Mission & Vision
Christian Identity
At Bushnell University, we seek to highlight our Christian identity in ways that unite Christians everywhere, and not in ways that tend to cause division between various groups of Christians. In this spirit, we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and we proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world.
- We believe the love of God, expressed in Jesus Christ, accessed by faith, has the power to change lives.
- We receive the Bible as Holy Scripture and we expect God to speak to the world today through the words of Scripture by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We understand the Church in all its diversity to be the Body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit as God’s agent of reconciliation in the world.
University Core Themes
Bushnell University takes seriously its history and calling to deliver excellent academic programs within a distinctively Christian learning environment. Faculty and students engage in research and academic dialogue from a faith-based perspective and with a confessional commitment to the authority of the Bible as Holy Scripture.
Bushnell University is committed to a holistic approach to education and life-long learning that engages not only the mind of the learner, but every aspect of life – body, spirit, and heart. Bushnell University fosters life-transformation through co-curricular learning, campus ministries, student development programs, service activities, and community experiences, including programs designed for non-traditional and adult students, as well as traditional undergraduate students.
With the conviction that all the resources we have at our disposal (financial, physical plant, faculty, staff, students, community partners, etc.) are gifts from God, we seek to utilize these resources in such a way that demonstrates respect for the resources themselves and that brings honor to the One who has entrusted them to us. Faithful stewardship ensures appropriate resources and capacity for educational and institutional effectiveness.
Developing purposeful graduates is the culmination of all aspects of a Bushnell University education and experience. Purposeful graduates apply skills and knowledge into practice as productive and contributing members of their respective families, churches, communities, and places of work.
Faculty & Staff Faith Integration
All full-time faculty members are expected to demonstrate “a maturing Christian faith.” The overwhelming majority of part-time faculty and Bushnell University staff are Christians as well. Whenever we conduct a job search to fill a position, we ask candidates to submit a “statement of faith” in which they describe their own Christian experience and how they relate that experience to their work.
Integrating Faith & Learning
Christian faith is not restricted to a single compartment of our lives, reserved for times of worship or other special “religious” activities. Rather, our faith informs and should bear upon every aspect of life, including academic pursuits. Different professors find various ways to integrate faith in the classroom, sometimes through devotion and prayer times, sometimes through focused discussion, sometimes through service learning projects and other assignments.
Most often, the integration of faith and learning is simply a part of the natural environment of Bushnell University, as all faculty and staff strive to model Christ-like integrity through their own lives and the way they approach their work and subject matter through the lens of a Biblical worldview.
Church Group
Affiliations
The Bushnell University community is comprised of individuals who come from a variety of Christian backgrounds and represent a wide range of Christian denominational diversity. Bushnell University’s historical roots are in the Stone-Campbell or Restoration Movement that today is represented by The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), The Christian Churches, and The Churches of Christ. Members of this “heritage” constituency account for a number of students, faculty, and staff.
Keeping with this heritage, Bushnell University also has an ecumenical interest and offers its resources to students and congregations of many church traditions. These students are affiliated with non-denominational and denominational groups such as Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Foursquare, Lutheran, Nazarene, Episcopal, Assembly of God, Catholic, Community Churches, and others.
Spiritual Formation
It is the goal of our Christian community to help each other grow in our knowledge, love, and obedience to Jesus Christ. As a Christ-centered university, we welcome students from a variety of faith backgrounds including those who have no faith committment.
Bushnell University is not a “church,” nor do we require students to be Christians or to subscribe to any faith statement. At the same time, all students should be prepared to be exposed daily to a Christian worldview and to be encouraged to a Christian faith commitment. As a community, we are committed to living our heritage and mission.
Weekly chapel attendance is required of all traditional undergraduate students who are enrolled for 12 or more credits per semester. Though not a requirement for graduation, chapel attendance is monitored and included on official transcripts with a grade of “pass” or “no pass” for each semester of full-time enrollment and relate to eligibility requirements for a number of co-curricular activities.
Next Steps
Interested in becoming a part of the Beacon community? We’re here to answer questions and help you see if Bushnell is right for you.
