United Methodist Beginning
Rev. Peter Gordon Gould, an Unangax from the village of Unga, was ‘founding father’ of APU when it started out as Alaska Methodist University. As an Alaska Native and as superintendent of the Methodist Church in Alaska, he identified the need for a private Liberal Arts University located in Alaska where young Alaskans, both Native and Non-Native, could get a good university level education so they could be a part of the development of the territory and state. He convinced the Methodist Church to sponsor the university and traveled throughout the country, raising the necessary funds to realize his dream.
Peter Gordon Gould wrote the story of his journey from a young boy in the Jessee Lee Home for Children in Unalaska, through Seminary School, an undergraduate degree from Syracuse, and ultimately the establishment of Alaska Methodist University in his book “The Fisherman’s Son” (Available in the APU bookstore.) Learn more about the History.
Methodist-Related University
Alaska Pacific University, founded as Alaska Methodist University, remains a Methodist-related University. APU is independently governed as an Alaska Native University, yet the relationship continues and allows APU students to access Methodist Scholarships.
APU welcomes students of all religious backgrounds, as well as those with no religious affiliation. We are dedicated to creating a respectful and supportive environment for students of every spiritual, religious, and non-religious identity.
Students are welcome to take religious studies courses, but none are required. Our on-campus chaplain provides activities and spiritual support to students of all faiths or of none.
Religious Studies Classes
APU’s elective religious studies classes are an opportunity to examine and refine your thinking about the deep spiritual questions we all face by entering into dialogue with a wide range of fundamental texts and thinkers. Sample courses include Introduction to the Bible; World Religions; Religious History of Alaska; Death, Dying, and Bereavement; and Theology in Film and Literature. Each course studies questions that are immediately relevant for our lives. Although elective, Religious Studies courses may be used to meet foundation requirements.
Religious studies classes and community events on religious theology are made possible through the Cardinal Newman Chair of Catholic Theology, which was established in 1991 following a generous endowment by the Carr family. The chair was created with the intention of building bridges between religious traditions in the greater Anchorage area. It is the only endowed chair in religious studies in Alaska.
Chaplain & Meditation Space
The Meditation Space is a welcoming haven for all to find shelter on their life journey. This space is used in a variety of ways throughout each semester. Individual study, faith exploration, group connections, relationship building, rest, and meditation are a few opportunities available.
Alaska Pacific University students, faculty and staff represent diverse religious, spiritual and secular viewpoints. The Chaplain creates space apart from the busyness of academic life for conversations, questions, grounding, self-care and faith exploration. All are welcome in the Meditation Space to find refuge, support, and encouragement through the daily ebb and flow of life events and activities.
Through relationships built over time and across campus academic and social activities we are able to respect diversity across cultural, political, religious and other differences. All are welcome here to join in this community.
Indigenous Worldviews & Ceremonies
All students will have opportunities to engage in Alaska Native and other Indigenous traditions that often weave ceremony and the relationship to the land and non-human relatives into ways of knowing and being.
