Statement of Purpose
Foundation: Oklahoma Wesleyan University has its roots in the Wesleyan theological perspective. This foundation rests on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, emphasizes a Christian world view, and promotes a life of service.
Mission: The mission of Oklahoma Wesleyan University is to be a Christian, evangelical, scholarly community committed to providing quality higher education, with a Christian perspective, in the liberal arts, ministerial training, and other professional programs under the auspices of The Wesleyan Church for the intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, and social development of all members of the campus community.
Cornerstones to the OWU Mission:
(Cornerstone: An indispensable and fundamental basis)
The primacy of Jesus Christ…
…as the incarnate Son of God--the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End--who is the lens for all learning and the Lord of our daily lives.
The priority of Scripture…
…as the inerrant and authoritative written Word of God that guides us in all matters of faith, learning, and living.
The pursuit of truth…
…as an objective, attainable reality, grounded in the person and example of Jesus Christ and anchored in the Bible.
The practice of wisdom…
…as the goal for all members of the university community, who work to promote healing and wholeness in a broken culture and hurting world.
Scholarship: This mission encompasses the integration of faith and learning in educational experiences designed to enhance scholarship, life-long learning, and Christian discipleship.
Character: This mission and values reflect our quest to develop genuine Christian character in the members of our community.
Integrity: We encourage all members of our community to practice biblical standards of ethical and responsible behavior.
Servanthood: We promote an attitude of care in order to foster in our students the desire to live out lives of service to both God and man.
Community:In order to achieve this mission we operate as a caring, evangelical Christian community with an academic focus.
Stewardship:We manage resources entrusted to us in a respectful and responsible manner in order to advance the work of God’s kingdom.
To be able to preserve the above mission and purpose we require all employees to be born again Christians, believing and practicing the principles set forth in God’s Word. The faculty, staff, and administrators play a crucial part in setting the tone and exhibiting the care and concern that product a climate conducive to growth. Please read the following Statement of Faith and Practice to see if you are in harmony with The Wesleyan Church and its beliefs.
We Believe:
- That the Bible, composed of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and is the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
- That there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- In Jesus Christ as truly God and truly man, and in His virgin birth, His vicarious death, His bodily resurrection and His promised second coming.
- In the personality of the Holy Spirit, and that His ministry is to reveal Christ to man.
- That God created man and the universe by special operation of divine power.
- In the fall of man and consequent sinful nature of all mankind which necessitates a divine atonement.
- In justification by grace through faith and in regeneration by the Holy Spirit, who makes the penitent believer a new creature in Christ; and that, although God holds tenaciously to His own, it is possible for believers to repudiate faith in Christ, and unless they turn back to saving faith, be eternally lost. But, by the grace of God, such persons may by true repentance and faith find forgiveness and restoration.
- That entire sanctification is an act of divine grace wrought in the believer through an act of the Holy Spirit, whereby He takes full possession, cleanses, and equips for service on condition of total surrender and obedient faith.
- That the gifts of the Spirit are given to believers as God wills for the purpose of edifying and strengthening believers and are not the evidence of the Spirit’s fullness, nor are they necessary for salvation. We affirm the miraculous use of languages and the interpretation of languages in its biblical and historical setting; however, speaking or praying in an unknown language is not the evidence of the baptism with the Holy Spirit (or of the entire sanctification which the baptism accomplishes) and is, therefore, not to be promoted among us.
- In the personal existence of Satan.
- That the Scriptures plainly teach the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting happiness of the saved, and the everlasting and conscious suffering of the lost.
- That all true Christians, assisted by the Holy Spirit, give evidence of a true faith by their good works and social concern.
The University expects employees to demonstrate their faith with a life-style that mirrors that of Christ. Therefore, a TOTAL ABSTINENCE of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs is required.
OKWU is an evangelical Christian college where employees are required to comply with the university’s policy regarding total abstinence from the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Furthermore, all employees are required to comply, and conduct themselves at all times in accordance with, policies relating to personal actions on issues such as sexual conduct, sexual discipline, God’s natural gender assignment, the sanctity of human life, and the sanctity of holy marriage between one man and one woman, all of which are based on the current doctrine set forth in The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church and the University’s statements of policy.