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Bethel College Mission Statement
About the Seal
The Bethel College seal is inscribed with Corinthians 3:11, translated in the New Revised Standard Version as "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ." The symbols of a cross, an anchor and a heart reinforce the words "faith," "hope" and "charity," which also appear on the seal.
Adopted by the Bethel College Board of Directors, March 1994.
Bethel College is a four-year liberal arts college in south central Kansas. It is the oldest Mennonite college in North America, founded in 1887 for the advancement of postsecondary education in a Christian community. It is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. Bethel is a self-governing, independent legal corporation with close ties to its constituent churches and communities.
By tradition and by choice, Bethel College continues to base its mission on its Anabaptist and academic identity. Bethel seeks to be a diverse community of learners, committed to the search for authentic faith and empirical understanding, and to provide (1) rigorous instruction in the liberal arts and selected career and professional areas; and (2) intellectual, cultural and spiritual leaders for the church and society. To those ends the College maintains a residential environment designed to foster integrative learning experiences, including student organizations, campus worship services, public lectures, symposia and cultural events.
Bethel’s programs are informed by four central values:
- an ethic of discipleship, that recognizes Jesus Christ as Messiah and model for the Christian life and prizes a high level of commitment and free conviction;
- an ethic of scholarship, that believes academic achievement to be a logical out-come of intellectual stewardship and esteems both discipline and creativity;
- an ethic of service, that deems concern for the powerless to be intrinsic to the Christian gospel and stresses peacemaking and voluntary service;
- an ethic of integrity, that celebrates the fundamental connections between spirit and mind, faith and learning, individual and community and fosters personal development through participation in a range of activities.
Bethel’s curriculum is founded on a general education program in the liberal arts and sciences and is geared toward students of moderate to high academic ability. Distinctive elements include requirements in the study of religion and a cross-cultural experience. The College offers majors in the traditional liberal arts disciplines and selected career areas and accredited professional programs in nursing, social work and teacher education. Academic development services are provided to enhance the skills of all students. By design, Bethel’s student profile reflects its church affiliation. At the same time, the College values diversity in its student body and seeks to enroll a variety of individuals desiring high-quality education for the whole person.