16
Coalition adopted additional membership criteria in 1981
for dealing with Liberty and Oral Roberts, including (1)
"the promotion of personal, responsible growth in student
development"; (2) the centrality of the liberal arts and
the necessity for academic integrity"; and (3) "the
importance of compatibility with the missions and general
operations of the existing membership." Furthermore, the
Coalition board passed a motion proposing the development
of a code of conduct in advertising that all members would
agree to follow.
21
While Liberty was never admitted to the
Coalition/CCCU, Oral Roberts came in for a period, was
asked to withdraw, and later rejoined.
22
These exercises in
boundary-setting may strike some observers as ironic,
directed as they were against the Christian "right";
nonetheless, they suggest that the Coalition carefully
sought to shape a public image that would not interfere
with its goals for Christian higher education.
As Dellenback worked to achieve a critical mass, his
non-sectarian and ecumenical spirit certainly helped his
cause. He discovered, however, that colleges representing
College News between 1978 and 1987.
21
Minutes of the Board of Directors, Christian College
Coalition, 30 November 1981, 3-4.
22
For follow-up, see Minutes of the Board of Directors,
Christian College Coalition, 31 January-1 February 1988, 1-
3.