Urshan Graduation School of Theology is United Pentecostal in teaching and practice, serving the global Apostolic community. As a seminary, we are committed to the following:
Scriptural Fidelity
Urshan Graduate School of Theology believes that God, who is holy, calls each of us into relationship with Him. As an expression of this call, God has revealed Himself and His will in the Bible. The scriptures of the Old and New Testaments take precedence over mere human experience, tradition and reason and are therefore our infallible standard for faith and practice. UGST values scholarship, practices, attitudes, and lifestyles that seek to remain faithful to the Scripture. We believe in covenanting with a community of believers to study God’s Word, pursue God’s holiness, and live in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Spirit Empowerment
Corporately and individually we acknowledge our dependence on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All worthwhile human endeavors are enhanced by submission to, reliance upon and cooperation with the Holy Spirit. His wisdom and direction are essential for consistently making right decisions concerning our lives and practices. Urshan Graduate School of Theology is committed to the proper manifestation of spiritual gifts (including the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, gift of faith, gifts of healings, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues) in the lives and worship of the Urshan community. We seek to discover, acknowledge, and prepare individuals to fulfill spiritual callings to servant-leadership in the church (including apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers).
Personal Integrity
As a place where the Spirit continually calls individuals as well as communities to respond to God’s invitation to be holy, Urshan Graduate School of Theology is committed to fostering integrity. UGST values the Spiritual fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) as guiding principles of personal and institutional decision making. This commitment has the effect of blending and overlapping all areas of seminary life. UGST does not view as distinct its responsibilities to academic and spiritual growth in the classroom, in the home and in the church. We value the integration of the intellectual and spiritual dimensions of each discipline we teach and the practical application of principles to life and ministry.
Cultural Diversity
Urshan Graduate School of Theology values human diversity. We seek to promote awareness of the diversity of race, ethnicity, and culture within the human family, and assist students in gaining the particular knowledge, appreciation, and openness needed to live and practice ministry effectively in changing cultural and racially diverse settings. UGST promotes the participation of women and persons of racial/ethnic minorities in institutional life.
Scholarly Collegiality
The Urshan community regards the members of the various institutional constituencies as essential for the success of the academic enterprise. Collegiality incorporates mutual respect for similarities and for differences in background, expertise, judgments and assigned responsibilities; and involves mutual trust and shared governance. Collegial governance allows the academic community to work together to find the best answers to issues facing the seminary. Collegial governance assigns primary responsibility to the faculty for the educational functions of the institution in accordance with basic policy as determined by the Board of Trustees. Further, Urshan Graduate School of Theology values the benefits derived from cooperating with other schools of different theological perspectives on common tasks that benefit the broader community of theological schools.
Academic Quality
Urshan Graduate School of Theology values the pursuit of academic excellence. We desire to equip the faculty and students to pursue the highest level of scholarly achievement to which they are individually capable. We believe that the academy is a component of the church; that academics must be realized in relationship to the local congregation. We value engagement in ministry and worship within the context of the church as an integral part of quality scholarship.
Servant Leadership
Urshan Graduate School of Theology is committed to the development of the personal, spiritual, and professional leadership skills and competencies of its faculty and students. All believers are called to service. Christian leadership flows first from the desire to be a servant. Servant-leadership seeks to unselfishly develop the potentials of others. Those called to leadership within the body of Christ are to prepare the saints for the work of the ministry. Leadership, therefore, is worked out within the context of the church and the world.