UNAPOLOGETICALLY CHRIST-CENTERED
IWU'S COMMITMENT TO TEACH BIBLICAL TRUTH TO IMPACT THE WORLD FOR CHRIST
Indiana Wesleyan University is doubling down on its commitment to remain unapologetically Christ-centered. How is the university accomplishing this enduring task? Aly Williams, Vice President of Academic Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences Chief Academic Officer at IWU, says, “Guiding our students in biblical truth and discipleship hinges on hiring faculty who are passionate about Jesus and about sharing their love of Him. Our goal is to see students’ lives transformed and then send them out to positively impact the world for Christ. Our faculty are the foundation for discipleship, nurturing a biblical worldview in each of our students across all disciplines.”
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“Steeped in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, Wesley Seminary faculty are committed to facilitating our students’ growth in God’s grace towards Christlikeness through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Our Goal is for graduates to be spiritually and theologically formed so they are able to contextualize the gospel of Jesus Christ and advance God’s kingdom in a hurting and broken world. "In the words of Charles Wesley, at Wesley Seminary, we seek to ‘unite the pair so long disjoined: knowledge and vital piety; learning and holiness combined,’ all in service to the Church. Our curriculum helps students confront the truths of scripture even as they consider the core tenets of theological thought that have enlivened the Church in the world throughout history. Yet, the Christian life is not simply a matter of having opinions and knowing doctrine – it is a matter of the heart. Therefore, Wesley Seminary students engage in personalized spiritual formation designed to sustain them through the promises and perils that invariably come over the course of a lifetime in Christian ministry.”
DR. TAMMIE GRIMM Assistant Professor of Congregational Formation, Wesley Seminary
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“As an unapologetically Christ-centered educational institution, Indiana Wesleyan upholds the preeminence of Christ in all things and honors Him as Lord of all creation. It understands that God made the world and each individual human person out of His superabundant love, that human sin corrupted this divine handiwork, and that the world now stands in need of the deep spiritual renewal that flows forth from Christ’s atoning work. Its world-changing mission unfolds from a central and guiding belief that human beings are special creatures made in God’s image for fellowship with Him, and that each person’s true end and greatest joy consists in willfully surrendering one’s life in obedient service to God and neighbor. By helping students to see how all things have their origin and hold together in Christ, by encouraging and leading them in the imitation of Christ through spiritual discipleship, and by equipping them to use thier God-give gifts and abilities to further Christ's kingdom here on earth. The university trains and empowers them to be agents of change in a fallen world awaiting Christ’s glorious return.”
DR. ANNIE GREELEY Associate Professor; Chair, Division Art+Design, IWU-Marion
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“When I joined the IWU faculty, I joined a collective movement to develop world changers who impact others where they live and work. As an unapologetically Christ-centered institution, our Christian faith informs how we work, interact with others, and serve our students. We develop students’ character by inviting them into spiritual and moral transformation as they examine their perspectives, worldviews, and values. By encouraging students to grow in their academic pursuits, critical thinking skills, and personal praxis, we promote scholarship and leadership as students use their gifts to serve God’s kingdom and mature as Christian leaders.
To train students effectively, we build trusting relationships with them, meet students where they are on their spiritual journeys, create safe spaces to examine diverse perspectives, reimagine faith and learning practices in the classroom, and remain student-focused while modeling what it means to live out our faith. Above all else, we share the love of Christ with our students. These relationships, built with intentionality, create opportunities for deeper conversations with students that they may have impact for a lifetime and beyond."
DR. TIFFANY ANN JOHNS Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership, IWU National & Global