Our Mission
Candler School of Theology is grounded in the Christian faith and shaped by the Wesleyan tradition of evangelical piety, ecumenical openness, and social concern. Our mission is to educate—through scholarship, teaching, and service—faithful and creative leaders for the church’s ministries in the world.
Commitments
Candler is committed to:
- Scholarship and teaching that are in critical and creative dialogue with the traditions of both church and university.
- The interaction of theoretical and practical learning in the classroom, in the church, and in other public settings.
- An approach to curriculum and to teaching that seeks to enhance and integrate the intellectual, personal, professional, and spiritual growth of students.
- The preparation of leaders to participate in ministries of justice and reconciliation.
- A community of faith and learning inclusive of women and men who are diverse in ethnic, economic, social, and national background.
- An educational community that embraces voices and gifts from diverse religious and theological traditions.
- An educational context and educational goals that are ecumenical and international.
- A dynamic relationship of research and learning with local church congregations.
- The fulfillment of its calling as a theological school of The United Methodist Church.
Mission Statement and Commitments adopted by the Candler Faculty, December 7, 1992
Goals
- To enhance the quality of religious and public life in America and the world by training intelligent, creative, resourceful, ethically alert, and faithful religious leaders for Christian faith communities, including The United Methodist Church, other Christian denominations, service agencies, and ecumenical bodies.
- To help prepare a new generation of superbly prepared research scholars and teachers of religion who will set the standards in their academic fields.
- To create an exceptional educational and physical environment to support effective teaching, significant and influential research, and vibrant community life.
- To participate in the healing of religious strife and to encourage interreligious conversation, understanding, and cooperation by providing opportunities for learning about and engagement with the traditions, practices, and cultures of the world’s contemporary religions.
- To draw even more deeply, in all of our educational programs, upon the resources of metro Atlanta and the surrounding region.
- To secure the financial resources needed both to support and nourish Candler’s present vision and to encourage the continual broadening and deepening of our mission.
- To attract a larger, more excellent and diverse student body with gifts and promise for religious leadership, scholarship, and service.
- To strengthen Candler’s participation in the wider university and to make visible to the Emory community Candler’s mission, educational excellence, and significant contributions to university life.
- To make available to the wider community easily accessible information about Candler and its programs and to present a compelling public portrait of Candler’s heritage, resources, achievements, and contributions.