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Higher and Theological Education

Church-Like Schools?

As a companion to the previous installment, in this post I want to advocate for a thesis that long ago fell into disfavor. I’ll put it in its simplest and most straightforward form and then explain. Church-related colleges and universities

Stephen Rankin February 18, 2021February 18, 2021 Higher and Theological Education, Religion, The Church, United Methodism No Comments Read more

The Twentysomething Soul #4 – Nones (Don’t Believe Everything You Read about Them)

In this last installment on my little series of reflections from Tim Clydesdale and Kathleen Garces-Foley’s book, The Twentysomething Soul, I focus on that oh so slippery demographic category, The Nones.  This cohort of emerging adults has suffered a good

Stephen Rankin December 18, 2019 College Ministry, Emerging adults, Higher and Theological Education, Religion, The Church No Comments Read more

What to Make of Recent UM School Hires?

Two United Methodist-related schools have gotten some attention lately because they have hired non-Christian chaplains.  Emory University’s new Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life, Gregory McGonigle, is a Unitarian.  Shenandoah University in Virginia has added Hanaa Unus as Chaplain and

Stephen Rankin August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 Higher and Theological Education, Religion, United Methodism 4 Comments Read more

Concerns and Hopes for the College Student Experience

I had the most enjoyable privilege of participating in a panel discussion on the gospel and the university campus, sponsored by The Living Church Institute.  It gave me the opportunity to interact with a group of practitioners who had very

Stephen Rankin January 14, 2019January 14, 2019 Christian Life, College Ministry, Emerging adults, Higher and Theological Education, Religion No Comments Read more

Begetting Children for the Murderer

A very important opportunity is going to waste in talks about the campus rape culture.   Rolling Stone reported on a gang rape in a fraternity house at the University of Virginia and has recently admitted “discrepancies” in the victim’s account.  

Stephen Rankin December 8, 2014December 8, 2014 Higher and Theological Education, Ministry, Religion No Comments Read more
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Meet Steve

I serve as Executive Director of the Spiritual Maturity Project, a ministry some of us have recently started.  For 25 years I worked in higher education as a professor and chaplain and before that as a pastor.  I love to help people grapple with big and basic questions to grow into real ,grown-up Christian discipleship.

I ruminate on all manner of theological, biblical, historical, and cultural topics. I believe followers of Jesus need to be more like members of Issachar’s tribe, able to read the times. Read more

 

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