Ep. 592: Christian College Challenge, Mifepristone, Colorado Springs Departures
Christina
Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast.
In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.”
So, Warren, what’s up first?
Warren
Christian colleges are facing a federal challenge.
Emily Belz is reporting for Christianity Today that a new Department of Education regulation “could crater” the programs of Christian colleges.
Belz writes, “The regulation would label a bachelor’s or master’s program a “failure” if its graduates do not earn more than their peers without the degree. Students in these ‘failing’ programs would be ineligible for federal financial aid.”
Christina
Why should Christian colleges be held to a lower standard than other colleges?
Warren
They shouldn’t, but the Christian colleges are saying that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison.
The graduates of engineering or accounting programs at Christian colleges should be compared to engineering and mathematics graduates of secular schools.
But religious and theological studies students are not going into these fields for the money, and they don’t have true analogs in secular schools. The new regulation essentially punishes students for their commitment to a ministry career. The Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities and the Association for Biblical Higher Education are fighting the new rules.
Christina
On May 4, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said the abortion inducing drug mifepristone – used in nearly two-thirds of U.S. abortions – can continue to be prescribed via telehealth, dispensed at retail pharmacies, and delivered to patients in the mail.
Warren
This is a huge setback for the pro-life cause. The Dispatch has provided a helpful “explainer” of what is going on now, especially at the states. Bottom line: thirteen states ban abortion entirely, but with telemedicine, abortions continue in those states. To see the status in all fifty states, click here.
Christina
Speaking of abortion, Ryan Burge injects some data into the conversation.
Warren
He has some graphs showing that support for abortion has gone up over the past 50 years, even among evangelicals. In some cases, support has gone up significantly. But that rise masks an important fact. From about 1997 until about 2007, support for abortion went down. Burge does not track the number of actual abortions, but they went down too.
Christina
So, what happened in 2007?
Warren
The iPhone. Facebook. Twitter. Correlation does not mean causality. But lots of social theorists from Jean Twenge to Jonathan Haidt have suggested that around 2007 is when we stopped talking to each other, and we retreated into our digital foxholes and started lobbing mortars at those in other foxholes. We used to persuade in the public square. Now, we pummel. The public square has become the scene of a cage fight. Whatever you think of my theory, I do suggest you check out Ryan Burge’s data, which you can find here.
Christina
Colorado Springs has long been the mecca for Christian ministries, but in recent years there are signs that the city is losing its appeal.
Warren
The latest sign is the announcement that the pro-life organization Save The Storks is moving from The Springs to Dallas.
The organization said in a statement that the move was “strategic,” to “centralize operations and expand support for women nationwide.”
Christina
They’re not the first to leave.
Warren
CauseIQ estimates that about 20 ministries have moved or shut down in Colorado Springs in the past five years. In 2020, the Christian and Missionary Alliance national headquarters left Colorado Springs and moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be nearer the majority of its churches.
Colorado Springs is still home to Focus on the Family, Compassion International, The Navigators, Young Life, and other major ministries, but as the city does not have a major airport, and – with traffic – downtown Colorado Springs can be two hours from the Denver airport.
Christina
We normally don’t report about ourselves, but we have a few updates this week.
Warren
I was recently on Christianity Today’s podcast The Bulletin. It was my second appearance in as many months. If you do not subscribe to The Bulletin, you can listen here. I also wanted to let you know that MinistryWatch has won recognition for our work from the Evangelical Press Association. Tony Mator, Kim Roberts, and I won awards at the annual meeting in Nashville. I also wanted to mention that we may need to re-name the MinistryWatch 1000 database. As of this week, we now have 1500 ministries in the database, representing more than $55 billion in annual revenue. Thanks to Kim Roberts, Rod Pitzer, Rob Martin, Stephen duBarry for their contributions to growing our database.
Christina
In fact, you and I are both in Nashville this week for the EPA conference. You’ll be on the road next week, too.
Warren
Readers in Dallas, Colorado Springs, and Denver. I will also be in Dallas next week, and I will be holding a lunch for readers. I will be Knoxville later in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I will be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is [email protected].
Christina
That brings to a close this EXTRA episode of the podcast. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh.
I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
