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College of Theology

College of Theology

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Christian View

Integration of GCU’s Christian Identity in Curriculum

It is our conviction that the Bible is the true and authoritative Word of God. We embrace and support GCU's commitment to educating students from a distinctively Christian perspective that is rooted in a rich evangelical heritage. This conviction shapes all that we do and provides One Foundation, our Christian worldview and our commitment to living out God’s calling.

How does the College of Theology faculty integrate GCU’s Christian identity and mission into the curriculum?

Faculty in the College of Theology embrace GCU’s identity as a missional, Christ-centered university that is firmly committed to historic, biblical Christianity in word and deed. We align coursework for majors and minors with the university’s identity and mission and intentionally guide students toward active engagement through the local church and other ministry contexts as a means of embodying and expressing the truths of the gospel.

We believe that faithfully following Jesus entails more than mere knowledge of sound doctrine. Sound doctrine and clear moral vision are vital to Christian life. However, authentic Christianity also requires active engagement, grace and humility of the sort that addresses the needs of the larger world through compassion and service. As the Apostle Paul reminded his protege in the early church, we must watch our “life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16). One cannot be neglected without diminishing the other, for the faithful Christian must consistently embody the faith.

Most of our students are preparing for ministerial roles in which they will need to communicate the gospel effectively, serve the church faithfully and serve with integrity. Thus, faculty strive to speak truth in love and emulate the way of Jesus in order to prepare graduates for a lifetime of faithful ministry. It is our prayer that our graduates gain a clear sense of purpose and vocational calling that equips them to transform their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.

What is the student experience like in the College of Theology as it relates to One Foundation?

Theology faculty provide a strong biblical basis for the thousands of students who take Christian worldview courses at the university each year. The central purpose of these courses is to guide students through the process of investigating and evaluating personal worldview commitments while exploring the basic tenets of the Christian worldview.

Christian worldview coursework provides foundational understandings that can help students find their unique purpose in Christ. We believe that finding your purpose begins with a clear understanding of yourself and your worldview. We also believe that exploring the Christian worldview helps students fully understand their convictions as well as the implications of their convictions.

Some students deepen their knowledge of theology, ministry, philosophy and biblical studies through majors, minors and electives offered within the College of Theology. But for all students, Christian worldview can provide a foundation upon which students are able to build as they have the opportunity to gain a clear sense of calling and vocational purpose that may prepare them for various majors and career pathways. In these ways, all students are encouraged to consider the needs and interests of others in addition to their own and to embrace the Christian values of love and service as they prepare for life beyond the university.

How does a student in the College of Theology directly benefit from GCU’s mission? How do they contribute to GCU’s mission while a student?

Theology students can benefit from GCU’s commitment to follow Jesus in word and deed in ways that enable them to become a transformative presence within their communities. Within the college, we believe that the role of the minister must be shaped by the teaching and example of the Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus. Thus, theology students are formed spiritually, academically and professionally with deep concern for the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual lives of those they may lead and serve.

We are convinced that the message of Christ can transform individual lives and the broader society when the message is not only spoken but also embodied. In practical terms, this conviction inclines faculty and students toward action and engagement, addressing the deep needs within the communities where we live and work. On campus, students lead Bible studies in their dorms, coordinate worship services in chapel, encourage their peers and participate in prayer gatherings. They gather for worship and fellowship, study God’s Word together and scatter throughout the university to serve as “salt and light” within the larger campus community.

In many cases, theology students serve alongside other students in local neighborhoods through partnerships with local churches and ministries. They also apprentice under seasoned ministers within the context of internships and supervised ministry experiences in order to augment classroom learning with practical ministry experience.

How does the College of Theology uniquely promote the principles of human flourishing?

As a College of Theology, we are committed to preparing students to communicate the gospel effectively, serve the church faithfully and minister with integrity at home or abroad. We are also committed to serving the needs of the larger student body, other colleges and departments and the broader campus community in ways that deepen our ability to promote the biblical vision for human flourishing. In some instances, this commitment requires biblical analysis, theological reflection and support in the application of Christian worldview principles across disciplines and departments. In all instances, this commitment requires careful listening, gentle coaching and support, unceasing prayer and encouragement as we serve the needs of students and colleagues.

During the medieval era, European theologians sometimes referred to theology as the “queen of the sciences” (regina scientiarum). Within that era, the phrase was intended to describe the ways that various branches of knowledge ultimately culminate in the knowledge of God. Knowledge gained through observation and experimentation within nature (creation) along with knowledge available through divine revelation (the Bible) were synthesized through theological dialogue and reflection. While this model remains compelling with respect to epistemology, the underlying metaphor of “queenship” may imply a lack of humility that does not resonate with those living in a more skeptical, secular age. In the modern world, biblical literacy is limited, and respect for theology has waned. Indeed, Christian theology has been pushed to the periphery in many academic institutions or has been absorbed by more nebulous disciplines such as religious studies.

By God’s grace, theology remains vital to academic experience and scholarly dialogue at GCU. Nonetheless, an alternative metaphor may be more central to the ways in which GCU’s College of Theology envisions its role within the life of the university and its unique institutional calling before God. Just as Jesus came “not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45), the college envisions its unique contribution to the university as a matter of service, with a focus on empowering and equipping the broader community for ministry. We remain committed to the vitality and significance of theological dialogue and reflection with the final goal of knowing God, His will, His world and His plans for our lives. We also recognize and embrace the opportunity before us to embrace humility, meekness and the way of Jesus in our efforts to promote human flourishing by focusing on the needs of others, whether they are emotional, physical, intellectual or spiritual. Our role as a college, in the words of Ephesians, is to equip the saints for ministry on campus and beyond so that they are better able to “maintain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son” (Ephesians 4:13). We work together, each according to his or her calling, as the entire community matures and grows up into the fullness of the Lord Jesus.