VWC Receives Reaffirmation of Affiliation with The United Methodist Church (03-03-2017)
President Miller announced that he received official notification of Virginia Wesleyan College's 10-year reaffirmation of affiliation with The United Methodist Church. The College was "approved for continued listing without qualification" in a February 21 letter from Dr. John W. Wells, Associate General Secretary of the Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and Executive Secretary of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. The action follows a November review and extremely positive visit by a committee from the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. The committee was comprised of: Dr. John Russell, Immediate Past President of McMurray University; Dr. Mark Hanshaw, Associate Dean, School of Arts and Letters, at Texas Wesleyan University; and the Rev. Laura McMasters, College Chaplain at Martin Methodist College. The United Methodist Church has more colleges, universities, theological schools, and preparatory schools related to it than any other Protestant church. With so many affiliated institutions, the UMC established the University Senate in 1892 to be certain that these institutions are worthy of bearing the name of the Church. As such, the University Senate reviewed the ways Virginia Wesleyan College meets the four criteria for UMC affiliation as specified in The Book of Discipline: institutional integrity, well-structured programs, sound management, and clearly defined Church relationships.
“Virginia Wesleyan College is a community of faith, learning and service, and we are very grateful for this notification of reaffirmation of affiliation,” says Dr. Miller. “Underlying all that we do is our deep commitment to the United Methodist tradition of education. Our mission takes inspiration from that heritage, preparing students for global citizenry, service to their communities, personal and professional leadership, and lives of continual learning and meaning.”