List: Christian Colleges that Promote Spiritual Formation, Wokeism

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Parents, students, are you looking for a list of Christian colleges that have (or have not) signed on with the woke movement?

In 2019, Christianity Today report that Azusa Pacific University, a conservative, Christian college (in a suburb of Los Angeles, founded in 1899 with the motto “God First”), had updated its student handbook to allow “romanticized relationships” between students of the same sex.

A year later, the administration sent out a school-wide notice to teachers asking them to make a “commitment to read, watch, or listen” to resources on “Allyship and Anti-racism.” The recommendations read like an enthusiastic endorsement of Critical Race Theory (CRT), including everything from Robin DiAngelo’s “White Fragility,” to the New York Times’ “1619 Project” to Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be Anti-Racist.”

But Azusa is hardly the only private, Christian institution bowing to the prevailing winds of left-wing culture. (source)

Christian Colleges That Promote Spiritual Formation

In a letter to the editor of Lighthouse Trails Research Project (LTRP), one young student wrote:

“I recently applied to a “Christian” college (College of Biblical Studies [CBS], Houston) after first pre-checking the name of the institution against your list of Christian colleges that promote spiritual formation.

“I thought I was safe since it was not on the list, but boy was I wrong! I recently watched a DVD titled Enemies Within the Church, and I was struck when they noted that woke “Christian” colleges and seminaries focused heavily on philosophy and worldviews rather than Scripture. I was dumbfounded when I heard this because one of the required classes I had signed up for at CBS was heavily focused on philosophy and worldviews.

“This greatly concerned me, so I dug a little deeper and found that one of the professors teaching at CBS actually wrote the book Woke Church.

“I had already been suspicious about the college due to a number of things that didn’t seem right (e.g., my academic advisor had given me a list of devotionals she liked and among them was the book Jesus Calling.) Needless to say, I have since withdrawn from CBS.

“I am writing this e-mail in the hope that you have compiled a list of Christian colleges and universities identifying which establishments have compromised with the woke movement. ~S.M.“

Lighthouse Trails Research Project Editor’s Note:

“Typically, if a college or seminary has been promoting “spiritual formation,” there is a strong chance they are also promoting “progressive” (e.g., wokeism, emergent) ideologies as well because spiritual formation (i.e., contemplative spirituality) leads to progressive thinking. This is the link that, unfortunately, many Christians do not realize exists.

“As we have explained for many years now, contemplative spirituality (a belief system rooted in the New Age) was the “energy” that gave the emerging church its umph. That emerging/emergent church is what is now called the “progressive” woke church. A church doesn’t become “woke” overnight; it happens with an incremental slide into apostasy.

“To understand the detrimental effects of contemplative spirituality, one might read Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing. Also, read Mary Danielsen’s “S is for Social Justice: The Language of Today’s Cultural Revolution.”

“The list below contains the names of traditional evangelical colleges, seminaries, and universities. It does not include names from mainstream denominations (e.g., Episcopal, United Methodist, ELCA, etc.). Recently updated 2022.” (source)

See the current list of colleges and seminaries that DO NOT promote contemplative. 

LTRP‘s List of Christian Colleges That Promote Spiritual Formation (as of 7/24/22):

[Caveat: This is not my list, so I cannot guarantee its accuracy. It would be wise to do your own research into a particular school, so you will know why you are rejecting it. One of the most accurate ways of researching a school is to ask for their textbook list.]

A:

Abilene Christian University (Church of Christ), Abilene, TX

Acadia Divinity College (Baptist), Nova Scotia, CA

ACTS Seminaries of Trinity Western University, BC, Canada

Alberta Bible College (Church of Christ), Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Alliance Theological Seminary (CMA), Nyack, NY

Ambrose University (CMA), Calgary, Alberta, Canada (information)

Anderson University (Church of God), Anderson, IN

Anderson University, Anderson, SC

Asbury Theological Seminary (UM), Wilmore, KY

Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, OH

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Southeastern University (AOG), Lakeland, FL

Azusa Pacific University, Haggard School of Theology, Azusa, CA

B:

Barclay College, Haviland, KS

Baylor University, Waco, TX

Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, AL

Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Bethany College, Bethany, WV

Bethel University, St. Paul, MN

Bethel Seminary, San Diego, St. Paul, East Coast campus

Biblical Theological Seminary, Hatfield, PA

Biblical Training (online), Camas, WA

Biola University, La Mirada, CA

Bluffton University, (Mennonite), Bluffton, OH

Briercrest Bible College, Saskatchewan, Canada

Bryan College, Dayton, TN

C:

*All Christian Missionary Alliance Colleges in the USA promote Spiritual Formation

California Baptist University, Riverside, CA

Calvin College/University, (Reformed/Calvinist), Grand Rapids, MI

Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC

Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY

Canadian Mennonite University, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Carey Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Carson Newman University, Jefferson City, TN.

Cedarville University,(Reformed Presbyterian), Cedarville, OH

Central Christian College (Free Methodist), McPherson, KS

Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL

Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN

Christian University (GlobalNet), ministry of RBC Ministries – online

Cincinnati Bible Seminary (of Cincinnati Christian University), Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati Christian University, Cincinnati, OH

College of Biblical Studies, Houston and Indianapolis

Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, CO

Columbia Theological Seminary (Presbyterian), Decatur, GA

Columbia International University, Columbia, SC (e.g. labyrinth, Syllabus)

Corban University, Salem, OR

Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI

Covenant Theological Seminary, (Presbyterian), Nashville, TN

Crown College (CMA), Saint Bonifacius, MN

D:

Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX

Drew University, Madison, NJ

Duke Divinity School (Duke University), Durham, NC

E:

Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA

Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA

Eastern University, St. Davids, PA

Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchner, Ontario, CA

Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, TN

F:

Fresno Pacific University (Mennonite) (Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary), Fresno, CA

Friends University, Wichita, KS

Fuller Theological Seminary, Various Campuses Throughout US

G:

Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL

Gateway Seminary (SBC), 6 Locations

George Fox Evangelical Seminary, Newberg, OR

God’s Bible School & College, Cincinnati, OH

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, California and Arizona

Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA

Goshen College (Mennonite), Goshen, IN

Grace College & Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, IN

Grace University, Omaha, NE

Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

Greenville College (Free Methodist), Greenville, IL

Grove City College, Grove City, PA

H:

Harding University, Searcy, AR

Harding School of Theology, Memphis, TN

Heritage College & Seminary, Kitchner, ON (Canada)

Hesston College, Hesston, KS

Hope College (Reformed/Calvinist), Holland, MI

Hope International University (AKA: Pacific Christian College), Fullerton, CA

Houghton College, Houghton, NY

I:

Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship NW, Portland, OR

J:

John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR

L:

Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA

Lee University, Cleveland, TN

Le Tourneau University, Longview, TX

Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln, IL

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA (**one helpful comment gives an update on what is happening now at Liberty).

Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, KY

Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN

Luther Rice Seminary/University, Lithonia, GA

M:

Mars Hill Graduate School, Bothell, WA 

Malone University, Canton, OH

Messiah College (Brethren in Christ Church), Mechanicsburg, PA

MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, KS

Milligan College, Milligan College, TN

Montreat College, Montreat, NC

Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois

Mount Vernon Nazarene, Mount Vernon, OH

Multnomah University, Portland, OR

N:

All Nazarene Colleges & Universities in the US

Nebraska Christian College, Papillion, NE

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary aka Northern Seminary, Lombard, Chicago, Rockford, IL.

Northeastern Seminary, Rochester, NY

Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL

Northpark University and Northpark Theological Seminary, (Evangelical Covenant Church)

Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, ID

Northwestern College, Orange City, IA

Northwestern College (University of Northwestern), St. Paul, MN

Northwind Seminary, Winter Garden, FL

Nyack College (CMA), Nyack, NY

O:

Oklahoma Baptist University (SBC), Shawnee, OK

Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bartlesville, OK

Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL

Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK

Our Daily Bread Christian University, Grand Rapids, MI

Ozark Christian College, Joplin, MO

P:

Pacific Rim Christian College, Honolulu, HI

Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach, FL

Peace River Bible Institute, Sexsmith, AB, Canada

Pepperdine University (Bible Lectures), Malibu, CA

Phoenix Seminary, Phoenix, AZ

Point Loma Nazarene, San Diego, CA

Point University, West Point, GA

Prairie College of the Bible, Alberta, Canada

Providence College and Seminary, Otterburne, Manitoba, Canada

R:

Reformed Theological Seminary, Several locations in U.S.

Regent College, Vancouver, BC

Renovaré Institute, Denver, CO

Roberts Wesleyan College (Free Methodist), Rochester, NY

Rockbridge Seminary, Springfield, MO

Rocky Mountain College, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Rockbridge Seminary, Springfield, MO

Rolling Hills Bible Institute, Rolling Hills Estates, CA

S:

Samford University, Birmingham, AL (warnings on Samford mentioned here)

Seattle Pacific University (Free Methodist), Seattle, WA

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, Seattle, WA

Shorter University, Rome, GA

Simpson University (CMA), Redding, CA

Sioux Falls Seminary (formerly North American Baptist Seminary), Sioux Falls, SD

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC

Southeastern University, Lakeland, Fl

Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK

Southern Wesleyan University, Central, SC

Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO

Spring Arbor University (Free Methodist), Spring Arbor, MI

Summit Ministries (founder David Noebel), Manitou Springs, CO

T:

Talbot School of Theology (Biola), La Mirada, CA

Taylor Seminary/Taylor College, Edmonton, AB, CA

Taylor University, Upland, IN

Tennessee Wesleyan College, Athens, TN

Texas Christian University (Disciples of Christ), Fort Worth, TX

Toccoa Falls College (CMA), Toccoa Falls, GA

Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN

Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C. Canada

Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL

Tyndale University College & Seminary, Toronto, CANADA

U:

Union University, 3 Locations in TN

University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN

University of Valley Forge (AOG), Phoenixville, PA

V:

Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville, TN

Vanguard University, Spiritual Formation Program

W:

Western Seminary, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose

Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI

Westmont College, Santa Barbara, CA

Wheaton College Graduate School, Spiritual Formation and Psychology (Wheaton mentioned here).

Whitworth University, Spokane, WA

William Carey Institute, Vancouver, BC

William Jessup University, Rocklin, CA

Also see this database of articles on Christians colleges that promote contemplative. Type the school name into the blog search engine. 

Important note: If you are considering a college that is not listed above, it is vital that you still research that school. The list is not a comprehensive list. One of the best and most accurate ways of researching a school is to ask for a textbook list. Once you get that list, helpful people at Lighthouse Trails is willing to review that list for you. E-mail it to [email protected]

Excerpts from Lighthouse Trails Research Project.

—–

Additional Resources:

Be Aware of Early CRT Curriculum in the Second Grade!

Did Gov’t Sway Evangelical Leaders to Promote the Jab to Churches?

Wake Up Church: What if We’re Playing Right Into the Enemy’s Hand?

One Reason Why Our Nation Is Under Chastisement

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ~Acts 4:12

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