The Board of Trustees has approved a new document that reevaluates the university’s mission and perspective.
The 21-page document approved by the board before the beginning of classes and released to faculty and staff last week details several changes impacting the university, describes the university’s heritage in the Churches of Christ and sets forth seven core values the university intends to maintain.
The board appointed a document committee to write the Identity Document during last school year. The board reviewed the document and approved it during its meeting last month.
Dr. Barry Packer, ACU Board of Trustees chair and document committee member, said the progressively changing identity of society and its effect on the Church of Christ prompted the board to actively think about the impact this might have on ACU.
“The board believed it was wise to proactively review our identity and mission in light of these changes and our past commitments,” Packer said. “This is a document that addresses our identity, the ‘why’ of our existence. It is only when we understand the ‘why’ that we are able to appropriately address the many ‘how’s’ that need to be decided every day.”
Packer said the document won’t affect ACU’s traditional religious affiliation.
“There is no intent or desire to loosen ties to Churches of Christ,” Packer said. “This document does just the opposite by identifying core values and guiding principles rooted in our religious heritage.”
Packer said nothing in the document should surprise those who already have understood the university’s mission.
“It is my belief it will comfort and reassure our many constituents that the board is wholeheartedly committed to our remaining a deeply Christ-centered institution of higher education,” Packer said. “We desire to strengthen our commitment to the values at the heart of our heritage in Churches of Christ.”
However, the document doesn’t address anything relating to faculty church membership requirements. The university requires all faculty and board members to be members of a Church of Christ. Adjuncts and staff members must attend a Christian church.
The document focuses on several changes that can affect ACU, describes the university’s heritage, outlines seven core values and it touches on what kind of institution the school should strive to be.
The document describes how ACU relates to societal changes. It explores the way surrounding culture affects ACU, the university’s involvement with churches and the challenges all universities face now. The document says the university must change its perspective, because it is now trying to relate to society in a time of many changes. It says churches and colleges are facing challenges as more people are straying from traditional approaches to religion and education. All universities, regardless of affiliation, are dealing with financial pressures and changes in the way students learn.
The document discusses ACU’s heritage to understand its original goals and purpose. It says the university was shaped by many religious influences, including reformed Christian tradition, the Puritans, the Enlightenment, American political ideals and a desire for Christian unity in the wake of a history of division. The document says these streams greatly affected the university’s identity, and it is important to understand the perspective it gives to how education and tradition influence the university.
The document then lays out seven core values that guide the university’s actions. Among them are commitments to prepare students to live as authentic Christians, to a passionate search for truth, to unity and to academic quality and innovation. Other values listed include Christ at the center, the authority and inspiration of Scripture and a high view of the church.
At the end of the document, it touches briefly on what kind of institution the university should be, highlighting the university’s need to affirm its mission and live faithfully into its purpose and God’s purpose.
Rodney Ashlock, chair of the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry and chair of the Faculty Senate, said he isn’t sure how the document will affect the university, its faculty or its students.
“It’s very new, and we’ll take slow and deliberate steps to work through the document carefully,” Ashlock said. “There aren’t any big shifts in it.”
Ashlock said it was important for students to care about the document because it helps identify their school and future alma mater.
“It describes the type of university they’ve chosen to attend,” Ashlock said. “It goes over the fabric of what ACU stands for, and understanding our mission is very important.”
Document Committee members:
Dr. Jack Reese, dean of the College of Biblical Studies
Dr. Barry Packer, Board of Trustees chair
Dr. Eddie Sharp, Board of Trustees member
Dr. Royce Money, chancellor of the university
Dr. Doug Foster, professor of church history
Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost emeritus
