Firm in the Faith: How Religiously Affiliated Institutions Stay True to their Religious Moorings

Abstract

During a period when secularization poses many challenges to religiously affiliated colleges and universities, several key factors have been identified that can support these institutions in effectively meeting those challenges. This article identifies four of the principal drivers of secularization and how they have manifested themselves over the course of the 20^th century. Those drivers are changes in the composition of university leadership, faculty, and student body; a push to comply with the accepted standards for academic excellence and the secularization of knowledge; a desire to be more like mainstream colleges and universities; and the need to accommodate growing religious pluralism in society. The article also identifies important actions that can support religiously affiliated postsecondary institutions in staying connected to their founding religious traditions. These factors include a clearly articulated vision for the institution that is based in the religious tradition, university leadership that is supportive of maintaining the connection between institution and religious tradition, and a strong campus culture based in the values of the religious tradition. The article then uses the experiences of Brigham Young University as an example of how these factors work together to counter secularization. The leadership decisions and actions taken by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Brigham Young University President Howard S. McDonald (1945–1949) are offered as a case study that may provide insights to other institutions at a time when trends in the United States continue to shift toward secularization.

Notes

1 Between 1875 and 1910, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints developed a system of primary and secondary education in seven western states, Canada, and Mexico. The institutions in this system were known as academies.

2 In the 1920s, the Church Commission of Education consisted of the Commissioner of Education, his two counselors, and the Superintendent of Church schools.

3 The First Presidency is the highest governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

4 The Church Educational System consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners.

5 A term for any of the senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, General Authority Seventies and the Presiding Bishopric are all known as General Authorities.

6 Devotionals are held on a weekly basis on the Brigham Young University campus and the expectation is that the entire campus community will attend.

7 Wards and stakes are ecclesiastical units of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Stakes are an organizational structure of the Church that consist of five to twelve congregations, called wards or branches.

8 Brigham Young University’s board of trustees is composed of the highest leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.