6
At the same time, the Consortium respected evangelical
pluralism in reaching decisions about what colleges should
be admitted. Four of the charter members were independent
or nondenominational (Gordon, Taylor, Westmont, and
Wheaton). The other six original joiners represented five
different denominational traditions: Baptist General
Conference (Bethel in Minnesota), Mennonite (Eastern
Mennonite), Free Methodist (Greenville and Seattle
Pacific), Evangelical Friends (Malone), and Brethren in
Christ (Messiah). Four additions between 1973 and 1976
either reinforced or further enhanced the Consortium's
denominational diversity; new members included George Fox
(Evangelical Friends), Houghton (Wesleyan), Asbury
(independent), and Trinity (Evangelical Free). The only
institution to leave was Eastern Mennonite, which cited a
financial concern about membership fees when it withdrew
from the Consortium in 1978.
7
Nevertheless, the Consortium's membership stability
and conservative growth rate indicate that Smith's
kaleidoscope metaphor falters some as an explanatory tool.
At best, the Consortium kaleidoscope lacked some of the
colors, pieces, and turns that Smith noticed in the broader