Our Heritage
A foundation of faith, a legacy of excellence, and a future of hope
Rooted in Faith, Growing in Purpose
For 50 years, Concordia University Irvine has been guided by an unwavering commitment to Christ’s Great Commission and the Lutheran intellectual tradition. What began as a vision among Southern California Lutherans in the 1950s has flourished into a thriving Christian academic community that prepares wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens to serve the world. Our heritage isn’t just our history — it’s the living foundation of who we are today and who we’re becoming tomorrow. Discover the beliefs, values, and convictions that shape every aspect of life at Concordia.
Our Mission
Concordia University Irvine, a comprehensive Lutheran Christian university guided by Christ’s Great Commission, develops wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens to serve society and the church.
Lutheran Christian
Concordia is proudly affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a Lutheran intellectual tradition that shapes everything we do.
To Serve Society and the Church
Concordia prepares students for career, family, congregation, community, citizenship, leadership, and service, for all of life’s callings.
Guided by Christ’s Great Commission
Concordia exists to teach, form, and bear witness to Christ, welcoming students to hear the Gospel, ask honest questions, and explore faith without coercion.
Wise, Honorable, and Cultivated Citizens
Concordia forms graduates who think clearly, act with integrity, and serve their neighbors with skill and humility, rooted in Martin Luther’s vision for wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens.
Core Convictions
Concordia University Irvine serves our students, colleagues, and community by being:
Gospel-Centered
The faculty and staff, guided by God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions, welcomes all qualified students who are willing to engage with its mission and proclaims God’s grace in Christ to each person.
Faithfully Relevant
Concordia offers exceptional, rigorous, holistic, and sought-after programs in the liberal arts and professional studies, rooted in the Lutheran intellectual tradition, that prepare servant leaders who proactively address the contemporary needs of the church and the world.
Sustainably Excellent
Concordia invests its resources of time, talent, and treasure in wise and sustainable ways by empowering each faculty, staff, and student to live out their vocations and to support the ongoing excellence and fulfillment of the university’s mission.
Courageously Loving
At Concordia, all are called to love one another, forming a community that faithfully cultivates humility and responsibility, fosters honest and charitable conversations, and offers a path to personal growth that equips students for lives of service in a diverse world.
Relentlessly Hopeful
Concordia is ever hopeful as it carries out its mission in the face of the world’s challenges. Our hope is rooted in the confidence that God in Christ has reconciled the world to himself and that Christ is the Lord of all creation.
What We Believe and Confess
At Concordia University Irvine, we believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and we subscribe to the 3 Ecumenical Creeds (Apostle’s, Nicene, and Athanasian), as well as the Lutheran Confessions as accurate statements regarding the truth of God’s Word.
We believe in the one true God, who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit. We believe that humankind, created perfectly, went against God’s will and brought sin into the world. Since then, all people have inherited that sin and are born sinful. We believe that people cannot save themselves by their good works. We believe that in order to save us, God sent His Son into the world. Jesus is both true God and true man. He lived to fulfill God’s Law for us, died on the cross to pay the penalty that our sins deserved, and rose from the dead so that we might have eternal life. He ascended into heaven and will come again to take all believers to Himself. We believe that because of Jesus’ death, God declares a person righteous and forgiven.
All those who believe in Jesus as Savior will be saved. We believe that this faith in Jesus is a gift of God, given by the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe that God uses His Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper to apply His grace and forgiveness to us. Our worship, therefore, centers around these things.
Grace Alone, Faith Alone
God’s Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone.
Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. Our best efforts can never be good enough to earn salvation, but God declares us righteous for Christ’s sake. We receive that grace through faith alone. God even gives us the faith that trusts him. We are not saved by obeying a list of do’s and don’ts, but by grace through faith in Christ. Our salvation is in God’s hands. That’s Good News: the Gospel.
Our response to God’s grace is a cornerstone of our life together as a Christian academic community. Free from sin (not free to sin!) we are invited to live out our faith with thankful hearts, eager to share the Gospel with others.
We want our community to be involved — and there is plenty to involve you. Chapel and Bible studies, mission and witness, and conversations with faculty and staff all give expression to faith. We conduct local, regional, and international mission and service projects. You won’t be forced to do these things, but you will be invited. Once you’ve seen the impact you can make on the world by sharing your faith and kindness, you’ll understand the power of service.
At Concordia, you can grow and your relationship with God can blossom in ways you’ve never dreamed. This is experienced in a committed Christian academic community. All of our faculty and staff are Christians. They join students in worship, discipleship, service, and exploring the interaction of faith and learning. Your faith can be expressed in all of these things. That’s living God’s grace alone through faith alone.
Faithful to the Lutheran Tradition
“You cannot prepare a more dependable treasure for your children than an education in the liberal arts.”
These were the words of Martin Luther, spoken 500 years ago. Concordia University Irvine is committed to delivering a liberal arts education in the Lutheran tradition. We hope to prepare students to live as men and women whose Christian freedom inspires and enables service to others. We foster an intellectual pursuit of that which is true, a moral commitment to that which is good, and an aesthetic appreciation of that which is beautiful.
At Concordia, we are dedicated not only to teaching certain subjects, but to shaping a coherent and comprehensive view of the world, of humanity, and of the God who created and redeemed both. It is this faithfulness to this mission and this heritage that makes Concordia graduates wise, honorable and cultivated citizens. They become citizens prepared to serve God’s world and proclaim God’s word.
Our Lutheran tradition fosters a welcoming environment. Concordia is for anyone who believes they have been called by Christ, as well as all others who are willing to engage with our mission. We honor others by welcoming them, allowing them the freedom to interpret and come to their own conclusions.
Lutheran Higher Education Explained
Discover how our faith and what we believe is integrated into our academic programs and initiatives across the university.
Part 1: A Summary of Faith
Our Mission
Our mission statement states that we are guided by Christ’s Great Commission. Since the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) includes teaching everything Christ has commanded, we understand this to encompass the entire teaching of Holy Scripture. The Bible is the source of our theology. We believe that the Lutheran Confessions are drawn from Scripture and provide a faithful exposition of Biblical truth. These sources are the authoritative exposition of our faith. This statement is a brief summary of this biblical faith.
Our Relationship with Other Christians
We believe, teach, and confess historic, biblical Christianity, applying it in a modern world. That biblical faith was believed and proclaimed in the early church. It was confessed and articulated by the faithful at the time of the reformation. It remains an ongoing, vital confession today.
We believe that all Christians are part of the one true Church. We rejoice in the common teachings that unite all believers in the truth of God’s Word even as we recognize the existence and seriousness of differences that remain in various Christian groups and denominations.
Salvation
We believe that the central and most essential teaching of Christianity is the doctrine of justification. Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, became incarnate as a true human being. By His holy life, innocent suffering and death and bodily resurrection, He has reconciled the world to God. We believe that all who receive Him receive the benefits that He has won for us by His work: namely the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone, apart from human works or merit (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The Triune God
We believe that Jesus Christ, along with the Holy Scriptures, reveals the nature of God to us. We believe that there is only one God in three coeternal and coequal persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Holy Scripture
We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and is the only infallible source of doctrine, life, and practice (2 Timothy 3:15-17). We believe that God’s Word reveals His holy Law not so that we can save ourselves, but so that we see the need for our salvation in Jesus Christ. We believe that God’s Word also reveals His Gospel – the good news that we are forgiven for Christ’s sake.
Humanity
We believe that God created humanity, male and female, in His image (Genesis 1:26) and that man and woman are intended for one another. We furthermore confess that God has established marriage as an institution between one man and one woman exclusively (Mark 10:6-9). We also believe that all humans, except for Jesus Christ, have fallen into sin from which they cannot free themselves. All peoples, races, and both sexes are united in these truths. Likewise, we believe that Jesus Christ has come to be the Savior of all. The Gospel allows us to make no distinction in the value or significance of any person. “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace” (Romans 3:22-24).
We believe that Christians experience overlapping realities in this life. As the redeemed children of God, we stand before Him in Christ’s righteousness. We are now holy and righteous people because of Christ. At the same time, by our own acts and nature, we are sinners in constant need of His grace. In this life, we live as saints and sinners each day (Romans 7:14-25).
The Means of Grace
We believe that God has promised to bless us as we use the means of grace in faith and according to His institution. We believe that the Gospel is the power of God to salvation, (Romans 1:17) that Baptism gives us His forgiveness and incorporates people of all ages into His family (Romans 6:3-8), that God calls His church to forgive sins in the name of, and on account of the work of Jesus Christ, and that He feeds us with Christ’s body and blood for our forgiveness in the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).
The Christian Life
We believe that the Christian life is a life of faith and a response of Thanksgiving and gratitude to God. The child of God seeks to grow in faith and in service to others. Yet Christianity is not a matter of behavior, but of faith. This faith results in changed behavior but is not defined by this response.
The Great Commission
We believe that Christ has commissioned His people to make disciples of all nations. We believe that all Christians are called to share their faith with others (Matthew 28:18-20).
Vocation
We believe that God equips people with talents and abilities. Any occupation or interest that is not opposed to God’s Word can be an act of service to Him. While God calls some into vocations of ministry in the church, we believe that God is also pleased when His people live out other vocations to His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Part 2: Application of this Biblical Faith
Acceptance of this Faith
This faith is proclaimed and lived at Concordia. All full-time faculty, at a minimum, accept the teachings of the Ecumenical Creeds, are active members of Christian congregations, and agree to teach in harmony with Concordia’s confession of faith. All staff and adjunct faculty are confessing Christians who promise that their work will be done in a manner that is consistent with this faith. Staff and students come from a variety of theological traditions. They may share in this confession or continue in their own profession of faith as we live and work together.
Engagement with the Bible
In our interactions with students and colleagues, we seek to apply this biblical faith along with our academic and professional disciplines. In a variety of ways, our campus community encounters God’s Word (for example, in chapel, Bible studies, personal interactions, and in the ministry of the campus pastor). We believe that the Holy Spirit works through the Gospel to transform the hearts and lives of all who hear and believe its message.
Acceptance is not Forced
We believe that the Holy Spirit works faith through the Gospel. We maintain that this response of faith cannot be coerced or legislated. Students are introduced to the content and application of this faith and are invited to hear and respond to the Gospel, but a faith response is not demanded of students. All are to be treated with respect and dignity.
“Secular” Disciplines
We maintain that the pursuit of knowledge and understanding in a variety of academic fields is a valid Christian vocation. It is legitimate for Christians to study and teach subjects that are not directly concerned with the Holy Scriptures.
We maintain that serving God in the various vocations that He has given us means that we will strive for excellence in all that we do.
We maintain that human knowledge has limits but God’s knowledge is limitless. This may result in challenges and paradoxes in our understanding. Particularly in such times, Christian scholars rely on the Word of God even as they work to understand their discipline.
We maintain that it is legitimate to explore and learn about viewpoints, issues, and expressions that are non-biblical and even antagonistic to biblical faith. Such exploration is necessary if we want to comprehend this world, expand our knowledge, and understand our own position. We believe that Christians should understand various viewpoints as they really are and not distort them. At the same time, we believe that Christians should articulate a response to challenges to the Gospel.
The Two Kingdoms
We believe that Christians are subject to God’s Word and also to secular authority. On this basis, we maintain that our relationships on and off-campus may be guided by the Scriptures in some situations (for example, in chapel, Bible study, or spiritual counsel) and by laws and regulations in other relationships (for example, in residence hall rules or policies on alcohol use). As we are a community of human beings, we maintain that rules and regulations of conduct are necessary for harmonious and orderly living together. These rules, though necessary, are not to be equated with the Gospel. Compliance with rules is not a sign that an individual is a Christian. Rather, these rules are applications of God’s desire for order in our world.
Service
We believe that God calls His redeemed children to lives of love and service towards others. We maintain that as we use our gifts and abilities in all aspects of our lives, we fulfill His call for us to be the light of the world.
Our History
The story of Concordia University Irvine dates back to the mid-1950s when a small group of Southern California Lutherans began to plan for a Lutheran college to serve the people of the Pacific Southwest. By 1962 the decision had been made by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to build the new school.
An extensive search for the “perfect” site led to Irvine, California. Construction of the campus began in 1975 and in 1976 classes were held for the first time at Christ College Irvine, the original name of the institution. From a single building and 36 students, the school has grown to over twenty buildings and an annual enrollment of more than 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, and online degree students.
In February 1993, the Board of Regents of Christ College Irvine, responding to a decision by the LCMS to incorporate its ten colleges and universities into the Concordia University System (CUS), voted to change the name of Christ College Irvine to Concordia University Irvine. This CUS, along with the two seminaries, 130 high schools, and over 900 elementary schools of LCMS, comprises the second-largest church-related school system in the United States.
Today, Concordia University Irvine has grown to include Christ College, the Townsend Institute, and the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, and Health and Human Sciences.
Experience Concordia
Visit our beautiful campus and immerse yourself in our welcoming campus community.