PURPOSE

Southern Methodist College provides post-secondary education with a Biblical foundation that prepares students to think, live, and serve as effective Christians in the church and in society.  The overall structure of the College programs and activities seeks to develop general education, intellectual abilities, Bible knowledge, spiritual maturity, and ministry skills through the processes of academic instruction, experiential learning, and career development.

OBJECTIVES

 

The Southern Methodist Church recognizes and accepts the duty and obligation of maintaining institutions of higher learning for the promotion of a distinctively Christian culture.  Southern Methodist College, as an institution of the Southern Methodist Church, shall seek these goals as mandated in The Discipline of the Southern Methodist Church (paragraph 507):

  1. To maintain academic standards that are generally accepted in the educational field;
  2. To infuse into the whole educational process, including instruction and all extra-curricular activities the truth in this period of the gospel of Jesus Christ;
  3. To provide instruction and training in religion through the teaching of the Bible, the history and principles of Christianity, and application of Christian principles to personal and social life;
  4. To cooperate with other agencies of the church in training for service in the church and community;
  5. To initiate and foster agencies that will contribute to the development of the spirit and atmosphere in the institution conducive to the highest type of Christian character and Christian living;
  6. To cultivate among its students interest in a local church and to encourage and train them for such a work.

Mindful of its heritage and mandate, Southern Methodist College provides each student the opportunity to integrate these principles by implementing the following objectives.  Graduates of Southern Methodist College should be able to:

Spiritual

  1. Articulate a foundational knowledge of Bible content and doctrine;
  2. Continue to build upon their foundational knowledge of Scripture as independent self-learners of the Bible, using the historical-grammatical method of interpreting Scripture to develop a personal theology and a Biblical philosophy of life;
  3. Become increasingly like the Lord Jesus Christ with the desire to know Him and apply Biblical standards of Christ-like living in spiritual, social, and physical dimensions of life;
  4. Embrace a Christian ethic and lifestyle in ministry and interpersonal relationships;
  5. Discern their major spiritual gifts and natural abilities, and demonstrate an understanding and refinement of ministry skills in order to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives;
  6. Promote and defend the Christian faith through appropriate witness to unbelievers;
  7. Communicate persuasively the Biblical message and minister effectively in Christian and non-Christian settings;

Educational

  1. Demonstrate academic excellence as self-learners through broad reading habits, and through critical thinking skills which challenge concepts, investigate alternative viewpoints, and form personal conclusions;
  2. Evidence a Biblical world view that stresses Biblical truth as the foundation for all learning and provides a framework for interpreting, integrating, and assimilating information from various sources;
  3. Integrate cognitive content into personal value systems and practical applications;
  4. Communicate effectively in oral and written English;
  5. Demonstrate self-understanding as the foundation for understanding individuals, institutions, or cultures in general;
  6. Develop vocational knowledge and skills for competent employment in a specific occupation.
  7. Discern individual and societal problems and apply Biblical solutions.

Southern Methodist College seeks to accomplish its objectives by:

  1. Enriching the quality of spiritual life in the College and community by providing Biblical instruction, cultural programs, short courses, and workshops.
  2. Promoting holiness in all academic and non-academic activities.
  3. Offering programs that stress quality education designed to meet the changing needs of the Christian community and society.
  4. Maintaining a curriculum that accepts the truth that the Bible is the inerrant verbal revelation of God and which correlates the academic courses to Biblical principles.
  5. Maintaining continuing education programs and services for the church and the community.
  6. Offering programs at an affordable cost and providing financial aid to students who qualify.
  7. Designing the curriculum of the College to meet individual needs and promoting  opportunities for personal growth, socially, academically, and professionally.
  8. Providing academic counseling and other supportive services to assist the student academically.