The strongly conservative economic and political tone of conservative evangelical colleges, particularly those most active in Christian Right causes, are taking the emphasis off politics and concentrating more on theology, reports Christianity Today (December).
The change is most evident at The King’s College in New York, which appointed conservative writer and speaker Dinesh D’Souza as its president in 2010 and had a strong political thrust, upholding “biblical competition” and “seeking prosperity” as guiding principles. D’Souza resigned in 2012 after reports surfaced that he had appeared with his fiancé while still legally married to his wife. The resignation also brought a deemphasis on political activism and resulted in the above principles being taken off the college’s website.
Similar changes are taking place at other evangelical colleges that “have positioned themselves as conservative in more than just theology.” Patrick Henry College, which blended political activism with classical studies, has experienced some disillusionment with politics, which resulted in a conflict between faculty and administration several years ago. “I see that happening across the board. Christian activists who get involved in politics soon find that things are not so simple as getting Christians elected,” says Gene Edward Veith, provost of the school.
Historian Allen Guelzo says that many more schools used to have explicit ties with cultural and political conservatism, with some trying to “return to the center …. There are many pressures against being known as a conservative institution.”
(Christianity Today, 364 Gundersen Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188)