Mission

ABOUT PERKINS/MISSION STATEMENT

The primary mission of Perkins School of Theology, as a community devoted to theological study and teaching in the service of the church of Jesus Christ, is to prepare women and men for faithful leadership in Christian ministry.

Perkins School of Theology affirms its relationships to the community of learning that is Southern Methodist University, to the universal church (inclusive, ecumenical, and global), The United Methodist Church specifically, and to its particular geographical and cultural setting in the southwestern United States.

These relationships are sources of strength and avenues of service for the school as it pursues its twin tasks of theological reflection and theological education to the glory of God.

[adopted by the faculty, April 2, 2001]

OVERVIEW OF PERKINS

Students from all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries have responded to the call to pursue their vocation at Perkins School of Theology. Many are entering the ministry as a second career. Approximately 50% are women and 25% are ethnic minorities. Nearly half of our students are married; many have children. While most are United Methodist, more than 35% represent other denominations. More than a seminary, Perkins is a microcosm of our society and our world. We offer you many opportunities not just to observe, but to participate in the exceptional interplay between faith and cultural traditions represented in our community of faith.