63 - Alignment Questions for Christian Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries

These questions are designed to help parents and prospective students discern whether a college or seminary is genuinely aligned with its stated Christian commitments, while also signaling to institutional leaders the areas most important to families seeking theological and moral clarity.

Institutional Governance & Policy

1. Statement of Belief & Christian Anthropology
   Does the institution’s statement of belief clearly affirm a biblical anthropology—that human beings are created in the image of God as male and female, with sexual activity reserved for marriage between one man and one woman—and explicitly reject sexual orientation and gender ideologies that conflict with Scripture?

2. Institutional Integrity & Accountability
   Is there a regular, formal process (e.g., annual review) to ensure that the institution’s policies, academics, student life practices, and public messaging remain consistent with its statement of belief?

3. Official Forms, Policies, & Communications
   Do institutional forms, policies, and communications avoid language or options (such as “preferred pronouns” or “alternative gender identities”) that contradict the statement of belief, ensuring consistency across digital and printed materials?

4. Research Priorities & Funding
   Are research initiatives that explore sexual attraction fluidity or the restoration of congruence with one’s biological sex welcomed and supported, consistent with the institution’s theological commitments?

5. External Partnerships & Affiliations
   Has the institution considered partnerships with organizations (such as the International Federation of Therapeutic Counseling Choice) that provide ethical guidance, continuing education, and accountability aligned with historic Christian teaching?

6. Chapel, Speakers, & Public Teaching
   Are chapel speakers and themes publicly disclosed, and does the institution ensure that those invited to speak or teach publicly do not undermine the school’s statement of belief?

7. Strategic Leadership Engagement
   Has the institution intentionally engaged recognized Christian leaders and ministries from a transformational perspective to strengthen clarity, faithfulness, and consistency in its approach?[1]

Faculty & Staff Expectations

8. Faculty & Staff Affirmation of Beliefs
   Are faculty and relevant staff required to affirm and sign the institution’s statement of belief on a regular basis (e.g., annually), demonstrating shared commitment and accountability?

9. Guidelines for Counseling & Mentoring Students
   Are there clear, written guidelines for faculty and staff on how to counsel, mentor, and disciple students who are struggling with sexual behavior or identity questions, in ways consistent with Scripture?

10. Training of Counselors & Pastoral Students
    Are counseling and pastoral programs intentionally training students to apply Scripture faithfully and competently in therapeutic and pastoral settings across all relevant coursework?

11. Curriculum & Required Resources
    Do required courses and materials consistently teach a biblical anthropology and a transformational perspective that aligns with the institution’s statement of belief?

Student Life & Formation

12. Clarity of Expectations for Students
    Are students clearly informed—before enrollment and throughout their studies—that participation at the institution requires agreement with its statement of belief and behavioral standards, and that disagreement may require withdrawal?

13. Support for Students Facing Sexual or Gender Confusion
    What forms of pastoral care, counseling, or discipleship are offered to students experiencing same-sex attraction or gender confusion, and are these supports clearly aligned with the institution’s biblical anthropology?

14. Identity, Discipleship, & Hope
    Are students encouraged to ground their identity in Christ rather than in temptations or experiences, with biblically faithful guidance that includes surrender to Christ, openness to attraction fluidity, and/or pursuit of congruence with one’s biological sex?

How Parents and Students Can Use This List

These questions are not meant to trap administrators or demand perfection, but to help families discern whether an institution’s public commitments, actual practices, and pastoral posture are aligned.

Answers That Should Give Confidence

• Administrators respond clearly and directly, without deflection or excessive ambiguity.

• The institution can point to written policies, syllabi, faculty agreements, or public statements that confirm alignment.

• There is consistency between what is taught in classrooms, modeled in chapel, practiced in counseling, and enforced in student life.

• Support for students experiencing sexual or gender-related struggles is described in pastoral, hopeful, Christ-centered terms, not merely in clinical or ideological language.

• Faculty and staff accountability is treated as a shared responsibility, not an infringement on academic freedom.

Answers That Should Raise Concern

• Repeated use of vague language, such as “we affirm the statement of faith, but…” without concrete examples.

• Claims that the statement of belief applies in theory but not consistently in policies, forms, counseling practices, or chapel content.

• Reluctance to discuss boundaries for faculty speech, counseling approaches, or invited speakers.

• Emphasis on identity language (sexual or gender identities) without clear grounding in a biblical doctrine of the person.

• Statements that prioritize avoiding offense or external pressure over faithfulness to stated Christian commitments.

Parents should feel free to ask for clarification, follow-up in writing, and compare answers across institutions. A school’s willingness to engage these questions thoughtfully is itself an important indicator.

Parallel Considerations: Seminaries vs. Undergraduate Colleges

While the core questions apply to both contexts, parents and students should weigh the following distinctions.

Additional Considerations for Undergraduate Colleges

• Parental Transparency: Does the institution view parents as partners in formation, or as external stakeholders with limited access to information?

• Residential Life: Are residence hall policies, RA training, and student conduct standards clearly aligned with the statement of belief?

• Developmental Pastoral Care: Are students guided patiently and intentionally, recognizing that many are encountering these questions for the first time?

• Peer Influence: How does the institution address student-led clubs, advocacy groups, or informal peer counseling that may undermine official beliefs?

Additional Considerations for Seminaries

• Ministerial Formation: Are students being shaped for faithful pastoral leadership, not merely academic credentialing?

• Counseling & Pastoral Theology: Are future pastors and counselors trained to resist secular identity frameworks while still offering compassionate care?

• Placement & Endorsement: Do denominational partners trust the seminary’s graduates to uphold historic Christian teaching in ministry settings?

• Public Witness: How does the seminary prepare students to navigate cultural pressure, legal constraints, and pastoral conflict without compromising biblical conviction?

In both contexts, families should ask not only what is permitted, but what is encouraged, what is funded, and what is modeled by leadership.

[1] The transformational perspective means one is open to the transformational power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in all aspects of life to whatever degree He determines. Speakers/teachers from this perspective could include Dr. Julie Hamilton, Dr. Christopher Roisk, Andrew Rodrigez, Joe Dallas, Elizabeth Woning, Garry and Melissa Ingraham, Linda Seiler, and others.