Hope College | Admissions | Christian Character

Chapel Service

"Hope College uniquely combines a highly regarded community of scholars and a spiritual dimension that has incredible vitality. This vitality is the result of Hope students participating because they want to rather than because of a lifestyle pledge or set of requirements."

Dr. James Bultman, President

Hope College strives to be a place for students where the Christian faith is perceived as inviting, not imposing. Throughout its history, Hope College has enrolled students who have arrived as Christians, and whose faith was strengthened and deepened during their student days. Others have become Christians during their four years at Hope. And still others have enrolled at Hope as people who did not embrace the Christian faith as their own, and graduated unchanged in that regard.

Hope College provides a wide range of opportunities for students to

grow in their Christian faith. The College also desires to provide an accepting, supportive environment where non-Christians can examine the Christian faith and explore its possibilities for influencing their lives in significant ways. Faculty and staff are committed to providing all students the space and freedom they need to make their own response to the Christian faith. With the exception of two religion classes in the general education curriculum, involvement in the religious life of the College is optional for students.

The College's Vision Statement includes the following paragraph: "Hope will be recognized nationally as a leading Christian college, ecumenical in character while rooted in the Reformed tradition. Hope will offer students outstanding opportunities for development in Christian faith through study, worship, and service."

Hope College is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA), a mainline protestant denomination founded by Dutch immigrants who broke ties with the Dutch Reformed Church in the 19th century. Approximately 17% of the Hope student body is from the RCA.

During their four years at Hope College, students see evidence of the Christian faith through relationships that professors and other employees at the College form with them. While having high expectations for its students, the College believes it is also important to extend to them the dignity, respect, and affirmation they deserve as young men and women created in the image of God.

Hope offers an active, highly visible campus ministry program through the office of Campus Ministries. Opportunities to participate include: