Stand by the roads and consider, inquire of the ancient paths, where is the good way, and walk in it and you will find rest for yourselves... (Jeremiah 6:16)
Selden College has a particular mission that has developed out of its founding purpose and vision. We are looking for students who are excited about such a vision and mission and whose commitments and values set them apart as ideal candidates who will both contribute to and benefit from such a mission-driven education. As an academic community of Christians we are looking for Christian men and women who are committed to the worship of God, desire to grow in Christlike virtue, and want to learn in an environment where faculty and students seek the truth, and endeavour to understand all areas of knowledge in relation to the triune God who made the world.
Our vision is twofold: to recover the heritage of Christian higher education, committed to three things in combination: the worship of God, the development of Christian virtue, and the advancement of learning. Then, to glorify God in the arena of higher education and thus serve the purposes of God for family, church, and nation by preparing generations of faithful Christian leaders in each of those spheres, not simply a qualification for individual advancement.
Our mission is to graduate faithful Christian men and women who are prepared to act justly, skilfully and magnanimously in each and every office, private and public, in peace and war (Of Education, John Milton 1608-1674).
Justly:Justly: J. Warren Smith's summary of Ambrose's definition of justice (iustitia) provides a helpful summary of what we mean by preparing a student to act justly and so navigate the tension between the individual and the common good. The three elements of justice for Ambrose are: i. allowing everyone to have what is his (be that property or honour); ii. laying no claim to someone else's, and iii. disregarding what is beneficial for the self for the sake of fairness to all (See,Ambrose, Augustine and the Pursuit of Greatness Cambridge: CUP, 2020, pp.145-146.)
Skilfully:To act skilfully in any office is the ability to do whatever job you are given to do well. A Selden College education does not prepare you to do a particular job, it provides you with the skills to adapt and learn quickly in such a way that you can act skilfully in a variety of contexts.
Magnanimously:The ancient virtue of magnanimity (‘great-souled’) as described in Christian tradition has fallen into disrepair in the modern world. To act magnanimously is to not to shy away from the difficult good because it is difficult, but to pursue it with complete confidence in one's standing before God in Christ. It is acting from this ‘ self-knowledge’ that renders one indifferent to the honour and shame generated by others who seek to control how you think and behave.
A Christian academic college is an organised society of Christians who share a common purpose and a common life under the Lordship of Christ. The common life at Selden College will be built around the three pillars of the institution:
i. Worship of God: each day at Selden will begin with morning worship. Psalmody will be a feature of morning worship as we learn to worship God with the words He has provided for us in scripture.
ii. Advancement in Christian Virtue: Christlikeness (true virtue) is the goal and only occurs under the instruction of the Word, the true worship of God, and in classrooms where all things are understood in relation to the God who created all things in, through, and for His Son.
iii. Advancement of Learning: More detail on the liberal arts curriculum can be found on the Undergraduate Page but it is important to note the relationship between learning and worship. Advancement in learning rests on the worship of God and leads back to the worship of God. If learning is to be Christian it must not terminate on the topic being studied, but on the contemplation and worship of God. Alongside these three pillars there will be other aspects of our common life together. We will share a common table at regular times during the term. Eating together is a wonderful way of both building and expressing our unity in Christ. We will also celebrate together particularly notable events within the Christian calendar. So feasting will also be an aspect of our common life together, as we remember and rejoice in God's mighty works in times past.
The work of educating a student requires a unified faculty and staff team. United in what we believe and the goals we are aiming for in the education we provide.
Selden College Statement of Beliefs
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