The Lenoir-Rhyne College Mission statement, in part, states that the mission of the college is to “liberate mind and spirit,… foster physical wholeness, build a sense of community, and promote responsible leadership for service in the world.”  Programs in the School of Health Sciences (Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Sports Medicine/Athletic Training, Physical Education, Health and Exercise Science, and Sports Management) certainly work toward this mission, both in philosophy and in practice.  The accomplishment of the phrase omitted from the above mission statement, to “clarify personal faith,” is less obvious.  I believe this lack of focus on personal faith is due to the overall lack of Christian vision and ethos being demonstrated by Lenoir-Rhyne College.

            For any book we read, our past experiences and beliefs interact with those of the author and we glean our own personal meaning from the book based on this interactive dialogue with the author.  The primary theme of Robert Benne’s book, for me, is the concept of examining who we are, what we believe, and how we are going to actively and faithfully live out that philosophy.  This process involves reflection, articulation, and action.  For us to develop “Quality With Soul” at Lenoir-Rhyne, we must reflect upon who we are and what we believe.  We must develop a vision based on our beliefs and we must ACT upon that vision.  It is not enough to “talk the talk,” we must also “walk the walk.”   This “walk” (if a reflection of committed Christian ethos) will be illustrated in ALL aspects of life at Lenoir-Rhyne.

            If I were making the decision on how we could best learn from and utilize the philosophies of Benne’s book, I would advocate that the college initiate a process to reflect, articulate, and act upon our Christian vision.  This process would not be limited to a “college” vision (mission statement) only, but require that each employee, program, and school, also become involved in self reflection, articulation, and formulating of a vision appropriate to a Christian institution.  My guide would be Joshua 24:14-15:

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.  Throw away the

            gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve

            the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose

            this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served

            beyond the River, or the gods of  Amorites, in whose land you are living.

            But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

As a Christian institution affiliated with the ELCA we can serve the Lord in numerous ways as we seek to find our unique role in the world.  Our mission should reflect this commitment to service in Christ; however, a mission is useless if faculty, students, staff, administration, and board are not dedicated to the fulfillment of the vision.  Only when we develop a mission that all associated with Lenoir-Rhyne passionately endorse and are willing to act upon, will we be able to successfully implement such a vision at Lenoir-Rhyne.

Katherine Pasour