I am pleased to share that I received official notification this week of
Virginia Wesleyan College's 10-year reaffirmation of affiliation with
The United Methodist Church. Virginia Wesleyan was
"approved for continued listing without qualification" in a February 21
letter from Dr. John W. Wells, Associate General Secretary of the
Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education
and Ministry and Executive Secretary of the University Senate of the
United Methodist Church.
The action follows a November review
and extremely positive visit by a committee from the University Senate
of the United Methodist Church. The committee was comprised of three
distinguished individuals in the Church: Dr. John Russell, Immediate
Past President of McMurray University; Dr. Mark Hanshaw, Associate Dean,
School of Arts and Letters, at Texas Wesleyan University; and the Rev.
Laura McMasters, College Chaplain at Martin Methodist College.
The
United Methodist Church has more colleges, universities, theological
schools, and preparatory schools related to it than any other Protestant
church. With so many affiliated institutions, the UMC established the
University Senate in 1892 to be certain that these institutions are
worthy of bearing the name of the Church. As such, the University Senate
reviewed the ways Virginia Wesleyan College meets the four criteria for
UMC affiliation as specified in The Book of Discipline: institutional
integrity, well-structured programs, sound management, and clearly
defined Church relationships.
Virginia Wesleyan College is a
community of faith, learning and service, and we are very grateful for
this notification of reaffirmation of affiliation. Underlying all that
we do is our deep commitment to the United Methodist tradition of
education. Our mission takes inspiration from that heritage, preparing
students for global citizenry, service to their communities, personal
and professional leadership, and lives of continual learning and
meaning.
I would like to thank the many faculty, staff,
students, alumni, and Board of Trustees members who were involved with
the University Senate visit for their time and testimony. Our planning
for the visit of the committee members for the University Senate
resulted in a comprehensive internal assessment of our values, programs,
and traditions as a Methodist institution—an evaluation that has now
received external confirmation through the letter of notification by Dr.
Wells.
We can all be proud of this latest endorsement of our leadership in United Methodist higher education.
