If our primary goal is to help students develop Christian character and faith, then all we do as a university ought to uphold that purpose. In selecting professors and course material, developing policies and programs, our singular objective should be helping students gain moral integrity and intellectual strength.  It is not the most important thing to protect students from differing worldviews or opposing beliefs. To the contrary, it is in this struggle for truth and understanding that moral character and maturity is built. As students face contrasting worldviews and beliefs, they evaluate and re-define their own beliefs; and the opposition strengthens and refines their convictions.

Pepperdine plays a unique and vital role in the Christian community, because it facilitates an openness which allows Christians and non-Christians to courageously pursue truth. Here students find a crucial foundation of Christian faith from which they can explore their intellectual, spiritual and moral questions.  One of the most appealing aspects of Pepperdine is the superior education available here. Capable and inspiring professors provide an atmosphere of excellence. Most professors hold Christian beliefs, and quite a few attend Churches of Christ. However, I propose that this need not be the sole criterion by which we judge prospective professors. I urge administrators and faculty members not to disqualify numerous capable professors simply because of denominational differences.

Students can still learn from professors who hold different opinions; sometimes we are too quick to rule out the most qualified, inspiring professors simply because they don’t hold the standard convictions.  At other times, we too readily accept mediocre instructors on the basis of shared religious convictions, and we sacrifice students’ learning.

This is not to say that the faith and character of professors are irrelevant—they are vital! Academic excellence ought not be pursued at the expense of the university’s Christian beliefs, but neither should religious beliefs hinder students’ education.  Therefore, it is important to employ professors who agree with and support Pepperdine’s basic beliefs; but it is not necessary that they arrive at the same doctrinal conclusions. It is necessary that they possess both enthusiasm for teaching and exceptional knowledge in their field.

Decisions determining who should teach Pepperdine students should be made conscientiously and with a view to uphold the university’s founding principles. Instructors are capable of exercising profound influence on students. Therefore, because a person’s sense of morality is never independent of their actions, it is important for Pepperdine professors to possess moral convictions; and it is appropriate for those convictions to be Christian ones.

However, to aim at homogenizing the beliefs of faculty members deprives Pepperdine students from learning from perspectives other than their own. To limit the beliefs they encounter is to limit their growth.

If we truly believe, as our mission statement affirms, "That truth, having nothing to fear from investigation, should be pursued relentlessly," then we will not fear exposure to varying or even opposing worldviews. Astute, honest people can glean lessons from diverse sources; they do not limit themselves to learning from people who agree with their perspective.

The goal of broadening students’ perspectives must be achieved in harmony with the greater goal of imparting Christianity as a guide for life. Maintaining this delicate balance is critical in order to fulfill the purpose of offering a top, liberal arts education, while at the same time answering life’s most meaningful questions regarding God and man’s purpose on earth.

Many universities which began as Christian institutions have abandoned their original convictions and made academia their god. Therefore it is important that decisions are made with an awareness of the potential pitfalls of diversity in opinion. But to do away with diversity out of fear of possible consequences is not valid.

Seaver College has faced an enormous challenge since 1962 when George Pepperdine commissioned the alumni to carry on his vision of "good citizenship and Christian influence."

Balancing this Christian influence with academics continues as a source of contention among the faculty and administration.

Much of this issue centers upon the hiring practices of Seaver faculty. The 1998 Strategic Plan, a set of goals for the future of Seaver's faculty developed by a committee of elected professors, accepted the administration’s target for Church of Christ faculty members at 60 percent, while the other 40 percent can be non-Church of Christ.

The mission of Seaver College suggests that the "makeup of the faculty reflects the university's strong historic relationship to the Churches of Christ." Those who are not members of the Church of Christ must "complement and share a commitment to the mission of Seaver College."

A "personal faith in God" is now the only religious requirement of faculty according to the latest mission statement. This encompasses those outside the Churches of Christ and even those not professing a faith in Jesus Christ, but willing to be supportive of the school's overall "Christian mission."

George Pepperdine, in his 1937 dedicatory address, said that the "Holy Word, the Bible, shall influence and control the lives of each and every member of the faculty to such an extent that he will spread Christian influence among the students." He also stated that "all instruction is to be under conservative, fundamental Christian supervision ...."

If we are striving to "remain faithful to our founder and his mission for Pepperdine" as Seaver Dean David Baird stated, then why are even those not professing a faith in Christ being invited to teach here?

While at times it may be necessary to hire non-Church of Christ faculty for various reasons, it should be the priority of the administration to find qualified Church of Christ members. George Pepperdine, himself, sought entirely fellow Church of Christ members to teach at Pepperdine College.

Many argue that Seaver College still strongly emphasizes Christianity, however the emphasis is not as solid as it used to be. In fact, Baird claims, concerning the religion department, that "we are in this for the academic study of religion instead of faith formation."

This seems to reflect a philosophy contrary to the intentions of George Pepperdine. Besides helping to prepare students for "a life of usefulness," Pepperdine established the school to "help them build a foundation of Christian character and faith which will survive the storms of life."

Although Pepperdine wanted his college to prepare students with "educational privileges equal to the best," this did not necessarily mean that we should rank as high academically as the Ivy League schools.

In fact, history has provided a sobering lesson on the challenge of maintaining Christian influence in a Christian institution. One hundred and six of the 108 original colleges in America were founded as Christian schools.

Harvard University, established in 1636, adopted the motto, "For Christ and the Church." Princeton University, founded in 1746 by the Presbyterian Church, boasted that every one of its presidents until 1902 were ministers.

But while these and many other renowned universities began with a strong emphasis on Christianity and religion, much of it has been lost over the years.

The emphases of these historic colleges have increasingly been on academics rather than Christianity. Their reputations have come from what society has judged to be a higher quality of academics. However, their form of academia does not revolve around the ultimate truth in Christianity.

If Seaver College continues to partially abide by the vision of George Pepperdine, what will keep it from eventually losing its Christian influence altogether?

The hiring practices of the college must be truly consistent with the plans set forth in the beginning. Rooted in more than just a "heritage," as the mission statement calls it, Seaver College and Pepperdine University needs to proudly proclaim that it is a Christian institution and stop striving to compete with secular institutions.