During the Conference on Faith and History (CFH) meeting late last month, I had the honor of chairing a session on the role that historians can play in helping institutions during seasons of change. Despite the early start time (8:00 on a Saturday morning), we had a nice crowd show up to hear a terrific set of … More Six C’s of Writing Institutional History
According to many surveys, growing numbers of younger Americans are describing themselves as “spiritual, but not religious” and identifying with no particular denomination or tradition. For example, a 2013 study by Trinity College found that 32% of American college students are “spiritual,” vs. 31% “religious” and 28% “secular.” But according to an article in this morning’s Chronicle of Higher Education (subscription required, … More Hope for (Spiritual But Not) Religious Colleges?
I seem to have this thing for organizations that can be described as “best kept secrets.” At my most sanguine, that’s how I feel about my employer — perhaps our forthcoming book will boost Bethel’s profile a bit. It’s no doubt true about my denomination, which I can’t help trying to explain to the tens of millions of American Christians who … More Non-Covenanters, Meet John Weborg
Have you heard that the first book on Pietism and Christian higher education is coming in January from IVP Academic? Based on the early reviews from an impressive array of scholars, it sounds kind of great… Our friends at Bethel University here invite us not only to think about but to feel, imagine, and even desire to actualize a Christian … More Endorsements for Our Book on Pietism and Higher Education!
With a packed program, timely topic, and spectactular setting, the 2014 biennial meeting of the Conference on Faith and History — on “Christian Historians & Their Publics” — was bound to be a good one, even better than CFH 2012. If anything, it exceeded expectations. Wenham, MA was nice, but I think this is where God meant … More CFH 2014: Teaching and Public Memory
The last two days I was honored to take part in a Christian College Consortium (CCC) gathering at Wheaton College. Our delegation from Bethel was assigned to help lead the Tuesday morning discussion, of what it means for colleges and universities to stay Christ-centered. I’m grateful to our president, Jay Barnes, for inviting me to prepare some remarks stemming from … More Staying Christ-Centered: A Pietist Perspective (My Remarks to the Christian College Consortium)
Summer break is rapidly coming to an end, with our faculty retreat taking place next Tuesday and Wednesday and students starting to move in the rest of the week. But before summer disappears completely, I thought I’d share an update on one of my projects: I’ve mentioned before that this academic year I’ll be teaching our … More Update on Our Intro to History Webisodes
On Friday morning I sent back the index and corrected proofs for The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education: Forming Whole and Holy Persons; Friday afternoon I opened our mail to find said book gracing the pages of InterVarsity Press’ new titles announcement for Winter 2015. And then here it is at the IVP website. I’m … More Now Available for Preorder: The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education!
Another year, another new college ranking system: Using unique measures of educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes, MONEY’s new value rankings will help you and your child find the right school at the right price. I guess whatever Forbes, Washington Monthly, and the Chronicle of Higher Education can do, Money can do better. (Certainly better than U.S. News.) And, for what it’s … More How Christian Colleges Fare in the New Rankings from Money Magazine
Today’s “best of” post comes from late April. It came to mind because I’ll be spending today and tomorrow doing exactly the kind of work that puts me at risk of what Parker Palmer called “functional atheism… the unconscious, unexamined conviction that if anything decent is going to happen here, we are the ones who must make it … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: When I’m a “Functional Atheist”
The Pietist Schoolman 