A Closer Look at Christian Colleges’ Statements of Faith

Even before confirming this week that it had begun the process of firing Larycia A. Hawkins, Wheaton College of Illinois had gotten enough questions about its actions to post answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” on its website.

At the time the document was posted, the college was trying to clear up misconceptions. It had placed Ms. Hawkins, an associate professor of political science, on administrative leave after she decided to wear hijab in solidarity with Muslims. The guide asserted that Ms. Hawkins had not been placed on leave for wearing hijab, but rather because she had made comments about her choice that “seem inconsistent with Wheaton College’s doctrinal convictions, which she voluntarily agreed to support and uphold when she entered into an employment agreement with the college.”

Ms. Hawkins had explained in a Facebook post that “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

On Wednesday she sharply criticized the college’s effort to fire her, appearing at a news conference with faculty supporters, students, alumni, and others, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Wheaton, a nondenominational, evangelical Christian college, expects its faculty to affirm a statement of faith. The statement’s description of salvation, the FAQ explains, means that “we affirm that salvation is through Christ alone.” That points to a difference between Christianity and Islam.

So how common — or unusual — is Wheaton’s statement of faith?

American higher education is famous for its diversity, and there’s plenty of variation among the subset of colleges that are Christian.

Shirley V. Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, says that some colleges are faith-friendly or have a faith heritage, but the 179 colleges her association represents worldwide (including Wheaton) are faith-integrated. Religion is woven into all that they do. Among that group, she said, statements of faith are commonplace, and there’s nothing unusual about Wheaton’s.

Some may see the statements as restrictive — their relationship to academic freedom has been controversial at times — but to Ms. Hoogstra, they amount to “truth in advertising,” giving students and their families as well as faculty members insight into the doctrinal distinctions that can exist among Christian colleges even when they come out of the same denominational tradition or use the same terms (like “Wesleyan”) in their names.

Not only do new faculty members affirm the statements — sometimes signing them or checking a box indicating agreement as part of their job application — but some college require professors to reaffirm the statements when they are promoted or reappointed, or even annually, Ms. Hoogstra says.

The statements can take several forms, Ms. Hoogstra says. Some colleges use the confessions of their denominations. Some, like Wheaton, craft their own. In other cases, the college doesn’t have a common statement at all, asking instead that faculty members write their own.

So what do the statements actually look like? To give you a sense, we’ve pulled a few examples and described them below. If you’d like to read a college’s full statement, just follow the respective links.

Wheaton College (Ill.)

Denomination: Interdenominational

Sample passage:

WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, triumphing over all evil; and that all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood and forgiven of all their sins.

Wheaton’s statement of faith provides a good example of a nondenominational college’s approach, Ms. Hoogstra says. In a dozen short paragraphs “reaffirmed annually by its Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff,” Wheaton spells out beliefs on biblical inerrancy, the direct creation of Adam and Eve, “the blessed hope that Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth,” and more. Read the college’s full statement here.

Seattle Pacific University (Wash.)

Denomination: Free Methodist

Sample passage:

As heirs of John Wesley’s catholic-spirited Christianity, we seek to gather persons from many theological and ecclesial traditions who have experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ. We believe that theological diversity, when grounded in historic orthodoxy and a common and vital faith in Christ, enriches learning and bears witness to our Lord’s call for unity within the church.

Seattle Pacific’s statement is broken into four main points: “We Are Historically Orthodox,” “We Are Clearly Evangelical,” “We Are Distinctively Wesleyan,” and “We Are Genuinely Ecumenical.” Read the full statement here.

Calvin College (Mich.)

Denomination: Christian Reformed Church

Sample passage:

Calvin College faculty members are required to affirm the three historic Reformed forms of unity — the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort — and pledge to teach, speak, and write in harmony with the confessions.

Rather than crafting its own statement, Calvin points faculty members toward the confessions of the Christian Reformed Church. Read the full statement here.

George Fox University (Ore.)

Denomination: Friends

Sample passage:

We believe that God has called us to be and to make disciples of Jesus Christ and to be God’s agents of love and reconciliation in the world. In keeping with the teaching of Jesus, we work to oppose violence and war, and we seek peace and justice in human relationships and social structures.

George Fox’s statement covers the persons of the Trinity and the process of salvation. Referring to the Bible “as illumined by the Holy Spirit,” it says, “the Scriptures are true and reliable.” In a section on worship it states that “Christian baptism and communion are spiritual realities, and, as Christians from many faith traditions, we celebrate these in different ways.” Read the entire statement here.

Messiah College (Pa.)

Denomination: Listed as “interdenominational” in federal data, the college describes itself as “committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church.”

Sample passage:

God gives us the Bible as the inspired, trustworthy and authoritative Scripture to reveal God’s ways and purposes, to nourish our minds and souls and to instruct us in how we ought to think and to live.

Messiah College affirms two statements of faith: the Apostles’ Creed, an early Christian text used by many denominations, and its own confession. Read them here.

Beckie Supiano writes about college affordability, the job market for new graduates, and professional schools, among other things. Follow her on Twitter @becksup, or drop her a line at beckie.supiano@chronicle.com.

Questions or concerns about this article? Email us or submit a letter to the editor.