The motto of Faith, Reason, and Justice, coined by President David Black, has served Eastern as an identity marker for over 20 years and continues to shape the mission of our institution.
Reflecting on the origin of the motto, Dr. Black shares, “Before joining the Eastern community in 1997, I asked Dr. Tony Campolo to describe what differentiated Eastern from other Christian and secular institutions. Tony responded with Micah 6:8, that ‘the Lord has shown us what is good: to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God,’ and 2 Timothy 2:15, that we are ‘to study to show [ourselves] approved’ for that kind of goodness as a vocation.”
Dr. Black continues, “After joining the community, I asked other colleagues, alumni, and students the same question. My intent was to distill their and Tony’s responses into a short phrase that would capture Eastern's unique character. The phrase that emerged, ‘Faith, Reason, and Justice,’ became Eastern’s motto, encapsulating the ethos of the Eastern community and reflecting the way in which the Holy Spirit calls, informs, and forms students at Eastern for lives of transformational service.”
The phrase became so beloved and descriptive of Eastern’s identity that in 2021, the language was officially woven into Eastern’s updated mission statement, which declares: “Eastern University is a diverse, Christ-centered community that prepares graduates to impact the world through faith, reason, and justice.”
Reflecting on the lasting impact of these powerful words, President Ron Matthews shares, “What was originally our motto, birthed from President Black’s forward-thinking vision, has become an integral part of our mission statement. We are empowered by Faith, educated by Reason, and mobilized to work toward Justice, following Jesus the Shepherd who calls his sheep to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the incarcerated, and care for the widows and orphans (Matthew 25:35-36 and James 1:27).”
Looking to the future, President Matthews reflects, “My prayer and commitment is that Eastern University will be faithful to our mission of Faith, Reason, and Justice in our distinctive space in Christian Higher Education, and that Eastern will generously and positively impact the world until the glorious day of Jesus’ return.”