Touchstones of the GCU Quest a robust refusal of nihilism, despair, aestheticism, scientism, narcissism and cynicism—confronting a shrinkage of vision writing a different story of hope, creativity, and redemptive possibility seeking out and articulating the deeper, richer meaning of life towards a thicker, more enduring self-identity developing cultural, historical, theological and philosophical literacy through engaging the great minds that have shaped our world, as part of developing an active Christian mind courageous exploration and discovery of hope in community where people conspire together for the good and support each other—constructing a network with the purpose of robust communion and purposeful communication drawing on a rich Christian heritage and Christian scholarship, in order to enter the current debates and tough questions with openness, freshness and confidence focusing on experience of truth and being captured and empowered by truth, beauty and goodness wherever it is found including suffering in our discourse, not as a mistake, but as something God can use to teach us, use for our good and help us discover a deeper calling promoting Christ’s example of humility, servanthood and sacrifice, his vision of personal transformation answering the questions and complaints of the skeptics and cultured despisers of religious faith inviting people into a rich conversation through an indomitable spirit of purposeful dialogue towards truth-seeking and truth-living mining the wealth of Scripture and Christian tradition to empower this dialogue and debate within the university contributing to the university discourse and serving its community with intentionality Vision Statement: Gathering graduate students and faculty in the context of a lively discursive community; promoting rigorous and creative Christian thought; commissioning our graduates to faithful service and creative contributions in academic and professional vocations. Senior members of the academic community are searching for vision, direction and examples of high moral integrity. Academic passion needs direction. They want skill and knowledge development, but also some cutting edge good around which to build life and career. In this context, Graduate Christian Union (GCU) offers a rich array of resources, from the ancient wisdom of Scripture and the history of culture, to current authorities, journals, books and think tanks on various issues. The goal is also to help give a larger world perspective to an individual's specialty through meeting and talking with people from other disciplines. Together with conferences and collegial discussion groups, this helps to create a conversation geared to the development of a robust Christian mind and faith that is in serious engagement with current research, debates and discoveries. GCU is also interested in people with a heart of compassion for human need and a commitment to social justice and environmental consciousness, people with a global perspective. Thus, we believe in the mentorship possibilities of faculty to students-linking faculty and students of like interest and passion-and in invitations of top Christian scholars to UBC for stimulation of the mind and the heart. Can you imagine becoming part of this exciting vision? Thanks so much; we welcome your ideas and responses, Gord Carkner, GCU Staff