In convocation address, University president shares how gospel determines meaning of “Christian educators”

In his Sept. 1 convocation address to the Carson-Newman community, University President Charles A. Fowler laid out how the gospel determines what it means to be Christian educators. The event served as the launch of the institution’s 175^th anniversary year.

The University’s 23^rd president began by contrasting the educational approach of secular universities and those identified as Christian institutions.

“Secular universities borrow Christian values and aspects of the Christian tradition while at the same time disallowing any serious consideration of Christian thought in the academy,” said Fowler, noting that approach creates an incomplete and biased environment.

In contrast, he pointed out a Christian university’s approach should be two-pronged: holding firmly to God’s Word and Jesus’ Lordship over creation. At the same time the institution must commit to rigorous preparation and excellence in education.

“It reframes academic pursuits as a way to love God and love our neighbors, encouraging students to apply biblical truth, grace and redemption to every discipline, profession and relationship,” said Fowler, noting that the Christian faith was never intended to be silent and Carson-Newman must continually reaffirm the gospel as a priority in every classroom and office, giving it prominence in all things.

Building on the acronym FAITH (Formation, Association, Integration, Transformation and Holistic calling), Fowler outlined how the gospel can shape shared work of Christian educators, beginning with “formation.”

The president explained, by following Christ, meaning is given to “being,” “knowing” and “doing.”

“Formation is the task of “being,”” he said. “It is relational, but impossible without “knowing” and it is incomplete if it does not demonstrate itself through “doing.””
He said that faculty help students pursue their calling through the concepts of “being,” “knowing” and “doing.”

“As we consider the gospel and Christian higher education,” he said, “we must recognize the role and need for formation in both our lives as Jesus followers and our work as Christian educators.”

“Association,” said the president, “is a connection between people organized around a shared purpose.” Fowler stressed the importance of the role of Christian community in the life of a Christian university. He noted that this association is how Christian education occurs and how the University hopes its graduates engage life, family, faith and service.

“Integration” is the bringing together of separate parts so they become something greater than the sum of the individual parts. Fowler said that because the gospel unites all domains of knowledge under Jesus Christ, then “no discipline exists outside the Lordship of Jesus and cannot be thoroughly explored apart from revealing His creative power and Lordship.”

He said, because of this, Christian professors are able to treat all subjects “as explorations of God’s creation and truth,” and that it offers Christian educators “the unique opportunity and responsibility to provide both disciplinary knowledge and the larger context that every discipline exists under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”

““Transformation” is central to both the gospel and Christian higher education,” said Fowler, noting that just as the gospel moves individuals from a transactional faith to a transformational relationship with God, Christian higher education likewise develops the whole person.

Speaking specifically to faculty in attendance, the president encouraged an embracing of the role they’ve been given.

“As students witness evidence of transformation in our lives, we partner together in our mission and in obedience to scripture to pray for, encourage and facilitate transformational experiences for students whom God entrusts to us.”

Fowler’s final point of “holistic calling” focused on how it provides direction and purpose to life: a calling. He expressed that the idea should guide how Christian educators relate to their students and in helping them on their journey.

Stressing that all of life is impacted by holistic calling, Fowler noted that “scripture does not allow us to live in silos.” He explained all aspects of life are unified within God’s purpose and because of this, “Christian educators cannot treat vocation, major, personal life, community and family as unrelated.”

Referencing the individual concepts of formation, association, integration, transformation and holistic calling, Fowler concluded by restating their importance. “These five areas tell the gospel story and provide guardrails and direction for our shared work and shared mission in Christian higher education at Carson-Newman,” he said, adding, “They hold great potential to give deep, Christ-animating focus to our lives.”