We affirm the biblical view that God is creator and sovereign over all the earth, and that all people bear the Imago Dei—image of God (Gen 1:26-27; Col 3:10)—and are equally valuable in God’s sight. This view sets the stage for how we approach justice, equity, and peacemaking efforts, which we believe enrich the experiences of all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to these efforts creates an environment where all members of the community have an opportunity to thrive. This commitment also helps set a framework for the efforts to address injustices, both personal and systemic, that inhibit our individual and collective ability to flourish.

We affirm that our unity within the Body of Christ (Gal 3:28) transcends any differences which might divide us (e.g., differences of culture, race, physical ability, age, sex, denomination, etc.). We believe that this unity demands that we seek fair and equitable treatment for all members of our community. We strive to create an environment in which all perspectives receive a fair hearing, and in which all individuals are given equitable access to resources. This we believe to be an indispensable expression of Christian sanctification or holiness.   

We recognize that the worldwide mission of the church inevitably involves the opportunity to interact with diverse perspectives (Acts 1:8; Rev 5:9). We seek, therefore, to create an environment in which our community members learn the importance of acknowledging the strengths and limitations of lived-experiences, including their own.   

We believe that the source for the transformation of all human experience ultimately rests in the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 5:17; Rom 12:2; John 14:26). For this reason, we seek to create an environment in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit lead us toward ever more thoughtful and discerning treatment of one another.