Seal & Motto

SEAL

The open Bible at the center of Geneva’s seal signifies our belief that the inerrant Word of God can reveal a person’s thoughts, no matter how modern. So Geneva says to students, “Take up and read.” And they read God’s plan for the world bound up in the history of one small nation—its successes and failures, its wisdom, and Jesus the Jew who fulfills Israel’s calling to be a light to the nations.

Geneva shares the Good News: that Jesus, the Son of David and God made flesh, died for His people according to Scripture and rose again to be the world’s universal king. Geneva teaches all subjects from the perspective that all authority in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus. We expect students to be courageous because they know Jesus’ promise to be with them, and loving because Jesus’ greatest commandment is to love one another. The Word of God is not bound; the Bible is always open.

Geneva’s seal also displays the college’s founding year of 1848 and our motto: Pro Christo et Patria (For Christ and Country).

MOTTO

College mottos encapsulate founding commitments. Geneva’s motto, Pro Christo et Patria, means “For Christ and Country.”

Geneva’s loyalty to the United States of America is shown through the liberal arts core curriculum, which includes courses in Bible, humanities and political science. These highlight our country’s roots in the Western world going back to Israel, Greece and Rome.

Geneva’s motto means also that Christ comes before country. Before the American Civil War, Geneva was active in the Underground Railroad out of loyalty to Christ and the freedom He brings. The first goal of faculty and staff is to serve and glorify Christ by graduating able men and women who will be light and salt wherever they go and in whatever they do.

Geneva’s motto finally expresses the longing of all believers for the day when the kingdoms of this world will bow to Jesus the King. Our motto is another way of saying what Jesus taught His followers to pray: “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.”