Mission Statement

Multnomah Biblical Seminary is committed to the following mission: To develop, through accredited graduate-level education, biblically and professionally competent servant-leaders of Jesus Christ who will positively impact their church, their region, and their world.

This mission is rooted in the school's doctrinal and professional heritage, and is implemented through five educational purposes - doctrinal conviction, spiritual maturity, communication skills, church leadership, and global vision - with their accompanying institutional strategies.

Doctrinal Convictions

Educational Purpose: To develop servant-leaders with strong biblical and doctrinal convictions who:

• ground their worldview and ministry in the inerrant, authoritative Word of God;
• are committed to glorifying the triune God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
• compassionately recognize that everyone sinned and is under the sentence of death;
• hold an unshakable commitment to the person and redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ;
• depend on the person of the Holy Spirit and his continuing presence in each believer to enable them to function as gifted members of Christ in ministry during this age;
• present salvation as given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ to become members of the universal body of Christ, the Church;
• competently serve and are committed to the local church;
• reflect a dynamic expectation of the premillenial return and reign of Christ in their lives and ministries; and
• thoroughly integrate doctrine with experience through a lifelong process of learning as individuals and ministering within the community of faith.

Institutional Strategy: Through exposure to every book of the Bible and all doctrines of the Christian faith, we encourage students to become lifelong students of God's Word. A Bible-centered, inductive, process-centered curriculum with an intense focus on ministry guides students to integrate principle with practice. The mentored internship forges and tests a biblically and theologically informed philosophy of ministry.

Spiritual Maturity

Educational Purpose: To develop servant-leaders with spiritual maturity who

• are actively growing in their knowledge of God and their identity in Christ;
• are deepening, personally and fervently, in their relationship with God;
• manifest a consistent life of personal holiness and discipline; and
• are sensitive to the realities of and successful in engaging in spiritual conflict.

Institutional Strategy: Character development emphasizing integrity in personal and interpersonal maturity is measured by personal faculty interaction and evaluation. Spiritual formation receives additional, specific emphasis in designated spiritual-formation classes and in the mentored internship.

Communication Skills

Educational Purpose: To develop servant-leaders with honed communication skills who

• strive to communicate the Word of God accurately and relevantly; and
• are becoming specialists in one or more of the following areas:
• effective preachers of the Word to larger congregations;
• creative teachers of the Word to groups of various sizes;
• proficient facilitators of small groups, committees, and task forces;
• competent disciplers who are able to build relationships and provide spiritual mentoring; and
• sensitive counselors who are able to discern spiritual and emotional needs, listen well, and guide toward well-being.

Institutional Strategy: Communication skills are as integral to the curriculum as are the concepts to be imparted. The mentored internship requires regular, evaluated communication experiences at various levels. Resident faculty and pastoral mentors model these skills through accountability groups, spiritual formation classes, seminary chapels, and classroom instruction.

Church Leadership

Educational Purpose: To develop servant-leaders with a passion to strengthen the local church who:

• define and personalize God's vision for the church;
• motivate and influence God's people to follow this vision;
• guide the church toward renewal and unity;
• understand the vital spiritual and organizational components in planting, developing, and maintaining a healthy church;
• understand and employ appropriate ministry strategies;
• accomplish ministry through effective teamwork; and
• humbly lead others without manipulation or competition.

Institutional Strategy: Each student develops a philosophy of ministry that affirms the centrality of local church in the context of ministry. Our curriculum fosters ministry competencies for all stages of life. Most importantly, the mentored internship provokes students to experience church life in a crucible that tests these important skills.

Global Vision

Educational Purpose: To develop servant-leaders with a global evangelistic vision who:

• affirm the broader multiethnic, interdenominational, parachurch, and world mission ministries of the body of Christ;
• appreciate and understand how local churches relate to and embrace other local churches within the city, region, nation, or world;
• position the church to impact its community;
• motivate and train individuals for evangelism through personal and corporate evangelism strategies;
• possess a passion for global missions and a willingness to serve cross-culturally, should God lead; and
• encourage the church to a mission partnership through praying, giving, sending, and going.

Institutional Strategy: Biblical and doctrinal competency, spiritual maturity, honed communication skills and proven ministry leadership are essential to mission effectiveness. The annual Missions Conference and regular missions chapels foster a missionary passion. Our partnership with various organizations exposes students to local and global church renewal efforts.

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