FAITH AND INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE

by Gerald Gober

The area of responsibility is the School of Business and Christian Faith is a vital part of the education of the student. I (we) try to help instill a set of values and mores that will serve the student in the years to come. The relationship is not one that is openly exposed, but yet permeates the school. The diversity of the particular faith held by an individual leads to some diversity in thought, but the basis is there.

Having read the book and listened in the discussions, I feel that the school and the college could do more, but understand where we are. There are many problems associated with being a “religious” institution, but advantages exist also. The major problem with being such an institution is the stigma attached by some as opposed to the advantage of the same position as seen by others. The types of church-related schools as delineated by Benne gives rise to many questions of why we are what we are and how we (and others) got here. The movement was probably financially driven, but there should not be a stigma attached.

The real question is where do we want to go in the future? What do we want to be? Who are we and who do we want to be? The reporter’s basic questions need to be answered. The mission of the college should drive movement and we need the drive. I feel that the School of Business does not do enough to support the use of Christian Faith in the classroom, but also feel that the college might not support it well either. We do not have the base we need and one way to develop it is to start with the College as a whole.

I started the discussion group wanting to possibly defend the position of the School of Business and ended up with more questions. I still feel that there seems to be a position in many people’s minds regarding the use of this type of institution to teach anything other than ‘teachers and preachers.’ (As a side question I am asking, do we need a seminary?) Believing that we can change our destiny, I want the college to become a place that is secure in the faith and proud of it, yet has the grace to accept that all may not believe the same. I believe that the college should espouse the Lutheran religion and use it to our advantage, not just say we are a Lutheran school. The School of Business espouses an ethical approach to business decisions and management, but recognizes that the graduates will have to deal with people who do not have the same values. With that recognition, we try to move the students to understand the marketplace and deal with it as they desire, understanding that the results may only satisfy them.

I have not said exactly what I wanted to, but am not sure of just what I think at the moment. As I mentioned earlier, I have more questions than answers. I do know that I have basically come away thinking that we need to move to a more active type of interaction with the Lutheran faith. The Christian faith is there, it is simply a move to espousing a particular brand.

Jerald R. Gober