academic calendar 2012–2013 - Candler School of Theology ...

words of Christ and therefore to express
the uniting power of the gospel.
The mission of Candler School of
Theology is to educate “faithful and
creative leaders for the church’s ministries
in the world.” We are “committed
to a community of faith and learning
inclusive of women and men who are
diverse in ethnic, economic, social, and
national backgrounds.” We believe that
we enhance such a community when we
reject negative stereotypes that discriminate
against people of different genders,
races, cultures, abilities, or sexual orientation.
We uphold the principle of
inclusiveness by seeking to express the
equality of all human beings in all areas
of the school’s work and life.
Guidelines for Implementation
We commit ourselves to use inclusive
language in all areas of public discourse,
such as classroom, publications, worship,
and administration. This includes our
classroom lectures, discussions, handouts,
and other materials (except when
quoting historical texts), as well as offi-
cial communications of the school and
internal office communications. We invite
students to join our covenant by using
inclusive language in all written and oral
presentations, including sermons.
We also commit ourselves and invite
students to use inclusive language in worship
events or other public functions of
the school. The worship of the school is
a public event for the preaching of the
word and the administration of the sacraments.
By reading Scripture, interpreting
Scripture, and engaging in liturgy, the
community of faith addresses its theology
to the present situation. In the worship
of the community, Scripture is recognized
as the historic witness to the faith and
becomes the living word of transformation.
The way we worship expresses who
we are and how God works among us
and through us in the world. Inclusive
language helps us frame this public
reading and proclamation. We need to
explore ways to enrich traditional language
so as to protect it from exclusive
patterns of interpretation and inference.
STUDENT LIFE 131