Author: Chris Gehrz

Benson Great Hall at Bethel University

A Postscript to My Open Letter on Christian Higher Education

October 21, 2013

Last Tuesday I posted an open letter to American churches, describing what I see as the looming crisis facing Christian colleges like Bethel University and suggesting that one important facet of any lasting solution would be a renewed commitments by churches and denominations to financially support such institutions of higher learning. As I hinted in … More A Postscript to My Open Letter on Christian Higher Education

Gold Top 10 - Sam Churchill

The Big Ten

October 18, 2013

The ten most popular posts in the last month here at The Pietist Schoolman: An Open Letter to American Churches: The Crisis of Christian Higher Education The Value of the Christian Liberal Arts: A Bethel Alum Speaks The Church at the Intersection of Anabaptism and Evangelicalism Eighteen Evangelical Colleges Earn a “D” for Finances On … More The Big Ten

Jyväskylä University

A Constitutional Right to Education?

October 17, 2013

When I teach my Human Rights in International History course next spring, we’ll quickly come to the distinction between the “first generation” of political, legal, and civil rights and the “second generation” of social and economic rights. While the United States was an early adopter of the first, this country has had a more complicated … More A Constitutional Right to Education?

Devin Manzullo-Thomas

An Interview with Sider Institute Director Devin Manzullo-Thomas

October 16, 2013

Today I’m happy to introduce readers to Devin Manzullo-Thomas, the new director of the Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan Studies at Messiah College. Actually, frequent readers may already recognize Devin’s name, as I’ve mentioned his work from time to time — including his contribution to the Covenant Quarterly issue on Pietism that I … More An Interview with Sider Institute Director Devin Manzullo-Thomas

Bethel University: Community Life Center and Benson Great Hall

An Open Letter to American Churches: The Crisis of Christian Higher Education

October 15, 2013

Chris, a Christian college professor and church chairperson, To the pastors, lay leaders, members, and friends of the churches and denominations that founded and still sponsor the Christian colleges and universities of this country: Before today is done, no small number of faculty members at the Christian college where I work will be asked to … More An Open Letter to American Churches: The Crisis of Christian Higher Education

Peter drawing the sword in "The Capture of Christ"

The Christian Liberal Arts, Citizenship, and Power

October 14, 2013

Is a value of the liberal arts that they produce good citizens? Should Christians also argue that such an education helps keep America powerful? As self-proclaimed defenders of the liberal arts like myself set about their task, they trumpet the many benefits of a well-rounded education that includes a healthy dose of seemingly impractical disciplines … More The Christian Liberal Arts, Citizenship, and Power

Crouch, Playing God

Andy Crouch on Power: Implications for Education?

October 11, 2013

I haven’t yet read Andy Crouch’s new book, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, but it’s been hard to miss. An essay on power from Crouch is the cover story in the October 2013 issue of Christianity Today (where Crouch is now executive editor). Borrowing concepts from anthropologist Geert Hofstede, Crouch observes that American … More Andy Crouch on Power: Implications for Education?

Unidentified Paris church

My Talk on Pietism and Off-Campus Study: In Tweet Form

October 10, 2013

This morning I gave the second in a series of talks at the Bethel University Library that will preview chapters from our forthcoming Whole and Holy Persons: A Pietist Approach to Christian Higher Education. My topic was “Pietism from the High Sierra to the Somme: Holistic Education in the Ecclesiola of Off-Campus Study.” This is … More My Talk on Pietism and Off-Campus Study: In Tweet Form