Former CU President William Brown Joins Chuck Colson Center

William Brown, the ninth president of Cedarville University, joined the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview in August 2015 as national director of the Colson Fellows Program and the senior fellow for worldview and culture.

“Most of the issues we have in our culture are not issues of Republican and Democrat or conservative and liberal or whatever, ” Brown said. “They’re really heart and worldview issues, and that’s what Christ came to do is help us focus on the reality of who God is.”

The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview was founded by Charles Colson, an evangelical leader who became popular amid the 1970s Watergate scandal and his subsequent prison ministry. The Center includes the radio ministry, BreakPoint, and the Colson Fellows Program.

The Fellows Program is a one-year study designed to teach professionals how to to integrate a biblical worldview into their field. Since 2004, nearly 1,000 professionals have graduated from the program.

“It’s a program that’s been highly effective and it’s really neat because we bring in some of the top teachers of biblical scholars and cultural scholars and so on to interact with those who are in the program,”  Brown said.

Brown served as president of Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, and then as president of Cedarville University from 2003 to 2013.

Brown was appointed to a leadership position at the Colson Center by John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, who was a former student and faculty member at Bryan College.

“We’ve known each other for quite a while, and I actually introduced him to the idea of worldview,” Brown said.

Stonestreet said in an email that Brown is serving well in this new position.

“It’s been great working with Bill again – his wisdom and optimism are infectious, and he’s taking the Colson Fellows program to a new level of impact and effectiveness,” Stonestreet said.

Brown has written books such as “Making Sense of Your Faith,” “Where Have All the Dreamers Gone? Observations from a Biblical Worldview,” and “Making Sense of Your World.” In addition, he has written over 100 articles on worldview and has spoken on the topic at events around the world. During his time at Cedarville, Brown created a ministry called “re:View,” an award-winning DVD series designed to help youth pastors, local churches and Christian schools teach students how to engage culture with a biblical worldview.

Paul Dixon, chancellor and eighth president of Cedarville University, said the position at the Colson Center fits Brown’s passions well.

“From what I know of Bill Brown, he has a passion for his God, for his family and for worldview,” he said.

Thomas White, current president of Cedarville University, echoed that sentiment.

“Dr. Brown is well known for his work on worldviews,” White said in an email. “I am thrilled that he will continue to train the next generation with a biblical worldview, and I pray God’s blessings upon his efforts.”

Jen Taggart is a junior journalism major and off-campus news editor for Cedars. She enjoys writing, listening to music and fueling her chocolate addiction.