Why Wesleyan? - West Virginia Wesleyan College

WHY WESLEYAN: SPIRITUALAn Abiding PassionContinues in ThisCenter of LearningThere are more than one hundred institutions of higher learningrelated to The United Methodist Church in the United States today.West Virginia Wesleyan has been counted in this number sinceits inception on September 3, 1890. These institutions are peggedtoday as “church-related” because they were founded by MethodistChurch folk, and they maintain a “working relationship” with TheUnited Methodist Church (UMC).In some instances, this workingrelationship is more symbolic thanactual. West Virginia Wesleyan has asymbiotic relationship with Methodismbecause it is named after the founder ofMethodism, John Wesley. Wesley had anabiding passion for education, insisting thatall of his preachers read and study. TheUnited Methodist Church historicallyemphasizes on the importance of highereducation and learning. Wesleyan standsin this important stream of providing adynamic liberal arts educational opportunity.Wesleyan was founded as a “seminary”by the West Virginia Annual Conferenceof the former Methodist EpiscopalChurch. The founding principles wereto provide a center of learning, and toprovide educated leaders for the Church.The College later became a center ofhigher liberal arts education for WestVirginia students as well as regional andinternational students.Wesleyan matters as a church-relatedinstitution for a variety of reasons.It enjoys a dynamic and historicalpartnership with its founder, the WestVirginia Conference and The UnitedMethodist Church. First, this partnershipis maintained in part because all Wesleyantrustees are elected by the Conference.Several of these trustees are active layand clergy members of the UMC.Second, there is a full-time UnitedMethodist chaplain who staffs the campusministry program. The chaplain providesa variety of educational and pastoral servicesto the whole Wesleyan community.Third, Wesleyan is included in theConference’s annual mission and ministrybudget. Also, a number of scholarshipsare made available to students from truststhat are held in the West Virginia UnitedMethodist Foundation.A fourth product of this partnership isthe opportunity for UM cShurches tosend students to Wesleyan. Wesleyan,in turn, provides significant scholarshipassistance to many of these students.Fifth, Wesleyan and the Conferenceoften partner together to sponsor certaineducational events and programs. The8 SUNDIAL SUMMER/FALL 2010