LANGLEY, British ColumbiaThe 2010 CCCU President-led Symposium on Spiritual Formation took place at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., June 24-26. The event, made possible with assistance from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, was designed to ask and answer what defines spiritual formation and how that vision is implemented holistically by the full spectrum of personnel responsible for realizing it on a CCCU campus.
Teams of senior leadership from the following 11 institutions participated by invitation in the symposium:
Bethel University (MN)
Biola University (CA)
Crandall University (New Brunswick)
Indiana Wesleyan University (IN)
LeTourneau University (TX)
Regent University (VA)
Spring Arbor University (MI)
The Kings University College (Alberta)
Toccoa Falls College (GA)
Trinity International University (IL)
Trinity Western University (British Columbia)
The recent president-led symposium was valuable on many levels, says Carlos Campo, president-elect at Regent University (VA). For one, it further establishes that CCCU institutions are committed to our most enduring distinctive: impacting our students spiritually for the Kingdom of God. The event also provided our campus team with an opportunity to cohere the many discussions and programs that have been established on our campus. We also benefitted from the fellowship and networking with like-minded institutions that wrestle with these important issues each day. But, most important of all, was working in unity to establish measurable, core principles of spiritual formation that will help all of us to stay focused on foundational aspects of spiritual development in our students.
Keynote speakers for this years symposium were Dr. Gayle D. Beebe, president of Westmont College (CA), and Dr. David S. Dockery, president of Union University (TN). Facilitating the event was Rev. Alan R. Crippen II, founder and president of The John Jay Institute.
Three things came out of the conference for the Spring Arbor University attendees, says Betty Overton-Adkins, provost at Spring Arbor University (MI). First, we had precious, concentrated time together to discuss spiritual formation as an institutional distinctive across lines of responsibility. It was a great opportunity for clarifying our definitions, ideas, and planned activities. Second, we had the opportunity to listen to the thinking and planning of colleagues at other institutions. We felt free to borrow and adapt and thereby jumpstart some new ideas. Third, I think we gained energy and perspective on how important this focus is for our institutions and our collective movement.
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 184 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 109 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 75 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Councils mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.