Philosophy of Doctoral Education
at Lancaster Bible College
Our Philosophy
Lancaster Bible College educates Christian students to think and live a biblical worldview and to proclaim Christ by serving Him in the Church and society. As such, the vision of LBC is to be a leader in collaborative contextualized biblical higher education in the U.S. and around the world. Five institutional values shape this vision: Biblical (applying God’s Word to all of life), Stewardship (maximizing and multiplying God’s resources), Collaboration (working with others to accomplish our mission), Innovation (striving to give God our best) and Servanthood (serving others to bring out our best). LBC doctoral programs are an extension of the institutional and academic mission and vision expressed through the following philosophy and core values.
LBC’s doctoral education seeks to cultivate Christian scholar-practitioners to make meaningful contributions to the church and society. Our doctoral programs award terminal degrees for experienced practitioners and researching professionals. They are based on the presupposition that knowledge is more than academic. Learning is the practice of using the lens of God’s Word to reflect on God’s world as one pursues the development of a biblical worldview for purposes of refining the head, heart, and hands of a Christian leader. As a result, Christian doctoral education necessitates collaboration and humility (Ps. 25:9; Prov. 15:22).
Doctoral education at Lancaster Bible College is biblical, formational and missional. It is biblical in that it aligns with orthodox Christianity. It is rooted in the historic evangelical movement, from a theological position not a political one. It is formational, employing critical thinking towards the integration of theological and social science literature, specifically cultivating spiritual, moral, and intellectual virtues. It is missional by seeking to impact the local church and society through excellent ministry practices, skills, and research contributions. To ensure fidelity and accountability to these values, it is accredited through two institutional accrediting agencies. A preeminent goal of LBC doctoral education is to raise the prestige and academic credibility of the institution by cultivating educators, scholars and practitioners in their fields.
To accomplish these aims, we are committed to the following ethos:
- Learning and teaching is best done in the context of community by means of critical dialogue and collaborative scholarship through mentoring and discipleship (Prov. 27:17; Rom. 12:4-5).
- Leading requires sacrificial service and investment in people, not the accumulation of power or titles (Matt. 20:26-28; John 13:12-16).
- Being successful is defined by degree completion but more so the enhancement of the Church and organizations within society (Eph. 4:12-14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).
The following aims frame our doctoral programs:
- Excellent Christian Scholarship that Impacts Church and Society
We value academically rigorous programs that foster excellent Christian scholarship for the benefit of the church and society. We desire to collaborate with peer institutions across the globe, and receive approval from premier accreditation agencies in theological and higher education (i.e., Middle States, ABHE, PDE, CCCU & ATS). - Integration of Theory and Practice for All Vocational Callings
We value the integration of theory and practice to advance the development of diverse vocational callings through effective learning, teaching, and writing (Ezra 7:10). - Global and Diverse Faculty, Students, and Contextualized Curricula
We value global and diverse faculty and students who engage in contextualized learning and teaching that promotes understanding and the application of knowledge and skills to diverse environments. We pursue diversity in ethnicity, gender, denominational affiliation and vocational calling as a reflection of biblical principles articulated in Galatians 3:7-9, 26-29 and Revelation 7:9. - Collaborative, Cohort-based Community of Christian Scholars
Because Christ established the church (Matt. 16:16-19) and calls his body to a life focused on one another (e.g., Romans 12:16, 13:8; James 5:17), we value teaching and learning that is done in intentional community. We are committed to creating environments and experiences that promote collaboration and mutual support. - Academic Success and Personal Mentorship for Kingdom Impact
Following a pastoral care model, we value the importance of academic success (i.e. program completion) and personal mentorship that will result in a meaningful, creative and significant contribution to the leadership of the Christian Church. - Interdisciplinary and Innovative Learning Displayed through Critical Thinking, Diverse Research Methods and Leadership Application Skills
We value interdisciplinary engagement across academic fields, drawing on multiple perspectives, to cultivate well-rounded scholar-practitioners. Equally, we foster innovative learning and application in different modalities that encourages critical thinking (Acts 17:22-23) by using sound research methods (i.e. technological resources, software, and research tools and strategies). - Unique Contribution to the Field of Knowledge and Practice Displayed through Original, Applied or Action Research
We value the importance of making unique contributions to the field of knowledge through original, applied or action research with a depth of content and broad and meaningful application. We encourage the integration of theology and social sciences in this endeavor. As an expression of this contribution, we encourage academic publishing and presenting, namely in the PhD programs and professional leadership and consulting in the EdD and DMin.
6/2024