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Why do we need the Center?
In light of the allegations of unethical and illegal behavior surrounding the collapse of Enron and Arthur Andersen, the business, academic and theological communities have shown an understandable and renewed interest in the development of ethical business leaders. Many of the existing models that operate in business today and many descriptions of so-called "effective leaders" are legitimately being called into question. The time is particularly ripe for a renewed consideration of the implications of a Christian worldview on business purpose, organization and leadership.

Any such examination must be holistic and dynamic. It must encompass "big picture" issues such as the theological purpose of business, the role of profit, the responsibilities of corporate managers and the like. It must also address organizational issues ranging from management structures, practices and cultures to employment policies and leadership styles. At the individual level, it should address pressures that tempt employees to engage in unethical behaviors and provide for the development of "resistance" strategies. Tentative conclusions and models that address these concerns must be developed through an ongoing dialogue between representatives of the business, academic and theological communities. These conclusions and models must be empirically tested "on the ground" and the results of such tests disseminated to the broader community.

The School of Business and Economics at Seattle Pacific University is uniquely well-suited to initiate this dialogue. It combines the academic rigor now reflected in its prestigious AACSB accreditation with its long-standing tradition of approaching the business school curriculum through the lens of Christian faith, values and ethics. Much of this needed dialogue is already underway in SPU classrooms and in scholarly writing by members of the SBE faculty.

The establishment of a Center, however, can significantly "round out" SBE's contribution to these issues. By more deliberately connecting the business and theological communities, the Center can deepen the level of discourse and ensure greater alignment between business practices and kingdom values. By extending the dialogue beyond professors and students, the Center can capture the practical, on-the-ground experience of business leaders. By funding research and gathering empirical data, the Center can facilitate careful testing of models and theories to ensure that concepts developed in the academy have "real-time" applications.