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president's column
Telling the story through liberal arts
by Barry C. Bartel '84
When we selected personnel in our rural community development project in Bwadlorens, Haiti, in the mid-1980s, we learned that success depended on much more than technical skills or training. We even joked in our team that no one was allowed to work in an area in which they were trained. Of course, we recruited workers with specific skills, but we increasingly realized that so much of what we expected and needed went well beyond specific skills. In fact, often the agriculture and health training that workers came with was so different from the technical skills needed in rural Haiti that skills were secondary to the ability to think and learn and adjust and adapt. The same is true as people change careers.
This issue of Context focuses on what you can do with a Bethel education. My response would be “Anything!” That is true because Bethel graduates have much more than skills or knowledge in their majors. The stories of our graduates highlight broad understandings nurtured through liberal arts education; close interaction with faculty who were mentors; broad participation in many activities; and ability to think about and integrate different topics.
Your story may be similar. These stories are woven by the fabric of our four central values: an ethic of discipleship; an ethic of scholarship; an ethic of service; and an ethic of integrity. John Sheriff got it right when he emphasized the commitment both to process and new learning and to value orientation in our education:
A Bethel education makes real the infinite worth and acceptance of every person and produces graduates
- with the ability to gather, interpret and evaluate information from a wide range of sources;
- with an understanding of the global nature of human community;
- with experience in examining basic issues of faith and life;
- who we trust to tackle the world’s tough problems on our behalf;
- who passionately oppose the use of reason to justify unloving acts;
- ho understand that character is higher than intellect.
A crucial aspect of a Bethel education that transcends a major field of study is an emphasis on peace, justice and conflict transformation. This emphasis has infused Bethel’s ethos since before Bethel started one of the first collegiate peace studies programs in the country in the early 1970s. It continues today as part of our ethos, in the character of our people and in the focus of our programming.
The faculty’s approval last October of the first full review of the General Education curriculum in 18 years added a requirement that all students take a core class in peace, justice and conflict studies. The Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies minor can augment any major. The Bethel faculty reflects this peace and justice perspective in courses like War and Antiwar in American History (history department) and Nonviolence Theory and Practice (Bible and religion department).
Bethel’s Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) also offers innovative programs, including a certificate in conflict management for traditional students as well as professionals. In addition, KIPCOR helps students find opportunities to intern in real agencies working on conflict, and works with students to resolve conflict they encounter with each other while at college.
Faculty and administration are working to coordinate these strands of peacemaking at Bethel. In time, as more courses are developed as the GE requirement is implemented, we are positioned for exciting opportunities and a new shape may emerge. This emphasis links well with the broad understandings nurtured in the Cross-Cultural Learning and other GE requirements.
Just as an ethos of peace, justice and conflict resolution infuses Bethel, this focus is reflected in our graduates, even when it is not identified as their career. This issue of Context offers a few examples. Duane Goossen’s career took a different path than he expected, but his conflict resolution training at Bethel prepared him well for working in state government. Suzanne Wedel’s biology major launched a medical career, but her peace studies major developed her ability to help people “collaborate and build coalitions rather than exclude and compete.” I think it is safe to acknowledge that my conflict resolution training developed through peace studies courses will be useful in my current position as Bethel’s president!
There are schools where students will have more options, but I’m not sure you can find a school where each student has better opportunities. A Bethel education gives opportunities for substantive involvement and participation within a major and beyond, and launches students to make important contributions in the world. You really can do anything with a Bethel education. As this issue of Context shows, our graduates’ lives tell the story!
Excerpts from Barry Bartel’s speaking schedule since September 2006:
- Sept. 17, sermon and children’s story, Faith Mennonite Church, Newton
- Oct. 29, sermon and children’s story, Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton
- Jan. 14, sermon, children’s story and Sunday school presentation, West Zion Mennonite Church and First Mennonite Church of Christian combined service, Moundridge
- Jan. 28, sermon and children’s story, First Mennonite Church and Primera Iglesia Menonita, Reedley, Calif.
- Feb. 18, sermon and children’s story, Bethel College Mennonite Church
- Feb. 25, sermon and children’s story, Peace Mennonite Church and Iglesia Menonita Mi Redentor, Dallas
- March 4, sermon and children’s story, Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel
- March 11, sermon and children’s story, Bethesda Mennonite Church, Henderson, Neb.
For a complete list of Barry Bartel’s speaking engagements, as well as to see his schedule for the next months, go to: www.bethelks.edu/bc/administration/president/speaking.php.
Brenda Bartel’s speaking schedule:
- Nov. 1, Bethel chapel presentation
- Nov. 12, sermon, First Mennonite Church, Halstead
- Feb. 6, presentation, Kidron Bethel Women’s Auxiliary, North Newton