dean love

Welcome From Dean Love

At Candler we strive to be authentic in our discipleship and relevant in our work. Here, there is a “realness” that makes Candler unique in theological education. This authenticity starts with our people. Like the people of the first century church, we come in every stripe, reflecting and embracing our own ethnic origins, theological perspectives, denominations, political viewpoints, age and personal stories of faith. What unites us is our strong commitment to Jesus Christ and the church.

Our commitment to transforming the world in the name of Christ begins with our deep commitment to serious theological exploration and spiritual growth, and extends outward to a commitment to strengthen the church and its witness and work in the world.

At Candler, we are fortunate to have many of the world’s greatest minds in theological education guiding our students on this critical journey. Our faculty are great teachers who are passionate about engaging students—and our 7:1 student/faculty ratio makes them highly accessible. They are great thinkers, challenging and reframing theological and social thought with their groundbreaking scholarship, research and writings. They are great leaders who are committed to the church, serving parishes, denominational bodies, and communities locally and around the world.

These positive role models shape graduates who follow God’s call and apply their gifts in endless directions. The great majority—70 percent—of our 7,970 living alumni serve as pastors in local churches. Others are called to teach, work as missionaries, practice environmental law, improve access to health care, produce documentaries, and much more, all as part of their desire to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

Simply put, at Candler we prepare real people to make a real difference in the real world. I hope you will come and see for yourself “what’s real” at Candler.

Sincerely,

Jan Love
Mary Lee Hardin Willard Dean and Professor of Christianity and World Politics
Biography