Faculty Faith Essay

Many applicants for our faculty positions are unfamiliar with this type of essay, and even those who have written one in the past may feel uncertain about what we normally expect. Therefore, this prompt is designed to give you some context to understand what we are seeking. For more than a century, Whitworth's vision has been the pursuit of intellectual and spiritual development. Through decades of change, this fundamental purpose has remained firmly centered in the person of Jesus Christ. Our understanding of Christ is based on Scripture, the inspired and trustworthy record of God's self-disclosure and our final rule for faith and practice. As a university affiliated with the Presbyterian church, Whitworth stands within the historic Reformed tradition, but faculty of Christian faith from Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox traditions, are welcomed at Whitworth and find a warm professional and personal home here. Believing that God is the ultimate source of all truth and is to be loved with "all our mind and heart," Whitworth embraces freedom of inquiry and the unhindered pursuit of truth. Therefore, we equip our diverse student body to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity, working for redemption and healing in a broken world. 

In a one-page essay (approximately 300 words), describe your Christian belief and its influence on your life.

This essay is intended to be a statement in your own words that will help the committee to determine your interest in joining Whitworth's community of Christian scholars. Given the breadth of Christian faith traditions represented on the Whitworth faculty, we do not expect that all faculty will have the same denominational affiliation or theological outlook. We seek highly qualified academics who embrace the historic Christian tradition and demonstrate a commitment to and practice of their faith.

Click here to view a message from the provost providing guidance and resources for writing the essay on Christian faith that is requested as part of the application for all Whitworth University faculty positions.