Christian Colleges that Promote Contemplative (i.e., Spiritual Formation)



       
   
 

     




     
 
 

Christian Colleges that DO NOT promote contemplative/emerging or Purpose Driven

In Need of a Pastor for Your Church? Try Looking at NON-Contemplative Colleges

Teresa of Avila Comes to Christian College

 

Related Resource

Castles in the Sand by Carolyn A. Greene
Castles in the Sand (a novel about the Christian colleges and spiritual formation) It could happen to yours!

 

E

Lighthouse Trails Print Booklet Tracts
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Christian Colleges that Promote Contemplative
(i.e., Spiritual Formation) 

This list 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.).

Also see our database of articles on Christians colleges that promote contemplative.

Click here to see our list of colleges and seminaries that DO NOT promote contemplative.

Click a letter below to see listings. If you are looking for specific information about any of the listed colleges, visit our blog and type the school name into the blog search engine. Also go to the school's site and type in particular terms such as spiritual formation, Nouwen, lectio divina, which will help you find the documentation you need.


A

Abilene Christian University (Church of Christ)
(e.g. labyrinth)
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 (e.g., spiritual formation)
(information)

American Christian College & Seminary (closed in 2005)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Anderson University (Church of God)
Anderson, IN

Anderson University
Anderson, SC
(Invited Sue Monk Kidd to a speaking event in March 2011)

Ashland Theological Seminary
Ashland, OH (e.g., The Shack)

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
Valley Forge Christian College Branch Campus
Phoenixville, PA

Southeastern University (AOG)
Lakeland, FL

Azusa Pacific University
Haggard School of Theology
Azusa, CA (e.g. Nouwen)

B

Baptist Theological Seminary of Southern Africa

Barclay College
Haviland, KS

Baylor University
Waco, TX

Beeson Divinity School
Birmingham, AL

Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Bethel University
St. Paul, MN

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

Biblical Theological Seminary
Hatfield, PA

Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Blufton University (Mennonite)
Blufton, OH

Briercrest Bible College
Saskatchewan, Canada

Bryan College
Dayton, TN

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C

*All Christian Missionary Alliance Colleges in the USA

California Baptist University
Riverside, CA

Calvin College
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

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 (example)

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

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D

Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX

Drew University
Madison, NJ

Duke Divinity School (Duke Univeristy)
Durham, NC

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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

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F

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

Friends University
Wichita, KS

Fuller Theological Seminary
Various Campuses Throughout US

G

George Fox Evangelical Seminary
Newberg, OR

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
connected with Ken Blanchard and has a spiritual formation program

Greenville College (Free Methodist)
Greenville, IL

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H

Harding University
Searcy, AR

Harding School of Theology
Memphis, TN

Hesston College
Hesston, KS

Hope College
Holland, MI

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

Houghton College
Houghton, NY

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I

Indiana Wesylan University
Marion, IN

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship NW
Portland, OR

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J

John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR

K

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L

Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA

Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Le Tourneau University
Longview, TX

Lincoln Christian University
Lincoln, IL

Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY

Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

Luther Rice Seminary/University
Lithonia, GA
Spiritual Formation with Dallas Willard/Robert Webber

M

Mars Hill Graduate School (see Seattle School of Theology & Psychology)
Bothell, WA 98021

Malone Unversity
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

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N

*All Nazarene Colleges & Universities in the USA

Nebraska Christian College
Papillion, NE

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans, LA
Dr. Francis Kimmitt

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
aka Northern Seminary
Lombard, Chicago, Rockfor, IL,

Northeastern Seminary
Rochester, NY
seminary@roberts.edu

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

Nyack College (CMA)
Nyack, NY

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Q

 

R

Reformed Theological Seminary
Several locations in U.S.

Regent College
Vancouver, BC

Renovare Institute
Denver, CO

Roberts Wesleyan College (Free Methodist)
Rochester, NY

Rockbridge Seminary
Springfield, MO 65804

Rocky Mountain College
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Rockbridge Seminary
Springfield, MO

Rolling Hills Bible Institute
Rolling Hills Estates, CA

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S

Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Seattle Pacific University (Free Methodist)
Seattle, WA

The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology
Seattle, WA

Shorter University
Rome, GA

Simpson University (CMA)
Redding, CA

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

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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

 

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U

Union University
3 Locations in TN

University of Northwestern
St. Paul, MN


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V

Vanguard University
Spiritual Formation Program

 

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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

Whitworth Univeristy
Spokane, WA

William Carey Institute 
Vancouver, BC

William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA

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X

Y

 

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Z

 



Excerpt from
The Emerging Church:
Ancient Faith for a Post-Modern World
"Among the many authors to pay attention to are Vintage Faith pastor Dan Kimball, author of The Emerging Church and Emerging Worship; Drew University professor Leonard Sweet (Postmodern Pilgrims; A Is for Abductive); youth pastor Tony Jones (Postmodern Youth Ministry; Read, Think, Pray, Live); Robert E. Webber, author of The Younger Evangelicals and Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World; Spencer Burke, Sally Morgenthaler-the list is far too extensive to include all the recommended authors here. For the most thorough collection of postmodern resources that I know of, go to www.agts.edu, click on 'Free Resources,' and then click on the folder labeled 'Emerging Culture/Emerging Church.' That will give you access to a PDF file of 1,700-plus resources amassed by Assemblies of God professor Earl Creps, a man for whom many in the emerging church movement give thanks daily."


Criswell College and the Emerging Church Movement?
 The Criswell Theological Review, a publication of Criswell College, devotes an entire issue to discussing the Emerging Church movement.

In the Spring 2006 edition of the Criswell Theological Review (a publication of Criswell College), articles written by Emerging Church authors and an interview with Brian McLaren leave one to wonder just what exactly CTR editor, Alan Street, had in mind when he put this issue of the newsletter together. Correctly recognizing Brian McLaren as a leading representative of the Emerging Church indicts the movement. One can only wonder at this point if Criswell College (named after Dr. W.A. Criswell - Rick Warren's mentor), is heading towards Emergent.

Related Information:
Colleges and Seminaries That Promote Contemplative Spirituality

 

 

 
 

Featured Resources

  
     

Contemplative Spirituality: A belief system that uses ancient mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness (the silence) and is rooted in mysticism and the occult but often wrapped in Christian terminology. The premise of contemplative spirituality is pantheistic (God is all) and panentheistic (God is in all). Common terms used for this movement are "spiritual formation," "the silence," "the stillness," "ancient-wisdom," "spiritual disciplines," and many others.

Spiritual Formation: A movement that has provided a platform and a channel through which contemplative prayer is entering the church. Find spiritual formation being used, and in nearly every case you will find contemplative spirituality. In fact, contemplative spirituality is the heartbeat of the spiritual formation movement.