What a C.S. Lewis College Could Look Like
Written by Matthew C. Keegan // 07/10/2012 // College News // 8 Comments
Not many new colleges are launching these days, as the cost of starting such educational institutions is fairly prohibitive. Smaller schools are struggling to stay open with a number of private institutions having shut down or merged in recent years.
The organizers of C.S. Lewis College believe that they have a model for educational success that will one day become a reality. That school is a vision of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a presence in the U.S. and Britain, and named for the Christian apologist who penned such literary classics as “Mere Christianity” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
Green Family
Plans for a C.S. Lewis College have heated up in recent years, although the vision of launching a college based along the lines of what C.S. Lewis would espouse has been around since the Foundation was started in 1986. Led by Dr. J. Stanley Mattson, the Foundation has been holding educational seminars on both sides of the Atlantic for years and its idea of branching out to form a private Christian college has been long known and well received.
Its dream of founding a college have gained strength in recent years when a school campus in western Massachusetts was bought by the Green family, owners of the Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby arts and crafts retailers. Soon after purchasing the property, the family announced that it would donate the 217-acre site to a Christian institution. That property was originally owned by evangelist D.L. Moody who opened a school for girls there in 1879.
Financial Undertaking
The Lewis Foundation immediately was on the Green family’s list as recipient of the gift, but there were some financial matters to handle first, namely the college needing to raise enough funds to get started and see it through its first critical years. A December 31, 2011, deadline passed and the C.S. Lewis Foundation fell far short of its goal. The Greens have since identified a pair of semi-finalists including a Southern Baptist mission group and one representing the Grand Canyon University Foundation in Phoenix. The family has, however, left open the possibility that C.S. Lewis College might share the campus with the gift recipient.
The vision of C.S. Lewis College is quite detailed and includes the following:
- When fully operational, the school expects to serve up to 400 students. Some 40 faculty and 45 staff members would comprise the administrative and teaching sides of the college.
- A “Great Books” curriculum would be advanced and include titles that have shaped western civilization and include select books from the east. An arts curriculum would launch later.
- The school would not be affiliated and would welcome students whether Christian or not. The Foundation says that the college would welcome Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant faculty, educator with a distinctly Christian worldview.
- Students would receive instruction through discussion-based seminars and tutorials, not lectures. The idea here is to have faculty and students learn together.
New College
Regardless of whether the C.S. Lewis College is operated on the Moody property in Massachusetts or elsewhere, its organizers are hopeful that a dream that they say is inspired by God will come to fruition. Meanwhile, the Green family is expected to announce its gift recipient this month, putting an end to much speculation and opening a rare opportunity for a new college to take hold in rural New England.
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8 Comments on "What a C.S. Lewis College Could Look Like"
I think the idea of the C.S. Lewis college is a great idea and much needed. Its sad to know that the leaders of the foundation are not much more than snake oil salesmen. It saddens me to see Christians being taken advantage of and left to wonder what just happens. Thee leaders of the foundation use this and have used the vision of the college to line their pockets. Its time for this to stop. I appluade the Greens for moving on and door seeing the situation for what issue is… a big con. I pray that eyes are opened and hearts are healed.
In reply to Gary Norton’s comment: I’m sorry that you believe many of the charges you made against the C.S. Lewis Foundation. As a small nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we have encountered the same fundraising challenges that many similar organizations our size have run into during these economic times. With Hobby Lobby, we mutually agreed on a set of fundraising benchmark deadlines, and when we didn’t meet the Dec. 31, 2011 benchmark, they were free to search for other potential recipients of the campus. We still are moving forward to found the College and achieve the vision, whatever the Greens’ decision for the campus itself may be. Be assured that we are very far removed from “lining our pockets.” All the money we’ve received for the College has been used towards founding the College. We merely did not raise the necessary benchmark of $5 million in the span of about 19 months that we had to do it in. Steve Elmore, C.S. Lewis Foundation
Gary, do you have proof of this accusation? As Steven Elmore explained, the foundation simply was unable to raise the money required by the Green family within the allotted time. The dream of a C.S. Lewis College reamins intact and the funds raised have been set aside toward establishing a college.
I am flabbergasted at Gary’s comments. I have been attending the foundation events since 2004 and have been a volunteer since 2009. Associating and working with these people has been one of the joys of my life. I have seen the Lord move in people’s lives in miraculous ways at and through these events. My relationships with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have blossomed and grown through knowing and becoming friends with the staff, volunteers, and attendees.
There is no way, dear sir, where any pockets have been lined. I am truly sorry that you feel so vehemently about this. As Matthew wrote, you should be specific with such charges. I wish you could see the fruit I’ve seen born out of the foundation’s efforts. Yes, pray and work towards the dream of the college but more important, we are about our Father’s business of building up people in the body of Christ.
Snake oil salesmen? Such a characterization is so far off-base from what I’ve seen of the C.S. Lewis Foundation’s events, personnel and leadership that I find Gary Norton’s comment simply mean spirited. I have attended Foundation events on both sides of the pond. They were high quality and an excellent value for the price. C.S. Lewis would be proud to have his name associated with the Foundation…and with the college they eventually will establish.
My breath was held as I read this! I’m a graduate of somerset Christian college (a small private school) that puts much stock in the works of mr. Lewis. As well as others like him. The thought of a school like this opening brings me so much joy! I may need to go back to school if this dose indeed happen
Jessica, I think a C.S. Lewis College is a dream come true. Imagine being taught by Aslan with the assistance of two queens and two kings. I would expect to find an oversized wardrobe somewhere on campus to beckon us to enter Narnia.
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