Christian Colleges that Promote Spiritual Formation)

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.

Important note: If you are considering a college that is not listed on this page, it is vital that you still research that school. This 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, Lighthouse Trails is willing to review that list for you. E-mail it to editors@lighthousetrails.com.

** For a school to be put on this list, it doesn't just use the term "Spiritual Formation"; it also uses texbooks or other venues (such as student retreats and conferences) to introduce students to contemplative authors and/or contemplative practices.

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.). Updated 2023

** 2022 - Below this "contemplative" list is a new list we are putting together of Calvinist/Reformed schools to be aware of.

Also see our database of articles on Christians colleges that 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)
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

Azusa Pacific University
Haggard School of Theology
Azusa, CA

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B

Baptist Theological Seminary of Southern Africa

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

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
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/Calvinist)
Decatur, GA

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

Corban University
Salem, OR

Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI

Crown College (CMA)
Saint Bonifacius, MN

D

Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, TX

Drew University
Madison, NJ

Duke Divinity School (Duke Univeristy)
Durham, NC

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E

East Asia School of Theology
Singapore

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

Evangel University (AOG)
Springfield, MO

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F

Freed-Harman (Church of Christ)
Henderson, TN

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

Friends University
Wichita, KS

Fuller Theological Seminary
Various Campuses Throughout US

 

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G

 

Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Evanston, IL

Gateway Seminary (SBC)
Multiple 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 School of Theology
The Woodlands, TX

Grace University (closed in 2018)
Omaha, NE

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ

Greenville College (Free Methodist)
Greenville, IL

Grove City College
Grove City, PA

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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

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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

Johnson University
Knoxville, TN

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

M

 

Mars Hill Graduate School
Bothell, WA 98021

Malone Unversity
Canton, OH

Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary
Fresno, CA

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

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

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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

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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

 

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Q

 

R

Reformed Theological Seminary
Several locations in U.S.

Regent College
Vancouver, BC

Regent University (CBN)
Virginia Beach, VA

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

Sioux Falls Seminary (Renamed Kairos University)
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

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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

University of Valley Forge (AOG)
Phoenixville, PA


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V

Vanderbilt Divinity School
Nashville, TN

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

Wycliffe College
Toronto, ON, 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

CALVINST/REFORMED COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SEMINARIES

*Note: This list began in October 2022. Please note that many Christian schools, though not traditionally Calvinist/Reformed, are now being influenced by the belief system such as Bob Jones University that elected a Calvinist president, Steve Pettit, in 2014 (we have thus added them to this list as evidence continues to surface).

B

Bob Jones University (new to the Calvinist camp)
Greenville, SC

C

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

Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary
Hamilton, Ontario, CA

Cedarville University (Reformed Presbyterian)
Cedarville, OH

Christ Theological Seminary
Buford, GA

City Seminary of Sacramento
Sacramento, CA

Columbia Theological Seminary (Presbyterian/Calvinist)
Decatur, GA

Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI

Covenant Theological Seminary (Presbyterian)
Nashville, TN

Covenant Theological Seminary
St. Louis, MO

G

Geneva Reformed Seminary
Greenville, SC

H

Hope College (Reformed/Calvinist)
Holland, MI

M

Masters Seminary
Los Angeles, CA

N

Northwestern College
Orange City, IA

R

Redeemer Seminary
Dallas, TX

Reformed Theological Seminary
Multiple Campuses

S

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, KY

W

Western Seminary
Portland, OR Sacramento, CA San Jose, CA

Western Theological Seminary
Holland, MI

Westminster Seminary California
Escondido, CA

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