Mission Statement
Morris Brown College was founded on Christian principles in 1881 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is chartered by the State of Georgia as a private, coeducational, liberal arts college engaged in teaching, research, and public service in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences and professional programs.
The mission of Morris Brown College is to provide educational opportunities in a positive and nurturing environment that will enable its students to become fully functional persons in our global society. The College prepares graduates to live meaningful and rewarding lives, thereby enabling them to make socially constructive and culturally relevant contributions to society.
Morris Brown College, in its commitment to academic excellence, provides experiences that foster and enhance intellectual, personal, and interpersonal development for students who have demonstrated the potential to compete in a challenging undergraduate liberal arts program of study.
Purpose
The most universal criterion by which Morris Brown College and any other institution may be measured is the achievement of its alumni. The College seeks to provide its students with the following:
- An environment that will foster the development of wholesome attitudes and a full appreciation for the cultural heritage of the human race epitomized in the major intellectual and/or cultural disciplines;
- Knowledge that represents a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of the intellectual and cultural disciplines embodied in the Liberal Arts tradition of the General Education Program;
- Experiences that will promote an awareness and sensitivity to the societal structures and processes which persistently provoke the climate and substance of social change;
- An understanding and respect for the ethical, moral, and spiritual values of the Christian faith;
- A set of skills that will equip students to negotiate effectively in the cultural, economic, global, political, and social environments;
- Preparation in the scholarly tradition that will support graduate and professional studies;
- Training that prepares students for active participation as intellectually competent, proficient individuals in a scientific and technologically advanced society;
- Opportunities to contribute to research, artistic and other intellectual endeavors; and
- Opportunities for public service and experiential training to enrich the lives of citizens in local, state, national and international communities.
Name/ Faith Statement/ Core Values
Name
The institution was named Morris Brown College in honor of Bishop Morris Brown, the second consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This name is consistent with the many other liberal arts colleges that are named after individuals.
Documentation:
Sewell, G. & Troup, C. (1981). Morris Brown College: The first hundred years, 1881, p.19.
The college website indicates naming of the college and its founding as a child of the church, which not only determined the institution’s philosophical thrust, but also created a system of support which functioned to channel its early energies toward developing programs to serve the needs of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
Faith Statement
College Seal and Motto: To God and Truth
Faith Statement: Morris Brown College hereby affirms its historical affiliation with the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). In fulfillment of its mission as an institution of higher education, steeped in the foundational beliefs of The AME Church; Morris Brown College is committed to the motto of “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family.”
The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Foundational Beliefs
The Trinity: There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this God-head, there are three persons of one substance, power and eternity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. (Article I).
Deity and Humanity of Christ: The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, one substance with the Father, took man’s nature in the womb of the blessed virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the God-head and manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and man, who suffered, was crucified, dead and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men. (Article II).
The Bible: The Holy Scriptures containeth all things necessary for salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church (Article V).
Creation: (Genesis 1:1) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and all that in them there is; wherefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Redemption: Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again, and amend our lives. And therefore, they are to be condemned who say they can do no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent. (Article XII)
Salvation: We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by faith, and not by our own works or deserving; wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort. (Article IX)
Free Will: The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore, we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God; by Christ presenting us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.
*In partnership with sister institution Turner Theological Seminary at ITC, we host Worship Service Chapel on Wednesdays at 6:30pm and Talk Back Thursdays Bible Study at 6pm in Talbot Hall Dormitory at Turner Theological Seminary.
CORE VALUES
Our core values bind us together as a college and as a community. They are deeply held beliefs which we translate into consistent standards of behavior when working with our students and each other.
- Integrity and Respect: The College manifests an unwavering adherence to strict moral and ethical character and shows an authentic regard for others while practicing civility and supporting all dimensions of the human as a being.
- Diversity and Inclusiveness: We celebrate individual differences and recognize that the inclusion of all is vital for the success of the institution and its ability to support a global agenda.
- Quality Teaching and Learning: We are committed to imparting and gaining knowledge to promote intellectual curiosity in a success-driven environment.
- Excellence: We strive for excellence in all we do. We are committed to providing excellent teaching and service to our students and staff.
- Service to Community: Throughout the College, we support and recognize service that contributes to the benefit of the college’s student body and its workforce, the State of Georgia, the nation and the world.
- Innovation and discovery: We take the lead and adopt a spirit of innovation and creativity in our work. We are committed to building a robust culture of ingenuity through habits of mind and championing of opportunities to improve our educational landscape.
- Collaboration: Through collaboration we multiply our contribution. Together, we are stronger, contributing more with a shared sense of goals and mutual support that lead to greater success than isolated work and individual focus. We operate as one cohesive and collegial unit with a unified and student-centered culture.
- Christian Faith: As a practice, our faith is a vehicle of expression of best interest and intentionality. We are consciously dedicated to the purposeful and intentional expression of God’s revealed truth.