You may have made Pepperdine your college of choice for any number of reasons — academics, sports, family, location, size or scholarships. Along with these factors, Pepperdine’s religious affiliation with the Church of Christ may have been a principle attraction, a non-issue or a necessary evil. But, regardless of your background, if you are a student, faculty or staff member at Pepperdine, two things happened: Pepperdine chose you, and you chose Pepperdine.
As a private, not-for-profit institution, Pepperdine is less restricted by government rules than a state school, but it is also more responsible for its outcomes and costs. It has greater room to pursue a particular mission or viewpoint that is not state-sponsored — but less room to deviate from methods that will earn high tuition revenues and huge donations. Because of Pepperdine’s heritage and structure, the major sources of opinion and funding will always include significant Church of Christ components.
Every organization on the face of the earth has a certain viewpoint, arising from specific motivations. The People’s Republic of China has a viewpoint, the American Psychological Association has a viewpoint and the Pope has a viewpoint. Anyone who denies that they have a preconceived stance is lying. In the same way, you won’t necessarily find truth and wisdom in greater measure at a secular or otherwise less-religious university. You might, however, compromise your shot at truth if you are unaware or confused about the motivations of your university.
Thus, this column will be my bi-weekly venue of exploring the ways in which Pepperdine’s Church of Christ core influences students and faculty: our academic journey, our quality of life and community and our level of freedom. As a senior who has spent two years as a member of Pepperdine’s touring Church of Christ singing group (Won by One) and part of many of Pepperdine’s ministry initiatives, I know and love some of the most dedicated members of Pepperdine’s religious core and its supporters across the country. However, I’ve also had opportunities to spend a significant amount of time with Pepperdine’s most dedicated academics, athletes, musicians, members of the media and others who are more apt to criticize the religious viewpoint overall.
One of my most esteemed professors describes himself as proof that a “heretic” can receive tenure at Pepperdine. Another friend views the structure this way (with intentional exaggeration): “Everyone at Pepperdine is just afraid that God will smite them for accepting gay people. And by God I mean the Donors.” Another professor utilizes faith-based education as an opportunity to address the way in which faith and science can coincide. Yet another feels refreshed that she can express her faith without feeling the antagonism she has experienced at another university. Many students share this easeful feeling.
In the process of delving into this subject, I’ll be interviewing members of the Pepperdine community who have varying and often surprising perspectives on the place of faith in the university. I’ll be addressing major topics such as Pepperdine’s treatment of dissenting ideas, its allocation of scholarships and other funding, its modes of building community and ministry and its approach toward convocation and other programming. If you’re interested in expanding or deepening your awareness of the Church of Christ viewpoint at Pepperdine, I hope you’ll follow the column and share your own perspective with me too. This is your forum.
