The Conversation of Christian Faith and Liberal Learning at William Jewell College.

Adapting James McClendon's discussion of "The Christian University," in his Witness: Systematic Theology, vol. III (2000), William Jewell College believes that responsible Christian faith must engage culture. It does so through academic study in ways local worshiping congregations cannot. By presenting a holistic view of reality, Christian faith invites the academic disciplines to reflect on the beauty, thus the ethical significance, of that wholeness. Resting upon the assumption of a rational deity and universe, faith is a "science of convictions," testing the relationship between "general principles and stubborn facts," and responding to a vocational call to ethical performance.

The Conversation takes Three Paths.

1. Faculty development. The Faith & Learning steering committee assist in offering opportunities for faculty read, write, and reflect upon specific ways faith and the academic disciplines encounter each other. Such activities include faculty papers througout the academic year and a regular January workshop on relevant topics. Also, regular faculty groups meet throughout the year to discuss particular topics such as, science and religion, literature and religion, etc. These groups are open to all who are interested and willing to prepare for the discussion sessions.

2. Student engagement.Currently students are invited to participate in the conversation through two groups that exist under the guidance of Faith & Learning impetus. First, students may participate in the group called ReVision, which meets for the purpose of engaging students in support and fellowship as they encounter academic views that offer challenges to Christian worldviews. This group meets regularly at the home of Linda and Dr. Gary Armstrong, armstrongl@william.jewell.edu.  A second group exists for students who seek the avenue of doubt as a means of understanding faith. Called temporarily, The Doubters Group, this offers opportunities for persons alienated or marginalized from more traditional Christian approaches to discussions of faith to use their experiences of doubt and marginality as an avenue to reflect on faith. The group is headed up by Dr. Walters, waltersmj@william.jewell.edu, and Dr. Horne, hornem@william.jewell.edu.

3.Church and ministerial equipment. Since historically it is the church that began colleges, William Jewell strives to find ways to serve to assist in equipping Christian ministers and laypersons for their work of ministry. Currently the college hosts a regular meeting of area ministers who study vocation under the auspices of a Lilly grant. The college also seeks to provide opportunities through its various lecture series for ministers and community members to experience special activities of relevance for ministry and reflection. One aim is to develop a speaker's group, faculty who are willing to be resources on various topics for area churches. For instance, the Partee Center currently provides for area churches a seminar on Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

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