Scripture and Witness: Reliance upon the Scripture as the Word of God and the indispensable role of biblical truth for faith and ministry; communication of the message of the Bible centered in the proclaimed gospel, addressed in relevant terms to contemporary culture, and reflected in the tasks of preaching, teaching, and witness that lead to such competencies as:

• To engage reading strategies in the use of Scripture that enhance personal growth, critical awareness, and lifelong learning
• To appropriate the historic witness of the Scripture in its ancient setting by adequate study of the literature, history, and culture of the Bible
• To access the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Scripture using linguistic skills to prepare biblical sermons and to teach biblical content
• To expound the meaning of biblical texts using proper methods and principles of exegesis informed by historic Christian practice and responsive to current needs
• To interpret diverse portions of the biblical canon in terms of the whole of Scripture, seeking unity between the two testaments, so that the Bible may function properly in theological reflection and worship by the church
• To construct and deliver sermons that are biblical and homiletically sound, setting a program of self-critique for improvement and interchange with those who hear
• To communicate biblical truth through preaching, teaching, writing, and personal witness, or through music, worship, and other appropriate modes