Standing with the CCCU

World magazine reports that several other members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) have threatened to quit the organization if, at the end of August, its membership still includes Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) — the two Mennonite schools that announced last month that they would hire faculty and staff in same-sex marriages. Only … More Standing with the CCCU

If Not Marriage, What Is “At the Heart of the Gospel?”

So, to complete the thought that ended yesterday’s post, is Union University president “Dub” Oliver right that “marriage is at the heart of the Gospel?” I don’t think so, and neither does theologian Kyle Roberts: The conservative Christian rhetoric about “biblical marriage” has, for quite a while now, struck me as close to idolatrous if … More If Not Marriage, What Is “At the Heart of the Gospel?”

Quick Thoughts on Union University Withdrawing from the CCCU

When I asked Devin Manzullo-Thomas to write a post providing some historical context for two Mennonite schools becoming the first members of the largely evangelical Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to allow for the hiring of employees in same-sex marriages, I pointed him towards a World magazine story featuring this ominous paragraph: Dub Oliver, president of Union University … More Quick Thoughts on Union University Withdrawing from the CCCU

Mennonites, Evangelicals, and the Sexuality Debate in Christian Higher Ed (Devin Manzullo-Thomas)

Today we welcome back to the blog Devin Manzullo-Thomas, director of the Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan Studies at Messiah College. I’ve asked Devin — whose research often takes him to the intersection between Anabaptist and Evangelical Christianity — to provide some perspective on the decision by two Mennonite members of the Council for Christian … More Mennonites, Evangelicals, and the Sexuality Debate in Christian Higher Ed (Devin Manzullo-Thomas)

Thursday’s Podcast: The Future of Christian Higher Education

The first season of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast was meant to extend and expand the conversation that started with our book The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education, so it’s fitting that the season finale features the same woman who wrote the book’s preface: Janel Curry, provost of Gordon College. For today’s episode, Janel and I talked about … More Thursday’s Podcast: The Future of Christian Higher Education

Coming to Liberty University This Fall: Bernie Sanders

What do these people have in common: Korie and Sadie Robertson of Duck Dynasty, Christian music star David Crowder, Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, conservative pundit William Bennett, and presidential candidates Ben Carson and Bernie Sanders? Yes, all will speaking this fall at Liberty University’s thrice-weekly convocations, “the world’s largest weekly gathering of Christian young people.” One … More Coming to Liberty University This Fall: Bernie Sanders

That Was The Week That Was

Here… • Can a Pietist institution redefine and renew Christian higher education? That’s the plan. • Advice of the week to churches: don’t overlook college professors when filling leadership positions. • Thanks again to Devin Manzullo-Thomas for joining us on this week’s Pietist Schoolman Podcast! • The polls are still open this weekend if you’d like to vote for a … More That Was The Week That Was

Thursday’s Podcast: An Anabaptist Perspective

Public historian Devin Manzullo-Thomas (director of the Sider Institute for Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan Studies) joins me for episode #10 of The Pietist Schoolman Podcast. (You can find it on iTunes or via The Christian Humanist). Drawing on his experiences with Messiah College and the Brethren in Christ Church, Devin reflects on history and higher education at the … More Thursday’s Podcast: An Anabaptist Perspective

Evangelicalism after Obergefell: Reformed and Always Reforming

In the wake of Friday’s landmark ruling from the Supreme Court, affirming that the right to marriage extends to same-sex couples, there’s already been much speculation about what’s next for evangelicals — who constitute something like a quarter of this country’s population but, according to opinion polls, are markedly less likely than their fellow Americans to support … More Evangelicalism after Obergefell: Reformed and Always Reforming