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Diversity & Reconciliation

At LPU, we recognize diversity as an expression of God’s creativity. Guided by the four cardinal doctrines of the Foursquare Church and the diverse voices of our community, we’re committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and equitable campus for all our students, staff, and faculty.

Building A community of Reconciliation

The Kingdom of God is beautifully diverse – and the LPU community reflects that variety. More than half our student body are people of color, and we’ve welcomed students from countries all across the world. Maintaining, growing, and fostering that diversity is a priority across the entire LPU landscape.

All our full-time faculty and staff take mandatory diversity and inclusion training on an annual basis. Students fill out course evaluations that include questions about diversity and inclusion in the classroom. We aim to create equitable systems of recruitment and support for underrepresented students, faculty, and staff – like through our scholarship fund for people of color. Meanwhile, our Diversity Coordinator & Diversity Committee tackle issues and oversee proactive initiatives in order to create an inclusive campus.

Together, we’re building a community of reconciliation by helping students: 

  • Understand diversity, multiculturalism, and justice from a Biblical worldview
  • Develop intercultural skills
  • Broaden attitudes to appreciate the complexity of a diverse world
  • Prepare to cooperate and compete in a multicultural and global workplace

 

Gospel Focused Diversity, Justice, and Belonging

A Gospel-focused approach to diversity, justice, and belonging centers on allowing Christ to reign in every dimension of our lives, and reconciling people to God and each other. Diversity is celebrated, and differences are repaired by the Holy Spirit. This approach fosters Christ-centered unity that serves as the foundation for all efforts towards diversity, justice, and belonging.

Discipleship/spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. Racial/ethnic prejudice, ethnic pride, bigotry, unforgiveness, sexism, and classism are issues of spiritual immaturity and must be addressed by healthy discipleship and spiritual formation culture. If not corrected, these sins will undermine the message of the gospel and our Christian witness to the world. Allowing the Holy Spirit to form our views on these issues is critical to our spiritual maturity. A disciple-making approach to diversity, justice, and belonging ensures community members become genuine followers of Christ by learning to obey everything Jesus has commanded and understanding diversity, justice, and belonging issues from a biblical worldview. In short, this involves learning to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength and to show Christlike love to our neighbors.

Colossians 1:28, ESV: 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Galatians 4:19-21, ESV: 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

1 John 4:16, ESV: 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

God's Mission (Mission Dei) is to acknowledge that God sent his Church into the world as an instrument of reconciliation, healing, and biblical justice.  A mission-engaged approach to diversity, justice, and belonging involves showing mercy to the world by caring for those on the margins of society and defending the cause of the oppressed: the orphans, widows, foreigners, and the poor (Psalms 82:3, Deuteronomy 10:18).

Matthew 28:18-20, ESV: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

How we do justice is essential, so everything we do must be done in love.  In 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul details biblical love and how it works practically.  Here are 14 questions every Christian desiring to do justice should ask themselves before getting involved in social justice.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

DOING JUSTICE IN LOVE

Love is patient
Does your approach to doing justice promote love that endures through suffering and persecution?

Love is kind
Does your approach to doing justice promote compassionate love for your neighbor, including your enemies?

Love does not envy
Does your approach to doing justice rejoice in the success of others, even those who do not share your culture?

Love does not boast
Is your approach to doing justice dependent on God’s power?

Love is not proud
Is your approach to doing justice submissive to the teachings of Jesus?

Love does not dishonor others
Does your approach to doing justice show honor and respect for others, even those you disagree with?

Love is not self-seeking
Is your approach to doing justice sacrificial?

Love is not easily angered
Does your approach to doing justice require participants to remain poised in turbulent situations?

Love keeps no record of wrongs
Does your approach to doing justice promote forgiveness?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
Does your approach to doing justice promote holiness and have a high view of scripture?

Love always protects
Does your approach to doing justice confront oppression and defend the oppressed?

Love always trusts
Does your approach to doing justice give other people the benefit of the doubt?

Love always hopes
Does your approach to doing justice joyfully and confidently trust in God’s salvation?

Love always perseveres
Does your approach to doing justice continue to do good even when circumstances are difficult?

People of color make up:

60%

of our student body

46%

of our staff

50%

of our full-time faculty

Combatting Cultural Sins

Racism, ethnocentrism, and partiality are sins contrary to our Christian values and worldview. And we believe that connection, education, and transformation of one’s heart through the gospel are the tools to fight back against those sins. At LPU, we offer a three-fold approach to helping students develop that cultural competency:

Academics

Cultural Education

Lectures, panels, book clubs, and field trips that give students the experiential knowledge to understand the history, practices, and infrastructure of various cultures

Admissions

Cultural Engagement

Social programs, including music and arts performances, entertainment, and other multi-ethnic social festivals and gatherings

Academics

Cultural Development

Discipleship, mentorship, coaching, and professional development that empowers students to develop holistically, understand, and connect to a variety of cultures and communities.

Code of Conduct

Together, we live, learn, and labor in love for inclusion, justice, and reconciliation.

Our community – in service of God’s plan of redemption for all creation – is guided by our code of conduct:

Office of Student LIFE

Office Hours: 8am-5pm PT, Monday – Friday
Call or Text: (909) 599-5433
Email: osd@lifepacific.edu