The New Wine Center for Integration and Cultural Engagement (NWICE)

New Wine oversees initiatives with faculty in fostering a distinctive model of integration and cultural engagement for the institution. This model accounts for the dual emphasis of a deep biblical and theological core and diverse disciplinary and cultural connections. This dual emphasis is central to New Wine’s theology of culture, which has developed at Multnomah University over a twenty-three-year period. This model highlights and hones the following characteristics: a charitable and humble spirit that cultivates an informed respect between diverse disciplines and cultures; critical thought that discerns the distinctive merits and respective contributions of biblical wisdom, diverse disciplines, and cultural traditions and communities; and creative efforts that account well for tension and complexity in pursuit of academic integration wherever possible.

New Wine also fosters, oversees, and showcases cultural engagement in the broader community. It takes the interdisciplinary education students receive at the university and features it in the society at large in pursuit of diverse cultural connections and partnerships. Such efforts aim to reflect the love of the Triune God in relationships both inside and outside the church, especially with those communities the church has not engaged effectively to this point.

New Wine holds conferences and forums on and off campus, in person and online, as well as edits and publishes the Cultural Encounters journal and other literary venues to promote and publish on this distinctive approach to integration and cultural engagement. New Wine works to advance strategic collaboration among the university’s various educational domains of college, graduate school, seminary, and online programs. In addition to the various academic disciplines, New Wine also works with departments overseeing diversity initiatives to ensure that our graduates are being equipped well to serve diverse and marginalized communities effectively. New Wine provides opportunities for students to absorb and practice New Wine’s ethos and approach to integration and cultural engagement. 

In partnership with Multnomah University and Seminary, New Wine offers several courses that integrate our core values in theology and cultural engagement in a diversity of ways. These classes include Introduction to Ethics (PHL 302), Theology of Cultural Engagement (GLS 442/IS 642), Contemporary Theology (TH 628), Christian Theology & World Religions (IS 701), Ethics (TH 720), and Studies in Ecclesiology (TH 722). 

Through these various courses and initiatives New Wine helps equip Jesus’ followers with the skills needed to understand and critically assess how to navigate complex ideas and relationships in quickly changing cultural environments in a biblical manner. We are honored that many of the graduates who worked with New Wine during their student years now continue promoting New Wine values as pastors, chaplains, teachers, academics, and authors, in such fields as justice, social and advocacy work, business, and many other domains. In this way they are connecting New Wine’s emphasis on building relational bridges through Jesus to all intersections of life in Portland and beyond.

The New Wine Center for Integration and Cultural Engagement is an official program at Multnomah University and Seminary. Undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students are all encouraged to explore and participate in New Wine’s extra-curricular activities. For more information, please contact the New Wine office at (503) 251-6767, newwine@multnomah.edu, or stop by Travis-Lovitt Hall, Room 208.

The New Wine Center for Integration and Cultural Engagement at Multnomah University is a ministry of The Institute for Cultural Engagement: New Wine, New Wineskins.

New Wine, New Wineskins exists to mobilize local churches and other Christian organizations to share effectively the good news of the Father, Son and Spirit’s just love and peace, foster meaningful dialogue with diverse communities, and identify and serve marginalized populations against the backdrop of increasing cultural divisions.  New Wine provides consultation and training in such difficult areas as race and class, sexuality and gender, faith and science, and religious pluralism.  The goal of New Wine’s work is to help equip generations of Jesus’ followers to extinguish hate, intolerance and misunderstanding and maximize grace and truth for human flourishing in our world today.

Our Mission

Transforming the church's conflicts, both within the church and with the surrounding culture, into opportunities for unity through the Triune God's grace and truth.

Our Vision

Jesus' followers will be known for their healing impact in matters of cultural conflict and their support of marginalized people.

Our Core Values

1. Love - Reflecting the posture of the Father, Son, and Spirit (the Triune God) in engaging culture. 
2. Truth - Articulating a biblical understanding of God, humanity, and creation.
3. Civility - Approaching areas of conflict with tenacious grace and an inquisitive posture.
4. Common Good - Pursuing diverse partnerships in areas of conflict with others from across the cultural spectrum for human flourishing.
5. Advocacy - Following God's command to care for all manner of marginalized people groups.

The New Wine Center for Integration and Cultural Engagement is directed by Dr. Paul Louis Metzger.