Renewal has always been a special concern in my study of Christian history and in my leadership. Renewal is, at its core, a return to the “original myth” (or the foundational story or beliefs) in a newly energized way for the contemporary context. Renewal brings new life!

Renewals can go wrong if they ignore that foundational story and instead build a differing story with a purpose that is divorced from “myth of origination.”[1] At that point, the movement becomes a new religion with a new foundation and a new center (as is the case in Mormonism, Eastern Lightening sect in China, or the Unification Church).[2]

However, true renewal is more than simply a restatement of the foundation; it is more than just the same DNA strand. Renewal is a revitalized expression that forms meaningful, life-giving connections within a new context.

Gordon-Conwell is going through such a renewal amid changes in higher education and the Church.

Many of you have been following our story in recent years. Our changes and adjustments are not just about sustaining institutional health, but also about strategic and spiritual renewal. Our call for “One Gordon-Conwell” includes restructuring degree programs and administrative frameworks, further enhancing our spiritual formation offerings, and right-sizing our properties. All of this reflects a return to our calling and a revitalization of our purpose. We are guided by our mission and our four-fold strategic plan to magnify high academic standards, deepen character and spiritual formation, extend global missional engagement, and ensure sustainable operations.

For example, in our appropriation of a vision statement that points toward the future and toward heaven (Revelation 7), we are at the same time rooting ourselves in our past. Why do I say that? Because Gordon-Conwell has always embodied the heavenly vision of many languages, which has been evident in our commitment to the city, to Black church leadership, and to foreign missions and global ministry. Names of pioneering faculty like Michael E. Haynes, J Christy Wilson Jr., and Tim Tennent come to mind.

But we have also always been about proclaiming Jesus, the Lamb who was slain for our salvation. Lifting up the name of Jesus defined our earliest foundations and also our renewal under Billy Graham and Leighton Ford, who served on our board of trustees.

Of course (and this may be a newer emphasis) we, as a community, have aspired to manifest wiping away tears. Many of our graduates go into counseling, pastoral ministry, and mission work in difficult places. We train chaplains for the prisons, pastors who work with underserved communities and the homeless in the cities, as well as all manner of other broken humans, rich and poor, who might need advocacy and healing.

These are foundational truths expressed with new vitality in ever-changing contexts. Thus, the foundation for renewal.

Another dimension of our renewal now is to rethink the need for and use of buildings and property. Property and possessions can be a platform for ministry or a problem for ministry. With so much education online now, our property and expenses are preventing renewal in theological education, being prevented from educating more people as we pour our money into unnecessary or underutilized buildings. Renewal is about people. Property must serve the renewal of our calling (not the other way around), so we are right-sizing our property to better serve our students in person and online for another fifty years and beyond.

Renewal also takes place in worship and community. In the past years we have worked hard to have every student discipled, whether studying online or residentially—by a faculty member or through alumni. We continue to work on our in-person “Life Together” experience on the Hamilton campus, and we strive to unite the seminary through the Wednesday chapel service by inviting others in our community to an online version of this worship experience.

The renewal of our urban program is coming about by gathering diverse evangelical pastors together to pray, think through, and suggest how we can best serve urban communities and leaders of today and tomorrow. Again, rooted in our history, our renewed CUME programming will serve diverse communities and languages by bringing them together to learn from one another, and, like our alumni, become a signpost of God’s gracious unity in Jesus Christ.

We invite you to pray for us—the board of trustees, administration, staff, and faculty—as we seek God’s Holy Spirit to bring about renewal at Gordon-Conwell “for the sake of the nations” as well as the Church.

In the end, renewal is a work of God, not of humans. We prepare the way for it through our own confession, emptying ourselves of pride, control, and personal desires. Let’s pray together, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. . .” even—especially—through Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

[1] For Christianity the “original myth” is the incarnation, life, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ for our sins. Thus, humility, suffering and glory are key elements.

[2] For more information on renewals gone wrong see, “Pathologies of Revitalization,” by Scott W. Sunquist in J. Steven O’Malley, Interpretive Trends in Christian Revitalization for the Early Twenty First Century (Lexington, KY: Emeth Press), 2011.

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist, President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is author of the “Attentiveness” blog. He welcomes comments, responses, and good ideas.