Purpose
The mission and core values of Bluefield University exist to provide a statement of our purposes, goals, and values as a Christ-centered institution of higher learning.
Our Mission
Bluefield University is a Christ-centered learning community developing servant leaders to transform the world.
Our Values:
- We are Christian in outlook, Baptist in tradition, and welcoming to each person.
- We are committed to academic excellence and life-long inquiry embracing the liberal arts tradition through the study of humanities, sciences, professional studies, and graduate programs.
- We are a diverse community characterized by integrity, mutual respect, support, and encouragement.
- We are passionate about helping students understand their life calling and become compassionate, globally-minded servant leaders.
Servant Leadership
Servant leadership is being a servant first, letting the natural feeling to serve others come first, and then through conscious choice bringing one to aspire to lead. This manifests itself in that the servant leader makes sure that other people’s highest needs are being served.*
Characteristics
The ten characteristics of servant leaders are:
- Listening – A servant leader puts the emphasis upon listening effectively to others.
- Empathy – A servant leader needs to understand others’ feelings and perspectives.
- Healing – A servant leader helps foster each person’s emotional and spiritual health and wholeness.
- Awareness – A servant leader understands his or her own values and feelings, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Persuasion – A servant leader influences others through their persuasiveness.
- Conceptualization – A servant leader needs to integrate present realities and future possibilities.
- Foresight – A servant leader needs to have a well-developed sense of intuition about how the past, present, and future are connected.
- Stewardship – A servant leader is a steward who holds an organization’s resources in trust for the greater good.
- Commitment to the Growth of Others – A servant leader is responsible for serving the need of others.
- Building Community – A servant leader is to help create a sense of community among people.**
Best Practices
Five best practices that may help cultivate the characteristics of servant leadership:
- Right Identity – A servant leader puts the emphasis upon listening effectively to others.
- Right Motivation – A servant leader needs to understand others’ feelings and perspectives.
- Right Method – A servant leader helps foster each person’s emotional and spiritual health and wholeness.
- Right Impact – A servant leader understands his or her own values and feelings, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Right Character – A servant leader influences others through their persuasiveness.***
Christians identify Jesus Christ as the model servant leader. Christ shared that he came not to be served but to serve. In addition to living a life exhibited by the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, a servant leader is humble and allows his/her words and deeds to speak for themselves. Ultimately, a servant leader desires to live a life of significance and to make a difference in the lives of others.****
* Robert Greenleaf
** Larry Spears
*** Paul T. P. Wong and Dean Davey
**** David Olive