18
some evangelical circles in the 1960s and 1970s.
25
At the
time that his appointment to the Coalition presidency was
announced, Augsburger pointed to the need for curricular
materials that would grapple with "human rights and justice
issues"; he also spoke forcefully of moving beyond American
parochialism "to help our nation find a place of compassion
in the global community."
26
Toward the end of his
presidency he delivered an address at a Coalition annual
meeting on "Our Mission in Higher Education," in which he
spelled out an understanding of the social and cultural
task of Christian schools that had been motivating him for
years:
Christian colleges should act in
society as agents of social justice.
The Christian liberal arts college does
not combat racism, sexism, materialism
and violence by the singular message of
the gospel alone, but by the breadth of
cultural values of equity, love and
justice as they are enriched by
Christian dialogue.
27
25
See Robert Booth Fowler, A New Engagement:
Evangelical Political Thought, 1966-1976 (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 1982). Augsburger's vision for Christian higher
education at many points resonated with the agenda proposed
by philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff, who headed the
editorial team for the Coalition's Through the Eyes of
Faith supplemental textbook series. See Wolterstorff, "The
Mission of the Christian College at the End of the
Twentieth Century," Reformed Journal 33 (June 1983): 14-18.
26
"Myron Augsburger Appointed Coalition President," The
News, March 1988, 1.