A commitment to distinctively Christian education is part of a rich tradition that has characterized Louisiana Christian University's one hundred-year history. The third stanza of the college alma mater clearly states the mission of the institution: “Christian knowledge e’er bestowing until eternity.”
The official seal of Louisiana Christian University that adorns many of the objects associated with our school bears three words, Deo, Veritati, Patriae, superimposed on an open Bible. The open Bible signifies that the Holy Scriptures are our source of knowledge for the ultimate truths in life. The Latin words describe our school as dedicated to God, to truth, and to country. The commitment to God is stated first. It both precedes and supersedes all other commitments. This does not imply that our founders did not value truth. They merely recognized that God is the source of all truth. The founders knew that it is only through commitment to and worship of the God of all truth that the ultimate truths of life are disclosed and discovered.
The official Louisiana Christian University hymn urges professors to inform their students of the truths revealed by God, "Teach us the truths that come from God's own mind." This institution remains steadfastly committed to fulfilling that charge.
Beliefs and Values
The foundation for the college’s mission and policies is a shared set of beliefs and values that reflect its Louisiana Baptist heritage. The college’s doctrinal statement, which provides the guiding principles for maintaining the college’s Christian identity, is the Baptist Faith and Message. Through our doctrinal statement, we “identify and affirm certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which we have been and are now closely identified. Our living faith is established upon eternal truths. Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to state for its time and theological climate those articles of the Christian faith that are most surely held among us. It is the purpose of this doctrinal statement of faith and message to set forth certain teachings which we believe” (The Baptist Faith and Message). The college recruits faculty and staff who are committed followers of Christ, who participate actively in a local church, and who are aware of and will teach or perform professionally in harmony with the doctrinal statement. The college also expects and supports the pursuit of the highest level of Christian values in the lives of faculty, staff, administration, trustees, and students.
Louisiana Christian University seeks to create a community of learning and free inquiry. However, the college recognizes that Christian education maintains a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. The academic freedom of a Christian professor is limited by the preeminence of Jesus Christ, the authoritative nature of the Holy Scriptures, and the mission of the institution.
The partnership between Louisiana Christian University and the Baptist churches, associations, and convention within the state constitutes one of the major strengths of the college. Louisiana Christian University deeply values its relationship with Louisiana Baptists, whose generosity allows the college to offer quality liberal arts education at an affordable cost to its students. In recognition of these substantial resources, the college seeks to prepare students who are entering various vocations to assume leadership roles in churches and in denominational life. Because Louisiana Christian University honors its Baptist heritage and acknowledges its great debt to Louisiana Baptist churches for the generous gifts that enable the college to operate, the college only employs faculty who teach courses in the Christian Studies Division who are committed Southern Baptists who document through their annual contracts their personal affirmation of and agreement with The Baptist Faith and Message. They also affirm biblical inerrancy as defined by the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.
The College affirms the value of diversity within the Christian community and attracts students from a variety of denominations. The presence of dedicated Christian faculty and staff members from other Christian denominations affirms the faith of these students from other traditions and provides spiritual mentorship for them. Students without a Christian faith commitment are welcome in this community of learning and are treated with respect.