Faith-driven education: Guiding students in Christ-centered learning
Malone University is an unapologetically Christian institution—a proud member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and a charter member of the Christian College Consortium (CCC).
More than that, we are guided by biblical principles across the gamut of the educational experience we provide. It’s our deep desire to disciple students according to Scripture so they learn to grow and flourish in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
The following principles are a just a sampling of What We Believe.
Doctrinal Statement
Malone particularly declares its faith in the following Christian beliefs:
- One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The deity of Jesus Christ, in whose person are united the divine and human natures so that He is truly both God and man; His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, vicarious and atoning death; His bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
- The present ministry of the Holy Spirit convincing sinners of sin and regenerating, sanctifying, guiding and empowering believers.
- The plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, their essential unity and their inviolable authority.
- The fall of man through the sin of our first parents; the death and hopelessness of man apart from the work of redemption wrought by Jesus Christ.
- Reconciliation with God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ by repentance for sin and receiving forgiveness and new life by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.
- Sanctification of the reconciled believer through the operation of the Holy Spirit by the complete dedication of believers to God and the receiving by faith of cleansing from enmity against God; by walking in daily obedience as true and fervent disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ and growing more like Him in maturity of character; and by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and receiving His empowerment for continuous victory over sin and service unto God.
- Our obligation to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples of all men everywhere.
- The spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the final judgment of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, resulting in the eternal fellowship of the righteous with God, and the eternal separation of the wicked from God.
Foundational Principles
A Christian university for the arts, sciences, and professions, Malone grounds its educational mission in the biblical call to seek Christ’s Kingdom First in all things. As we work out our calling, we put into action foundational principles that reflect our Christian faith, our Evangelical Friends heritage, and our desire to seek truth. These foundational principles help guide our work over time in the face of changing external exigencies and are the means by which we articulate what is and has been intrinsically important to the Institution.
We cultivate the life of the mind by pursuing and witnessing to the truth.
The academic life of Malone University falls under a broader goal of seeking truth in all areas, including the humanities, arts, sciences, social sciences, personal health, theology, and the professions. We value and foster intellectual breadth and virtue, believing that individuals who seek Christ’s Kingdom First are called to embark on a lifelong process of learning. The quest for knowledge and truth enables us to be better stewards of God’s creation. As people who are being transformed by Christ, we witness to the truth in many ways, such as engaging in research, scholarly inquiry, and professional endeavor; working for justice; and strengthening community life.
We are called to know Christ and make him known through the integration of learning and faith.
We believe that faith and knowledge are inextricably bound to one another and should not be compartmentalized or fragmented. Professors and students at Malone examine what the Christian faith has to say about a given discipline and what that discipline has to say about the Christian faith. These actions stem from our belief that Christ is known not only through Scripture, the workings of the Holy Spirit, and tradition, but also through the pursuit of knowledge. We are called to make Christ known through scholarship in our individual disciplines, evangelism to our community, and service to others. These actions reflect our conviction that a Malone education should equip students to fulfill their callings. Therefore, we nurture intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, compassion, and spiritual growth.
We are shaped by and draw upon our Christian and institutional heritage.
Our educational mission is rooted in our understanding of the historic Christian faith. This broad Christian tradition provides us with a Christocentric perspective of intellectual inquiry and engagement with the world. Consistent with evangelicalism, the college has maintained its concern for biblical faith, proclamation of the gospel, and service to local and international communities. Shaped by our holiness and Friends heritage, Malone is an institution that values piety, concern for ordinary people, and experiential activism. From its founding, Malone University has welcomed staff members from different Christian denominations and traditions, enriching the resources of the university. The dialectics that emerge from these diverse perspectives compel us to an ongoing process of communication with one another and the community at large. This variety of Christian experience offers a basis for openness in the learning process, critical examination of worldviews, and cultivation of individual spiritual journeys.
Because we are called to love our students, we intentionally focus our work on promoting their intellectual, spiritual, and social growth.
The congenial and collegial atmosphere at Malone reflects a theological and intellectual commitment by the faculty, staff, and administration to educate and disciple our students in ways that challenge their intellect, encourage their faith and develop their character. We hold that learning flourishes in a community where people draw upon Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, and inquiry through thoughtful conversation and active relationships with others. The relationships that are formed between members of our campus community and students foster a dialogical process that reflects this belief that learning is not a solitary activity, designed for self-interested ends.
We live and learn in a community that manifests and develops concern for others.
As a university community we are called to learn from one another, develop relationships, and work out our vocations in ways that demonstrate concern, accountability, respect, and humility. We extend these principles to the larger community and the world as we examine and endeavor to promote justice, civic responsibility, peace, and reconciliation. Through outreach, evangelism, and service we desire to witness to the love and grace of Christ. We emphasize corporate worship, prayer, study of Scripture, and other spiritual activities to prepare ourselves for learning and service, as well as to nurture and strengthen the spiritual life of the community. God’s grace is evident in our communal life as we seek to live out this calling in a broken world.
Denominational Affiliation: The Evangelical Friends Church
The Evangelical Friends Church – Eastern Region (EFC-ER) is a movement of connected churches intentionally working together to fulfill a common mission, vision, and core values, based on the person and redemptive message of Jesus Christ.
To this end, the World Outreach Center in Canton serves 14,000+ EFC-ER church members, working to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission to mobilize, equip, and send workers to spread the love of Jesus.
EFC-ER actively participates in a larger group of Friends worldwide, known as Evangelical Friends International – North America (EFI-NA).
Purpose
- Friends believe in a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, as a foundation for living. “If you believe that Jesus is the Christ- that He is God’s Son and your Savior – then you are a child of God. And all who love the Father love His children, too.” (I John 5:1)
- Friends emphasize putting beliefs into action, thus demonstrating loving concern for others. “Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'” (Matthew 5:44). This is our example today in a society steeped in hate, revenge, and violence.
- The Friends Church offers a rich fellowship for you and your family, including many outlets for fruitful Christian obedience.
Beliefs
The Evangelical Friends Church does not advance new teachings or doctrines. Instead, we seek to rediscover New Testament teachings and apply these age-old truths to our lives. As Friends we believe:
- God is our Father.
- Jesus Christ is “the Word made flesh” for us.
- The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, Strengthener, and Guide.
- The Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by Him.
- A person receives forgiveness through repentance for sins and belief in Jesus Christ as Savior.
- The mission of the Church is to communicate the Good News of Salvation to people everywhere.