The Van Raalte Institute announced a new collection of essays titled The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, which is a follow-up to a 2005 edition that examined ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College’s historical journey in the “middle way.â€� Both books explore how ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College has balanced its Christian identity and academic rigor, while navigating changing cultural and higher education landscapes over the last several decades.

The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ front coverThe Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ releases on Sept. 21 with a book launch and panel discussion held on ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s campus at Graves Hall from 7–9 p.m. 

The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ features a collection of essays by 18 contributors — current and past ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College faculty and staff — who provide a 25-year look-back to the questions and issues addressed in Can ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Endure? A Historical Case Study in Christian Higher Education, authored by Dr. Caroline J. Simon and Dr. James C. Kennedy in 2005. Simon spent 25 years teaching philosophy at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College. Kennedy was an assistant professor in the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College Department of History between 1997 and 2003, and continues to serve as an honorary research fellow at the Van Raalte Institute.

“With the support of a NetVUE/CIC grant that guided two summer workshops and conferences, we also planned a sequel to the Can ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Endure book published in 2005,â€� said Dr. Marla Hoffman ’82 Lunderberg — professor of English and department chair – who co-edited the recent collection with Dr. Jack Mulder, Jr. ’00 — professor of philosophy and department chair. Lunderberg added that the NetVUE grant was awarded to ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College to help explore its historical identity, mission and evolution over time.

The essayists contributing to The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ share their perspectives on a variety of events and themes that ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College has grappled with over the last two decades – including various understandings of the college’s ecumenical vision, which has a foundational and historical relationship with the Reformed Church in America (RCA). “ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College is a place to bridge divides while not ignoring the divides that exist,â€� said Mulder. “We feel this book is a great example of how ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ allows for disagreement and expression on contentious cultural and theological topics.â€�

Among the essay contributors are: current ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College President Matt Scogin. As the 14th president of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College, he highlights how ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ – and a handful of other Christian colleges – are passionately working hard to buck the historical trend of Christian colleges departing from their Christian roots to embrace a secular future. 

“This book gets deep in sharing great examples of the programmatic work of what ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College is about today,â€� said Phil Tanis, director of the Van Raalte Institute, who also serves as editor-in-chief and publisher of Van Raalte Press. “It’s our hope that this book can be an example to other colleges about the journey and challenges in maintaining a Christian college. The essays collected here show that ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ – including its faculty, staff, leadership and board of trustees – found a way to do that.â€�

Additional project contributors were Katherine Stark – project coordinator at Van Raalte Institute — and Russell L. Gasero, former archivist of the Reformed Church in America.  The book is dedicated to Dr. Fred Johnson III, a beloved ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College history professor who passed away in February 2026. Johnson also authored a chapter in the book and its epilogue. 

September 21 Panel Discussion

To officially launch The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, editors Lunderberg and Mulder are hosting a panel discussion and Q&A on Monday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at Graves Hall. Books will be available for sale. Joining them as panelists are:

  • Dr. Caroline J. Simon – former ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College philosophy professor, former provost of Whitworth University and author of Can ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Endure?

  • Dr. Jeanne Petit — Betty Roelofs ’53 Miller professor of history and department chair at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

  • Dr. Marissa Doshi — professor of communication at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

Book Availability

The Endurance of ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ is 500 pages and can be purchased in Holland at the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ College bookstore and through Amazon. Cost is $30. It will be made available as a digital download at a later date.