Category: Christianity

"America" in "The Choir" (1833)

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Brief History of Patriotism in American Hymnals

September 23, 2013

Now that we’re into the academic year and I’m both busier and readership is up, I thought I’d ease into the week by reposting a couple of pieces that you might have missed during the warmer months. I’ll start with a three-part series from July. Which patriotic hymns are most popular? Have they changed over … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Brief History of Patriotism in American Hymnals

Entrance to LeTourneau University

Well-Paid (or Meaningful) Work as a Measure of Higher Education

September 18, 2013

Well, my vow not to parse any more college rankings lasted about five weeks. Right up until… wait for it… Now. Last week the New York Times highlighted a website called PayScale.com, which released its annual ranking of just over a thousand American colleges and universities. Here’s the hook: PayScale doesn’t look at reputation (U.S. News) … More Well-Paid (or Meaningful) Work as a Measure of Higher Education

Cover of the Covenant Quarterly

Announcing a New Issue of The Covenant Quarterly on Pietism

September 17, 2013

I’m honored to announce the publication of a theme issue of The Covenant Quarterly, guest edited by my colleague Christian Collins Winn and myself, that features articles on the historical and contemporary significance of Pietism. If you’re not familiar with it, The Covenant Quarterly is published by the Evangelical Covenant Church through its seminary, North … More Announcing a New Issue of The Covenant Quarterly on Pietism

Zwemer Hall at Northwestern College (IA)

Declining Denominational Support for Evangelical Colleges?

September 17, 2013

To what degree do Protestant denominations continue to support the colleges and universities they founded? Even setting aside schools whose historic Christian identities are now nominal, what of institutions in a consortium like the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU)? While some of its best-known members are nondenominational (e.g., Wheaton, Westmont, Gordon, Taylor), most … More Declining Denominational Support for Evangelical Colleges?

BGC contributions to Bethel, 1984-2005

Bethel, the BGC, and the Decline of Denominational Financial Support for Christian Higher Education

September 16, 2013

There are lots of factors contributing to the financial crises afflicting higher education in general and my employer in particular. However, since Bethel is a Christian college that has retained more than a nominal relationship with its founding denomination, I’ve sometimes wondered just how changes in Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference) have affected our situation. … More Bethel, the BGC, and the Decline of Denominational Financial Support for Christian Higher Education

Tracy McKenzie

Tracy McKenzie on “Thinking Christianly about the Past”

September 14, 2013

9/14/13 – That Was The Week That Was will be a few hours late while I attend a retreat at church. Meanwhile, let me suggest that you use the time you’d normally devote to perusing my suggested links and instead read Tracy McKenzie’s latest post. It’s not only a model of how to respond to … More Tracy McKenzie on “Thinking Christianly about the Past”

Terrell and Bruce, The Anglo-Scottish Border and the Shaping of Identity, 1300-1600

A Baptist Pietist University Gets Medieval

September 10, 2013

You wouldn’t expect a Baptist Pietist university in the American Midwest to be anything remotely like a hotbed for interest in the Middle Ages, but there’s been a mini-revival of matters medieval here at Bethel University. Leading the charge is church historian Chris Armstrong, who has branched out from his interests in Wesleyan and Holiness … More A Baptist Pietist University Gets Medieval

Sept/Oct 2013 cover of Books and Culture

Update: “Books & Culture” Lives On!

September 9, 2013

Fantastic news from John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture, the Christian review that needed to complete a quarter-million dollar fundraising target by today in order to stay in print: Wonderful news: We reached our goal for @booksandculture : Thank you! Here's a letter from @HaroldSmithCT http://t.co/1PtaGvROm2 — John Wilson (@jwilson1812) September 9, 2013 Thanks to … More Update: “Books & Culture” Lives On!