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The State of the Evangelical Mind Conference Videos

In September 2017, evangelical scholars gathered at the Sagamore Institute in Indianapolis to discuss the state of the evangelical mind today. The plenary papers are now available in the book "The State of the Evangelical Mind," published by InterVarsity Press and edited by the conference organizers, Todd C. Ream, Jerry Pattengale, and Christopher J. Devers. Papers from parallel sessions have been published in a special issue of "Christian Scholar’s Review" (Summer 2018). The conference was hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University, the Sagamore Institute, Excelsia College, and Christianity Today.

Join the ongoing conversation by watching all the talks and Q&A sessions below. The presenters address recent historical developments and the roles of four types of institutions: churches, parachurch organizations, colleges and universities, and seminaries.

  1. The Parachurch Down Under: A Case Study, by Mark Stephens

    Mark Stephens, coordinator of integrative studies at Excelsia College in Sydney, Australia, examines the way the Australian evangelical mind is represented by its parachurch institutions. He considers the Australian religious context; the influence of evangelical parachurch institutions in the spheres of social services, education, and politics; and proposals for improving parachurch ministry.

  2. Parachurch Organizations: Questions & Answers

    Rachel Maxson and Mark Stephens respond to questions about their talks.

  3. John Henry Newman’s “The Idea of a University” and Christian Colleges in the Twenty-First Century, by Timothy Larsen

    Returning to Newman’s classic book, Larsen argues, can help Christian liberal arts colleges renew their institutional mission for the twenty-first century. He presents five foundational ideas from Newman that should guide Christian liberal arts education in forming well-rounded, intellectually curious students. Larsen is the Carolyn and Fred McManis Professor of Christian Thought at Wheaton College.

  4. The Role of the Christian University in the Cultivation of the Evangelical Mind, by Rick Ostrander

    Is the evangelical mind flourishing in CCCU institutions? Rick Ostrander, vice president for academic affairs and professional programs at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, examines both the challenges and the possibilities for scholarship in Christian universities. He encourages institutions to devote resources and allow freedom for faculty research in every discipline.

  5. The Unexpectedness of Hope: Good News for a Generation, by David M. Johnstone

    For the current generation of college students, David M. Johnstone suggests, the most pertinent message of Jesus’ gospel is hope. In an often stressful student culture, young adults need hope that the Holy Spirit is willing and able to change them and their circumstances. Johnstone, associate dean of students at George Fox University, reflects on the theology of hope and his own observations of students and their needs.

  6. How Wendell Berry Helps Universities Inhabit Their Places, by Jack R. Baker and Jeffrey Bilbro

    Christian universities too often borrow their standards from secular models rather than developing distinctly Christian goals and practices. Jack R. Baker and Jeffrey Bilbro, both professors of English at Spring Arbor University, find in the work of Wendell Berry insights to help Christian universities inhabit a countercultural narrative. They suggest practices that can form students into neighbors who serve the shalom of their communities.