Andover Newton’s theme for Academic Year 2022-23 is “Leading With Love.” Following on last year’s theme, which was “Emerge, Gather, Belong,” this new focus considers the deeper question of “how?” How will we emerge? What will characterize the way we gather? How will we foster a sense of belonging? As much as we expect to learn through our explorations this year, we know that love is at the heart of the matter. 

 

In considering the image that would depict the theme of love, Dean Sarah Drummond insisted, “No Hallmark! No hearts!” She has nothing against greeting cards or heart images, but in this case, they would not do. There is nothing simple, sugary, or sentimental about leading with love. Loving is costly. It requires those who lead with love to let go of their need to be right in favor of what is good for all. Love necessitates choosing forgiveness over vengeance, and generosity over selfishness. 

 

Yet Jesus tells us that the yoke of love is easy and light (Matthew 11:30). When we consider that everyone is yoked to something, love provides the best guide available for living a life or leading a community. How will we at Andover Newton lead? How will we educate our students to lead? No easy answers are on offer, but one thing to which we can commit is a value for leading with love.  

 

The “Leading With Love” logo design combines two elements, bringing them together esthetically to form a cohesive whole. 

 

The first element is the hint of overlap in the outline of Andover Newton purple and Yale blue. Much like Andover Newton Seminary’s institutional logo, this offers a visual representation of the partnership we have formed – the coming together of institutions with a common mission of preparing inspiring leaders. This slight overlap also evokes an ancient symbol significant at various periods throughout the history of Christianity. The title of this motif used most frequently is the “Solomon’s Knot.” Solomon was known for wisdom and a deep love and appreciation for learning. The knot, itself, incorporates two laces – one representing humanity and the other representing the Divine. The two laces together evoke humanity’s union with God through Jesus Christ, and God’s unconditional love for all of humanity.

 

The second motif imaged in the logo design is the quatrefoil, another ancient symbol with a variety of religious undertones. For Christianity, the four lobes of the quatrefoil can represent the four Gospel authors; the four sections also represent a softly abstracted cross. When one visits churches, cathedrals, and chapels and looks carefully, one might see the quatrefoil hidden subtly (or not so subtly) in stained glass work and carved into the wood of pulpits and pews. In essence, both the cross and the local church are brought together in a distinct and artful way.

 

Additionally, the logo image, which begins slightly faded to the left, and becomes more pronounced to the right suggests movement, forward momentum, and leadership. By combining the two elements above with the visual suggestion of forward movement, “Leading With Love” becomes a holistic expression in creative form.

 

Finally, the lowercase in the logo (though not always lowercase when used in other areas) suggests an incomplete sentence – something still unfinished, still forming. In the context of study, in the context of leadership, in the contexts of ministry and of life, there is yet more to do – more work of the kingdom or kin-dom to be done.

 

We embrace this new logo and design as we move forward into Academic Year 2022-23 and will reflect on it in deeper ways throughout the year, including our time together with the extended Andover Newton community during Alumni/ae Convocation on October 13th. We hope you follow the journey and are inspired to lead with love.