Faith Facts

• Churches of Christ membership is declining across the United States.
• Christian universities tied to the fellowship continue to see rising enrollment in professional programs such as nursing, pharmacy, law, and engineering.
• Most of these institutions maintain policies requiring faculty and board members to share a commitment to the Church of Christ faith tradition.

Declining membership in Churches of Christ is creating new hiring challenges for universities affiliated with the fellowship. As demand for professional programs continues to grow, administrators are finding it harder to recruit faculty who are members of the Churches of Christ.

Presidents from eleven institutions spoke with The Christian Chronicle about their hiring policies. Nine of the schools require all board members to belong to the fellowship, while Lipscomb University requires seventy-five percent and Pepperdine University requires a majority.

Faculty requirements vary by campus. Freed-Hardeman University continues its longstanding policy that board members, administrators, faculty, and staff must be members of the Churches of Christ, with only hourly hospitality and housekeeping workers exempted.

“We have loosened strings on faculty,” Oklahoma Christian President Ken Jones said. “They have to be willing to agree to our covenants — who we are as a university — and deeply Jesus-centered in their faith and committed to a local congregation.

“We can’t fill our faculty ranks otherwise,” Jones added. “You don’t have to believe exactly what the Church of Christ believes, but you have to agree to live in this environment with us.”

Smaller institutions face similar realities. Crowley’s Ridge College President Richard Johnson reported that more than ninety percent of employees are members of Churches of Christ, though the school sometimes must look beyond the fellowship.

“We try to hire all employees within Churches of Christ when we can,” Johnson said, “but that doesn’t mean we’re always successful.”

At Florida College, President John Weaver explained that employment depends on spiritual and religious principles rather than denominational membership alone. York University maintains a policy for a majority of faculty to be members of the Church of Christ while remaining open to aligned candidates from other backgrounds.

Lubbock Christian University President Scott McDowell emphasized the desire for faculty who are Jesus followers passionate about faith. Members of the College of Biblical Studies must belong to Churches of Christ.

Faulkner University requires faculty in traditional programs to be members of a Church of Christ for tenure, but this rule does not apply to its law school or College of Health Sciences. Abilene Christian University seeks full-time faculty and senior administrators who belong to a local Church of Christ congregation, though the board may grant exceptions when candidates demonstrate spiritual fit.

Pepperdine University President Jim Gash said the school aims for a critical mass of faculty from Churches of Christ to preserve institutional heritage and direction.

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Faith Facts

• A California judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by donor Steve Bray against Sean Feucht over a $250,000 donation to his ministry.
• The dismissal, filed without prejudice, allows Bray to refile the case but represents a significant legal victory for Feucht.
• The case centered on allegations of financial mismanagement related to a donation made more than three years ago.

Activist missionary and worship leader Sean Feucht is celebrating what he calls a “day of vindication” following a California court’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit that has hung over his ministry for months. The case, brought by Christian philanthropist and businessman Steve Bray, alleged that Feucht misspent a substantial $250,000 donation made to his organization more than three years ago.

The dismissal marks a significant moment for Feucht, whose Let Us Worship movement gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as he organized outdoor worship gatherings across America. These events became symbols of religious freedom and pushback against government restrictions on worship services, drawing both strong support and criticism.

While the dismissal was filed without prejudice—meaning Bray could potentially refile the lawsuit—it represents a legal win for Feucht and his ministry at a time when Christian organizations increasingly face scrutiny over financial practices. The case had raised questions about donor expectations and ministry accountability, issues that resonate deeply within the Christian nonprofit community.

The lawsuit’s origins trace back to a donation Bray made over three years ago, though specific details about the alleged misuse of funds were not publicly detailed in court documents. Financial transparency remains a critical concern for Christian donors who want to ensure their contributions advance kingdom work effectively.

Feucht has built a reputation as an outspoken advocate for religious liberty and conservative values, often positioning himself at the intersection of faith and politics. His ministry has attracted significant support from Christians who appreciate his willingness to challenge government overreach and defend constitutional freedoms.

The dismissal allows Feucht to move forward without the cloud of pending litigation, though the without-prejudice designation means the legal matter could potentially resurface. For now, however, Feucht and his supporters are treating the ruling as a vindication of his ministry practices and financial stewardship.

This case highlights the delicate relationship between major donors and ministry leaders, particularly when large sums are involved. Clear communication about how donations will be used and regular accountability measures can help prevent such disputes from arising in the first place.

As Christian ministries navigate an increasingly complex legal and cultural landscape, cases like this serve as reminders of the importance of maintaining both financial integrity and transparent communication with supporters. The outcome may provide encouragement to other ministries facing similar legal challenges from donors.

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Faith Facts

• A former Allen University trustee has filed a lawsuit alleging widespread financial misappropriation and misuse of school property by board members and AME Church officials
• The lawsuit claims trustees and church leadership failed to investigate or refused to investigate multiple serious allegations of financial misconduct
• Allen University, a historically Black institution founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870, now faces scrutiny over its stewardship of resources entrusted to its care

A former member of the Board of Trustees at Allen University has taken the extraordinary step of filing a lawsuit against fellow board members and officials of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The legal action centers on allegations of financial impropriety and the alleged failure of institutional leadership to uphold their fiduciary responsibilities.

According to the lawsuit, the former trustee alleges that board members and church officials either failed to investigate or deliberately refused to investigate multiple serious allegations of financial misappropriation. The lawsuit also claims misuse of school property has occurred without proper accountability or oversight.

Allen University, located in Columbia, South Carolina, holds a special place in the history of Christian higher education in America. Founded by the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1870, the institution was established to provide educational opportunities during the post-Civil War era. The university has long been recognized for its commitment to faith-based education rooted in Christian principles.

The allegations strike at the heart of Christian stewardship principles that call for transparency, accountability, and faithful management of resources. Biblical teaching is clear that those entrusted with oversight responsibilities bear a special burden to act with integrity and protect the institutions under their care.

For families who have invested in Allen University’s mission and students who have entrusted their futures to the institution, these allegations raise troubling questions. The lawsuit suggests a potential breakdown in the governance structures meant to safeguard the university’s resources and reputation.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Black Christian denominations in America, has historically maintained high standards for its affiliated institutions. This legal challenge will test whether church leadership responds with the transparency and corrective action that the situation may demand.

As this case moves forward through the legal system, it serves as a reminder that Christian institutions must be held to the highest standards of financial integrity. The faithful stewardship of resources is not merely a legal obligation but a spiritual mandate that reflects the character of the faith these institutions claim to represent.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for governance practices at faith-based institutions nationwide, particularly those with historic missions serving underrepresented communities.

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