Resurrection Liberty Frequently Asked Questions

In April 2024, Resurrection Church selected Jewell as the home of its first Northland campus to continue the growth of its congregation. Resurrection Liberty will lease office and event space on Jewell's campus. Learn more about Jewell's faith history and this partnership:

Q. Is William Jewell College affiliating with the Methodists?
A. No. William Jewell College is not affiliating with the United Methodist Church.

Q. What does the partnership mean?
A. Resurrection has selected Liberty for a new Northland campus for the continued growth of its congregation. After numerous conversations, Jewell and Resurrection came to believe that the College would be an ideal location for its Northland campus. Both organizations share similar values and believe this partnership could be a blessing to both entities. Resurrection will lease space from Jewell beginning in 2024 and be a welcome partner for the budding work of the Center for Faith and Culture and the Christian Fellows Program. 

Q. Is the Center for Faith and Culture affiliating with the Methodists?
A. No. The Center for Faith and Culture is an ecumenical ministry on campus. The Center partners with numerous congregations including Second Baptist Church of Liberty, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Village Presbyterian Church, Country Club Christian Church and Community Christian Church.

Q. What is the religious affiliation of William Jewell College?
Since its founding in 1849, William Jewell College has rooted itself in the Christian tradition. The General Association (forerunner of the Missouri Baptist Convention) approved a proposal, and the Missouri Legislature granted a charter to found a college in 1849. Named for its key founder, William Jewell College’s relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention continued through 2003, when the association ended over the College’s inclusive support for all students. Jewell’s faith tradition continues to this day with various Christian ecumenical church partners and our 175-year-old historical connection with American Baptist churches. Today, this ecumenical Christian tradition is primarily expressed through the work of the Jewell Center for Faith and Culture and the ministry of the Office of the Chaplain. Spiritual exploration is a core value of William Jewell College, is rooted in the interdisciplinary approach and serves students of all faiths and those with no faith at all.

Q. Is Jewell a Christian college?
A. Since 1849 William Jewell College has rooted itself in the Christian tradition (mostly through Baptist expressions of Christianity). In 2003 the College began a more ecumenical approach to its Christian tradition. Jewell continues to express this Christian tradition through campus ministry, the chaplain’s office and the work of the Center for Faith and Culture. However, the College is not defined strictly as a Christian college. Meaning, the College does not require a person to be a Christian to attend or work at Jewell. There is no doctrinal statement of faith that one has to sign or adhere to. Persons of other faiths, or no faith at all, are welcome at William Jewell College. Spiritual exploration continues to be a core value at William Jewell College.

Q. Is our chaplain a Christian minister?
A. Our college chaplain, Rev. Melissa Bryson Dowling, ’06, is an ordained Baptist minister.

Q. Does our college chaplain serve only Christian students?
A. No, Jewell’s chaplain serves students of any faith tradition and persons of no faith. Our Office of the Chaplain helps provide avenues and space for students of other faiths to practice their faith at Jewell.

Q. Do students, faculty or staff have to participate in religious activity on campus?
A. No. All religious life at William Jewell College is voluntary.

Q. Will this new partnership disrupt the Jewell campus?
A. No. Resurrection’s services will be held in Gano Chapel on Sunday mornings.

Q. What is the Jewell Center for Faith and Culture?
A. Modeled after the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Jewell's Center discerns, articulates and commends visions of the flourishing life in light of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and fosters truth seeking conversations among contending visions in our world today.

The Center for Faith and Culture is the realization of the vision of Philip and Patricia Love. In 2012, after retiring from his role as CEO at Pryor Resources, Phil joined the advisory board of the Center for Faith and Culture at Yale Divinity School and was later appointed managing director of the Center in 2016. As a 1971 graduate of William Jewell College and a member of Jewell’s President’s Advisory Council, Phil believed our community was an excellent place to establish a similar center. Responding to this conviction, he and Patty provided a generous gift and wise guidance for this to occur.

One of the primary objectives of Jewell’s Center for Faith and Culture is to promote and encourage spiritual exploration, a core value at William Jewell College. We affirm that there are many religious traditions that address these issues in faithful ways. Consequently, the Center provides opportunities to learn about these traditions and dialogue with their practitioners. One of the intended fruits of this endeavor is to acknowledge the points of continuity that unite us even as we acknowledge and wrestle with our differences. At the same time, drawing on our Christian heritage as an institution of higher learning, the Center for Faith and Culture at Jewell addresses flourishing from a specifically Christian perspective that takes seriously the biblical claim that humanity was created in God’s image, the mystery of the incarnation, and life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Q. What is the benefit of this new Partnership for the Center for Faith and Culture and Jewell?
A. Church of the Resurrection is one of the largest Protestant churches in the country and shares many of the same values at William Jewell College including Critical Thinking, Spiritual Exploration and Inclusive Communities. Resurrection is a wonderful partner for the Jewell Center for Faith and Culture and provides opportunities including internships, mission trips, educational, musical, worship and church leadership and scholarship opportunities for our Christian Fellows Program (our Center student leadership program).

Q. What other religious partnerships does the Center for Faith and Culture participate in?
A. Currently, the Center teaches Educational Flourishing classes in our partner congregations that include Village Presbyterian Church, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Country Club Christian Church, Community Christian Church and Second Baptist Church of Liberty. The Center for Faith and Culture is always looking to add church partners to our network.

Q. Is there any legal connection between Jewell and Resurrection?
A. No. Resurrection and William Jewell are separate organizations with their own governing boards and bodies.

Q. What is the Christian Fellows Program?
A. The Center’s goal for the Christian Fellows Program is to challenge students to examine what a life of flourishing might look like in relationship to their major, their profession and their life’s vocation. The program seeks to answer these questions: What claim does Jesus Christ make on my life? How can I respectfully and honestly dialogue with people of other faiths and traditions in a civil fashion? What can I learn from other Christians and even Interfaith traditions that will strengthen my own Christian faith?

The Christian Fellows Program will include small groups, study groups, service-learning, internships and partnerships with local congregations, and leading ministries including student-led worship opportunities. While these Fellowships are available for those considering ministry as a vocation, they are specifically designed for students who take their faith seriously, and who desire to integrate a life of faith into their life’s work, calling and career. All Fellows will pursue majors outside of the Center for Faith and Culture and with our new faith and culture minor.

Q. How does Resurrection help the Christian Fellows Program?
A. As one of the largest Protestant churches in the United States, Resurrection offers our students the opportunity to participate in and even lead ministry at a new campus location at Jewell. The Resurrection staff will also be an additional resource for our students as they move through the Christian Fellows Program.

Q. What other partnerships does Jewell have in the community?
A. Jewell has a similar partnership with American Public Square. We often refer to our relationship with American Public Square as a “semi-colon” relationship. We are separate organizations that share similar values that complement each other’s mission.