In February of 2007, Lighthouse Trails reported that Liberty University of Virginia was using contemplative books in some of their classes. The February report stated:
[I]n Dr. David Wheeler’s Foundations in Youth Ministry II, Wheeler uses Mark Yaconelli’s book, Contemplative Youth Ministry. Yaconelli, the son of the late Mike Yaconelli (founder of Youth Specialties), is a strong advocate for contemplative. On Mark Yaconelli’s website, under Practices and Processes, Yaconelli lays out some “guidelines” for centering prayer and recommends Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington, both of whom promote panentheism (God is in all things and people). In another course by Dr. Wheeler, he is using a book by Doug Fields (Saddleback Youth Pastor and on the Youth Specialties National Resource Seminar team ).
In another Liberty course, Evangelism 997, professor David Earley is using (for textbooks) books by Erwin McManus, Thom Rainer, Andy Stanley, and Rick Warren.
Six months later Liberty is continuing their use of contemplative/emerging books and authors. The Liberty Center for Worship, for instance, uses resources from a number of contemplative and emerging church proponents (see Resource page (link removed by Liberty). Some of these authors include: Erwin McManus, Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis), Dan Kimball (The Emerging Church), Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz), and David Crowder.
Another course at Liberty, Evangelism and Christian Life has a “Course Bibliography” that is a who’s who of contemplative prayer (Foster, Willard, Warren, and Boa, etc.). Sadly, in a class with a description that states, “An in-depth study of how to lead people to Christ,” authors who promote eastern-style meditation are utilized. A course titled Contemporary Topics in Missions includes a book by Brian McLaren in its syllabus.
Students attending Liberty University should use discernment and biblical wisdom when introduced to the contemplative/emerging teachings of those authors mentioned above.
