Introduction
Bethany Lutheran College is a Christian liberal arts college owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and committed to the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the statements of faith known as the Lutheran Confessions.
Our Mission
Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge, truth, and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives.
Our Purpose
Bethany Lutheran College engages students with the saving knowledge of Christ and assists them in developing their God-given talents and abilities for meaningful lives of service in the family, church, and society. A program of study grounded in the liberal arts and taught through the discerning lens of a Christian worldview equips students with knowledge, understanding, and adaptable skills.
Our Vision
… to produce compassionate graduates firmly grounded in Christian faith and teaching who REFLECT CHRIST’S LOVE with integrity, character, and unshakable values
… to be a center for EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP and in all aspects of higher education
… to place a priority on PERSONAL MENTORING from faculty and staff to students
… to provide OPPORTUNITIES for students to identify and develop their God-given talents and abilities
… to positively impact the lives of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters through a CARING CHRISTIAN ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
Our Core Values
- COMMITMENT TO THE GOSPEL – Because God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has lived perfectly in our place and paid for all sins, God declares all people to be innocent in His sight, an innocence received by faith. Bethany therefore proclaims this Good News to students that they may believe, and grow in faith and in the knowledge of Jesus as their sure hope for eternal life.
- PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH – Grounded in the liberal arts, the curriculum promotes a search for knowledge and wisdom by fostering independent critical thinking through the discerning lens of the Bible as the ultimate source of truth in order to support students’ spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning.
- FOCUS ON THE STUDENT – The College places the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional needs of the student first in all decisions, policies, and procedures.
Our Pledge to the Student
Bethany Lutheran College pledges to offer each student the comfort of the Gospel, the true knowledge of our world as revealed in Scripture and reflected in nature, and a personal mentoring relationship in higher education as preparation for a life of purpose and meaning.
Our Expectation of the Student
Bethany Lutheran College expects all students to be fully engaged in the process of their education and to respect the mission of the College. We encourage students to pursue habits of excellence in all areas of their lives.
Our Statement of Faith
Bethany Lutheran College is a Christian liberal arts college. The College and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod are committed to the teachings of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God – the only authority for faith and life. The statements of faith known as the Lutheran Confessions are accepted as the correct understanding of the teachings of the Bible.
This commitment to the Confessions is summarized by the principles of the Lutheran Reformation: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and Scripture Alone. Specifically, the College confesses that salvation is a free gift from God’s grace alone, not dependent upon our works. We receive forgiveness for our sins through faith in Christ alone, which is produced in the individual’s heart by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and the Sacraments. Scripture alone is the standard by which all teachings and practices ultimately are evaluated.
Our Philosophy of Christian Education
The Christian faith governs the entire educational process at Bethany. Christian education implies a unique perspective on the past, present, and future, shaping a specific view of people and their relationships both to God and to others. These relationships are understood in light of the knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that He is true God and Lord of the universe through time and eternity. Our philosophy views knowledge and truth across the entire curriculum through the discerning lens of God’s Word.
