History
Past Presidents
Battle of Fayette
Our United Methodist Heritage
"Unite the pair so long disjoined – knowledge and vital piety." These
words from Charles Wesley provide the basis for (United) Methodism’s
involvement in higher education. John Wesley, Charles’ older brother and
the founder of Methodism, was the
catalyst for uniting religious studies
with the traditional liberal arts since John and Charles had grown up in
an environment that stressed both religious and traditional educational
formation. Thus the Wesleyan heritage has from the beginning
incorporated both the religious and the liberal arts aspects of
education.
When Jesus was questioned by a young lawyer as to what was the greatest
commandment in the law, Jesus answered: "Love the Lord with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)
To love God with one’s mind implies an intellectual love of God. It has
always been the nature of the church to express itself through this form
of love and worship of God. It is from this understanding that the
Methodist Church launched its involvement in higher education on
December 24, 1784 at the Christmas Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
The newly formed Methodist Church passed a resolution authorizing the
establishment of Cokesbury College in Abingdon, Maryland. This event
marked the beginning of a commitment to higher education by
the church
that has continued for over 200 years. Today in America there are 123
colleges, universities, and schools related to the United Methodist
Church.
On April 13-14, 1853, Central Methodist University was founded by Nathan
Scarritt and David Rice McAnally. The University was chartered on March
15, 1855, and the first classes were held September 18, 1857, with one
building, on one acre of ground, 144 students, and 3 faculty members. In
what was to become a prophetic statement, Nathan Scarritt said: "Let our
motto be, One Methodist College in Missouri, and Only One…" Over the
years, 8 other Methodist colleges and one high school were established
in Missouri. Today the words of Scarritt have come to fruition, as there
is only one United Methodist-related College in the State of Missouri,
Central Methodist University.
Throughout two centuries of church-related higher education, our
"Wesleyan tradition has endeavored to avoid narrow sectarianism." (A
College-Related Church by the National Commission on United Methodist
Higher Education) That is, United Methodist institutions are committed
to values-centered inquiry, critical thinking, and a liberal arts
curriculum. The (United) Methodist Church has stressed four major
concepts that have been the basis for the church to continue its support
and involvement in higher education. Our Wesleyan heritage
and tradition
are defined by these four concepts:
- Education should be available to students regardless of social standing,
ethnic identity, or gender.
- Education should appropriately relate faith and reason.
- Education should help individuals make full use of their capabilities
and experience for service. Therefore, liberal and classical learning is
critical, along with professional and vocational training, and neither
is subservient to the other.
- Education should aim at high standards of student achievement based on
deep concern for what is best for the person. (To Give the Key of
Knowledge by the National Commission on United Methodist Higher
Education).
Today there are new issues and challenges facing all levels of
education. The over 200-year tradition of the United Methodist Church
and what it believes vital in education continue to inform the current
policy of church-related higher education. The United Methodist Church
is involved in higher education because it is the nature of the church
to express itself in the intellectual love of God. The Wesleyan heritage
has supported the idea of uniting knowledge and vital piety within a
diverse community from the beginning. This nature and this idea are
clearly reflected in the statements of values, mission and educational
goals of Central Methodist University.
