INSTITUTIONAL MISSION STATEMENT

Amridge University is an independent, coeducational institution dedicated to the spirit of its Christian ideals and heritage.  Amridge University’s mission is to prepare men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the undergraduate and graduate levels, for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service to the professions, society, church, and family.
 

INSTITUTIONAL PURPOSE

In keeping with its Christian heritage, Amridge University provides educational opportunities through five schools: (1) College of Business and Leadership, (2) College of General Studies, (3) School of Human Services, (4) Turner School of Theology, and (5) School of Continuing Education.  Each of these schools has its own special purpose within the overall purpose and institutional goals of the University.

Purpose of the College of Business and Leadership

The purpose of the College of Business and Leadership is to provide instruction and training on the undergraduate and graduate levels as well as prepare students for careers and professions that provide support and services for the well-being of individuals, family, or society.  Within this purpose, the College of Business and Leadership provides bachelor-level degree programs that include the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – General Business Concentration, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Communication Concentration, and the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Systems Management Concentration as well as graduate-level degree programs that include the Master of Science in Leadership and Management and the Master of Arts in Behavioral Leadership and Management.  All of these programs are designed within the mission of the University for preparing men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality, so that they can serve in their chosen vocations in the church, community, or society.  Also, the programs in the College of Business and Leadership provide a foundation that prepares undergraduate students for graduate study and graduate students for advanced study.  Additionally, the University provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing degrees.
 

Purpose of the College of General Studies

The purpose of the College of General Studies is to provide instruction and training on the undergraduate level for Christian ministers and religious workers as well as prepare students for careers and professions that provide support and services for the well-being of individuals, family, and society.  Within this purpose the College of General Studies provides degree programs in a variety of areas including Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Ministry/Bible, Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, Bachelor of Science in Management Communication, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Homeland Security, Bachelor of Science in Public Safety and Business/Organization Security, Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Human Development, and the Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Leadership.  All of these programs are designed within the mission of the University for preparing men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the undergraduate level, so that they can serve in their chosen vocations in the church, community, or society.  Also the programs in the College of General Studies provide a foundation that prepares students for graduate or advanced study.  Many of the Amridge University graduates of the College of General Studies choose to continue their studies at the Amridge University School of Human Services or the Amridge University Turner School of Theology.  Additionally, the University provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing degrees.
 

Purpose of the School of Human Services

The purpose of the School of Human Services is to prepare students for careers and professions that are dedicated to providing support and services for the well-being of individuals, family, church, and society in the spirit of Christian services.  This purpose will be accomplished by providing students with an interdisciplinary learning and serving experience with core courses and focused knowledge and skills in several disciplines that include, but will not be limited to, family therapy, business, and human communications.  Degrees offered include the Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling, Master of Science in Ministerial Leadership, Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, Master of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Divinity in Professional Counseling, Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling, Master of Divinity in Ministerial Leadership, Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy I, Doctor of Ministry in Family Therapy II, Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Doctor of Philosophy in Professional Counseling.

Additionally, the University provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing degrees.
 

Purpose of the Turner School of Theology

The Amridge University Board of Regents chartered the Turner School of Theology in 1999 in profound appreciation of Rex and Opal Turner, founders of the University.  The Board deemed it appropriate to establish a School of Theology in their name to honor and recognize the personal labors and sacrifices made by Rex and Opal Turner for the cause of Christ.  Dr. Rex Turner, Sr. was an avid student of the word of God and well known for his biblical scholarship, administrative acumen, tireless efforts, and commitment to training church leaders, ministers, and Bible teachers for a world that needs Christ.  The purpose of the Turner School of Theology is to provide for the educational development of qualified persons to be effective Christian ministers, church leaders, teachers, and scholars who will use their gifts and knowledge in proclaiming the gospel, strengthening the church, and serving humanity.  To accomplish this purpose, the School seeks to prepare students for the ministerial and teaching professions and for effective voluntary Christian service through both academic and practical studies on the graduate level.  The programs of instruction are biblical in orientation, scholarly in intellectual preparation, and relevant to contemporary life in application.  These programs include a strong emphasis in biblical studies, supported by studies in such fields as biblical languages, church history, systematic theology, homiletics and communication, religious education, professional ministerial studies, and missiology. Degrees offered include the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Practical Theology, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies. Additionally, the University provides a program of continuing education, through the Amridge University School of Continuing Education, for those who are not pursuing degrees.
 

Purpose of the School of Continuing Education

The purpose of the School of Continuing Education is to provide participating students with quality and timely continuing education experiences for professional development and life enrichment purposes.  These programs will be developed and presented by faculty and specialists related to programs and offerings provided by Amridge University as well as for professionals and other individuals in areas of interest to the Amridge University community and communities served.
 

INSTITUTIONAL GOALS

Amridge University has a history of providing its students with quality education and teaching excellence.  By virtue of this history and its focused mission, Amridge University strives to continue this tradition through the adoption and implementation of holistic educational and institutional goals.  The institutional goals are student-centered and are directly related to the University’s mission to prepare men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the undergraduate and graduate levels, for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service to the professions, society, and family.  Also, these goals are designed to help ensure the provision of quality programs and services which will help lead to the stability and continued growth of the University so that it can continue to meet its educational goals. 

·    - Amridge University will attract, retain, and contribute to the continued professional development of faculty dedicated to providing quality teaching and active scholarship and committed to the mission and purposes of the University.
 

·    - Amridge University will maintain and develop facilities and learning environments, which are conducive to the learning process.
 

·     - Amridge University will develop and implement careful planning and continuous study of the University’s mission, purpose, goals, procedures, and programs as well as an analysis of the evaluation process in the interest of continuous quality improvement of its programs and services.
 

A POSITIVE BIBLICAL FAITH

In accordance with its stated purpose and its concern for truth, Amridge University is firmly committed to furthering the teaching and practice of Christianity.  The University presents fairly all significant viewpoints on major issues and promotes freedom of inquiry.  However, certain key positions are firmly established by Biblical evidence, and we believe should be upheld.  Between 30-40% of Amridge University’s student body are from various religious faiths.  Students are free to formulate individual positions.  No one is required to sign a creedal statement of belief.  Amridge University is happy to have students from various religious backgrounds enrolled in its courses.
 

The University's understanding of the Christian religion includes the following tenets about its source of authority, central doctrines, polity and worship of the church, and the conduct of the Christian life.

Both the Old and New Testaments have been given by divine revelation and are the standard of authority in religious matters.
 

The Old Testament prepared the way for Christ, and the New Testament fulfills and supersedes it, making the New Testament the final authority for those who have lived since Christ's death on the cross.

There is one God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe and who takes a direct interest in every human being.  The Godhead consists of God the Father; Christ the Son; and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  Christ was born of a virgin, died on the cross to make atonement for man's sins, arose bodily from the tomb, and ascended into heaven, where he presently reigns.  There is a heaven to be enjoyed by the faithful and a hell to be endured by the disobedient.
 

God created all people with a need for fellowship with him and the ability to choose to obey his commands.  Man cannot earn salvation from sin but can qualify to receive it as a gift of grace through submission to the will of God.  The scripturally appointed means for receiving this gift is faith in Christ, repentance, confession of faith, and baptism (immersion).  The transformation in character, conduct, and relationship with God that man experiences in this process is the new birth (regeneration).  Christians are expected to live in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament.
 

Christ established the church for the mutual encouragement, instruction, and assistance of Christians and for the evangelization of the world through the proclamation of His gospel.  Jesus prayed for unity among his disciples and commanded love for one another as the means to maintain it.  The church was originally organized so that, once the apostles passed away, individual congregations would be independent of any central human authority and would be guided solely by the unchanging standard of Scripture.  Congregations are to be bound together by common purpose and cooperative effort.
 

Each congregation is to assemble for worship on every first day of the week according to the teachings of the New Testament.  In contrast to the elaborate temple ritual of the Old Testament, worship in the Christian age is to be in spirit and truth.  Accordingly, the worship of the New Testament church consists of teaching God's word, offering prayers and thanksgiving from the heart, singing praise to God and encouragement to one another with the human voice, voluntary giving as a means of expressing appreciation to God for his blessings and sharing them with others, and partaking of the Lord's Supper in commemoration of Christ's death.  Genuine charismatic gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in foreign languages, and miraculous healing, were exercised in the first century but not perpetuated afterward.
 

On the basis of principles established at creation, the New Testament assigns roles of leadership in public worship and supervision of the local congregation to male Christians.  The scriptural organization of the local congregation consists of a plurality of elders (also called bishops or shepherds), who have oversight of the church; deacons, who assist the elders in ministering to the needs of members; and evangelists, who proclaim the gospel and teach under the authority of the elders.  The offices of apostle and prophet ended with the passing of the miraculous age of charismatic gifts.  Women are a powerful force in the church through the influence of their character and spiritual insights and through their efforts in teaching other women and children, helping the needy, and engaging in personal evangelism.
 

Christianity as taught by Christ and the apostles provides for the needs of the individual, the family, and society.  An understanding of God's sacrificial love enables each person to recognize his worth and potential in the sight of God, relieves his guilt and anxiety, and motivates him to conduct his life according to the highest standards.  The example of Christ fosters humility, submission to authority, and service to others.  Through its teaching, its communal worship, its fellowship, and its mission of evangelism and benevolence, the church strengthens both individuals and families and has a strong impact for good wherever its efforts and influence reach.  [Written by Lawrence E. Barclay, Faculty Member, the Amridge University Turner School of Theology]

Note:  Amridge University is an academic institution, not a church.  Bible classes at Amridge University are not worship or devotional services, but an educational environment for interaction between student and teacher.