A 1980 graduate of Geneva College, Dr. Smith was named president of the school in 2004. He is Geneva’s chief executive officer and works to build support for the college as well as advocate for Christian higher education in general. Dr. Smith also serves as liaison between Geneva’s board of trustees and the school’s faculty, students and staff. He is a member of the College Hill RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa.

What is the purpose of Christian education?

The purpose of Christian education, I believe, is articulated best in The Foundational Concepts of Christian Education, a longstanding document prepared by a joint committee of Geneva’s Board of Corporators and Board of Trustees that serves as our philosophical touchstone: “It is the purpose of Christian education to seek the realization of the potential of the individual as the image of God through the development of God-given capacities.” Mankind was created to glorify God, so students can only achieve their full potential by devoting their talents and abilities to His glory. As Christian educators, we want students to develop the awareness that all of creation is related to God and redeemed through Christ and then take this knowledge out into the world as they go about the work of building the kingdom of God.

At Geneva, we want our graduates to be like the sons of Issachar, “men who understood the times with knowledge of what Israel should do” (1 Chron. 12:32). They should understand the times in which they live, and know how Christ’s church should live in these times. This brings about a holistic understanding, acknowledging at a deep level that everything—including all of life—is claimed by Christ.

What is your response to critics who characterize Christian scholarship as academically inferior?

Again, I draw from Foundational Concepts: “God in His goodness has bestowed upon us the ability to discover and use truths about the universe, which may be learned irrespective of a person’s spiritual relationship with Him. In seeking to understand the truth of the universe in all of its dimensions, we are responsible to use every faculty and effort, but the facts of the universe can be understood in the fullest sense only when viewed in relationship to God.” The bottom line is that Christian scholarship and education hold the promise of a superior education, because they focus on God and His works. A secular education can never reach the potential of a Christian education because it is based on an atheistic lie. But a Christian education that ignores God’s works in and through creation, that fails to pursue the cultural mandate, also fails to achieve its potential and may be inferior in this regard to a secular education.

Thus, it is imperative for a Christian education to be academically rigorous in its content and delivery. It is a falsehood to argue that Christian scholarship is inferior because it is Christian, just as it is a falsehood to argue that a secular education is superior because it is not Christian. So, Geneva is committed to superior Christian education: grounded in God’s truth and strong in its understanding of God’s Word and works. This is why we need to demonstrate the strength of our education using real outcomes that demonstrate our students can compete in the world. I believe that we’ve been successful in this endeavor. For example, 94 percent of our graduates secure employment or enter graduate school within 6 months of graduation. Our engineering department is accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). Geneva elementary education graduates have one of the highest first-time pass rates for teacher certification in Pennsylvania. There are many more examples of the excellence demonstrated by our programs and students.

How does Christian higher education prepare students for kingdom service?

I’ll refer again to 1 Chronicles 12:32. Understanding the times and knowing how to live in them gives students a “kingdom mindset” and is an excellent preparation to do good work. Students at Geneva get a strong degree and professional preparation to serve. Many have excellent preparatory experiences—internships, mission trips, team experiences, mentoring, and the like—to prepare them for service. Most importantly, they develop a kingdom perspective and a sense of God’s call.

In what ways does Geneva College affirm its Christian identity?

From our publications and recruiting materials, to our academic content, to our communications to alumni, to our web site, Geneva’s Christian commitment is evident. The Bible is integrated in the college seal and Christ is included in our motto, Pro Christo et Patria (For Christ and Country).

Required biblical studies courses are central to our integrated curriculum, and the kingdom mindset is developed in every classroom. Faculty members are required to write a paper demonstrating a biblical perspective on and in their disciplines as part of the tenure process, and Geneva has a profession of Christian faith requirement for all administration, faculty, and staff.

What is the benefit to students of Geneva’s liberal arts core?

As stated in Foundational Concepts, “The goal of Christian education is the development of mature students who, as individuals, have well-integrated personalities; and who, as well-oriented members of society, are building the kingdom of God in the family, the church, the nation and the world.”

The purpose of Christian education is not to get a “good job,” although we trust it will prepare our students to do good work. The liberal arts foundation contributes to our students’ understanding and enjoyment of God’s creation in its cultural richness, understanding of creation’s coherence, how everything relates to God—preparing students to be productive and contributing members of society at multiple levels.

What impact does the Reformed perspective have on Geneva’s curriculum, faculty and students?

A Reformed perspective provides the strongest foundation for Christian education in that it is holistic and all-encompassing. Jesus said, “All authority has been given unto me, in heaven and on earth.” There isn’t anything that is not under His mediatorial kingship. Thus, our Christian world view or kingdom perspective is pervasive.

There are many institutions that appear somewhat dualistic: They are “Christian,” and they provide an “excellent education.” But other than the fact that they have Christians teaching the courses, the classes differ little from what one would receive from a secular institution. At Geneva, we are focused on how God’s Word informs our understanding and study of every discipline—and we’re good at it.

This is true not only in the classroom. We engage the creation-fall-redemption-restoration motif in every aspect of student life, even beyond academics. It influences student development, residence life, and athletics. As we understand everything to be under the mediatorial kingship of Christ, so our Reformed perspective is pervasive on campus.

How does Geneva remain consistent with its Reformed heritage?

Geneva College maintains a strong relationship to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. The church appoints our corporators who, in turn, elect our trustees. In addition, the office of the president of the college as well as other key positions must be held by members of the RPCNA.

Furthermore, when developing Geneva’s five-year strategic plan in 2009, we made one of our strategic priorities to clarify and strengthen Geneva’s identity and educational program as a Christian college in the Reformed tradition. Part of this effort is the President’s Commission on Geneva’s Reformed Identity, which should produce its initial white paper before the end of this academic year. Once published, we trust this paper will kick off a wider conversation on this very question.

What is the future of Christian education at Geneva College?

In my inaugural address, I stated that my dream is for Geneva to become known for setting the standard in Christian education. I want people to look to us to see how, not only Christian education, but education in general, should be done. When people look at Geneva, they should see a fully integrated curriculum that is centered on knowing God and His redemptive purpose, faculty and students whose scholarship impacts the broader academic community, programs and activities that prepare students to serve in the kingdom of God, and a grace-filled Christian community. And as we move forward, we hope to further clarify and strengthen this commitment.

—Greg Wise