Beginning June 1, Charleston Southern University’s department of religion will transition to a school of Christian studies.
Charleston Southern University School of Christian Studies dean Michael Bryant meets with students.“The transition to a school of Christian studies is rooted in our desire to reflect more accurately not only what we teach but also why we teach,” said Michael L. Bryant, dean of the new school.
“We will seek to interact in meaningful ways with non-Christian philosophies and religions through critical instruction and field trips. Nevertheless, the content of our classes will focus more specifically on the Christian faith.
“As to why we teach – we will teach with the aim of preparing students to serve Christ in many different ministry capacities, both traditional and non-traditional. Furthermore, we will seek to equip them to evaluate their surroundings from a Christian worldview.”
CSU president Jairy Hunter said the expansion of the religion department to the school of Christian studies “goes hand in hand” with the launching of the university’s Center for Christian Leadership. “These two initiatives will significantly enhance the university’s vision of integrating faith in learning, leading and serving,” Hunter said.
The new school of Christian studies will offer a B.A. in Christian studies and a B.A. in student ministry (formerly youth ministry). The school will also offer a B.A. in Christian studies with an emphasis in biblical languages.
Students will also have the opportunity to choose between minors in Christian worldview and apologetics or missions and church planting.
CSU trustee Sonny Holmes, pastor of Northwood Baptist Church in North Charleston, noted the strength of the school’s Christian studies faculty and the “ideal environment” of Charleston “for gaining real-world experience about ministry and missions. It contains two Moslem mosques and three Jewish synagogues, among other non-Christian religious sites,” he said.
All faculty members in the school of Christian studies will teach in the Baptist tradition and affirm important expressions of belief such as the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy, Bryant said.
“Along with a firm commitment to important affirmations of the Christian faith, we will seek to be intentional in discipling our students that they may in turn disciple others,” he said. – CSU