personal choices.
Imago Dei
Though fallen and in need of redemption and restoration, the image of God resides within each individual, thus making every person worthy of dignity and respect. That image includes, but is not limited, to the respectful communication of both listening and speaking. This Imago Dei within every individual also makes us equal before God. The priesthood of all believers references a term used in the mid-sixteenth century to indicate this equality before God. This means we do not discriminate based on gender or race or nationality. Zollikon Institute seeks to create a space where individuals may live to their fullest potential the person God has created them to be, along with their unique giftings.
Beauty
Affirming beauty as created by God and the standard of which rests in the character of God. Beauty that is in line with the character of God inspires creative, innovative thinking, and affirms the goodness and character of God.
Excellence in academic rigor and research
Engaging in rigorous academic exercise and research grows the individual and permits for competent service in a rapidly changing world.
Character
The redemption process is aided through the work of the Holy Spirit within the individual. Practicing the spiritual disciplines is a portion of how the Holy Spirit works an inherent change in the life of the individual. Respect, Excellence, Beauty, Integrity, Loyalty and Truth are core values at Zollikon.
Communication
Effectively engaging and communicating these values in the marketplace. We strive not to be archaic in our approach, but innovative and creative, while building on solid foundations of historic faith.
Community
We are made for human relationships, in the image of the Trinity. The best learning happens within an engaged learning community.