How Important Is a University's Doctrinal Statement?

Like your local church, Christian colleges all have a statement of beliefs. These statements guide the university’s outlook on academics and life. As you research and visit different universities with your student, you might be wondering how important a university’s doctrinal statement truly is.

Studying a university’s doctrinal statement helps you and your student know where you align doctrinally with the university and how comfortable your student would feel attending it. If you have questions as you look at the doctrinal statements of Christian colleges, consider asking your pastor to provide his insights.

Even if a college has a doctrinal statement, the faculty may not adhere to it. Check with Christian universities and ask them if their faculty sign the doctrinal statement as a condition of employment. If you know that the faculty is teaching in line with the institution’s stated beliefs, then you have a point of accountability you can reach out to. It is important that you can trust a university’s faculty to uphold the beliefs that are most important to your family.

We understand that a doctrinal statement is critical to helping families choose what university to attend — and Cedarville's doctrinal statement  informs every part of our approach to Christ-centered education.

At Cedarville University, we intentionally mentor our students in the Christian faith, drawing on the clear teachings of Scripture. Our daily chapel encourages students to be active in worship and in listening to biblical teaching. Besides these vibrant worship times, students live out their faith in campus discipleship groups and  ministry activities.

Every student in every major graduates with a Bible minor. Five courses comprise our Bible minor and ground each student in the Word of God, helping them to understand their academic discipline and vocation from a biblical worldview. Our students take what they learn to integrate their biblical and theological knowledge into their lives, jobs, communities, and families.

And yet, this curriculum design can be wasted if the professors fail to mentor students in the Christian faith. Cedarville's doctrinal statement affirms our commitment to discipling our students, and each year, our professors reaffirm their belief in the doctrinal statement. It's just one way we renew our commitment to teaching these beliefs in partnership with churches and parents.

We understand that when you send your student to Cedarville, you are entrusting us to mentor your student academically, spiritually, and professionally. The doctrinal statement provides clear parameters of our faculty members' teaching and expresses the beliefs we hope your students will grow in during their 1000 Days.

All of our faculty are open to your questions on our doctrinal statement. We would love for you to know where we stand theologically and how we communicate our beliefs to your student.