We, the faculty and students of the Andrews University Social Work Department, strive to be a community joined together in excellence, compassion and a desire to serve others. While each student is not required to hold the following beliefs, our department strives to affirm the following philosophy in classroom, field and interpersonal interactions:
We rejoice
• In a personal, loving God who cares about all persons and gives us
freedom of choice;
• In our capacity to be loving, joyful, spiritual human beings who were
made in God's image;
• In our ability to live in healthy relationships with God and our fellow
human beings;
• In the privilege of interacting in communities where we can
demonstrate God's mercy, love and healing;
• In the transformational power of the Gospel to renew us in the image
of God.
We affirm
• That God loves all people, regardless of race, ethnicity,
age, class, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background, religious
belief, health status, ability, choice or action;
• The life and example of Jesus, who modeled a life of compassionate
service to others and sought to end institutional and social oppression
and improve the lives of others in the here and now;
• That all people possess strengths and are resilient and capable of
love, respect and self-determination;
• The values of self-determination, individual worth and dignity and the
importance of life.
We lament
• The institutional and social pain which humans inflict on one another,
whether rooted in power, religious intolerance or secular philosophy;
• The injustice and violence which pervade our communities and our
world;
• The fear and selfishness expressed in racism, sexism, anti-Semitism,
and homophobia which separate us from one another;
• The exploitation of the earth and its poor for economic gain;
• The ways in which those with power attempt to impose their beliefs and
will on the powerless, whether because of religious or secular dogma,
ignorance, ideology or personal gain;
• The ways we fail to demonstrate consistently God's message of peace,
hope, impartial justice, holistic healing, and unconditional love for all
communities and all others.
We urge
• Faculty to model compassion, Christian servant leadership, excellence
in teaching, community service and research;
• Staff to offer service and support in ways that empower students,
faculty, and stakeholders to achieve the mission of the department;
• Students to carry forward the department's mission with
professionalism, compassion, and dedication to preserve and heal all
God's creation.
• The entire social work department to demonstrate a commitment to
excellence in practice, the mediation of understanding, and life-long
learning.