Join Philip Dearborn, President of ABHE, for a special summer series created to encourage and support leaders in Christian higher education. Every other week, we’ll revisit some of the most popular conversations from past seasons, with practical insights and meaningful reminders about the importance of Christ-centered education.

This episode originally aired November 2025

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Religious liberty is not a political stance but a founding principle essential to a free and flourishing society. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Todd Williams, president of Cairn University, explores why defending religious freedom matters not only for Christian institutions but for the good of all. Drawing from his testimony before the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission, Dr. Williams offers wisdom for leaders seeking to preserve conviction, uphold truth, and prepare the next generation to live faithfully in a changing world.

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Tune In to Discover
▫️Why religious liberty is foundational to a free society

▫️How removing faith from culture weakens justice and virtue

▫️What Christian educators can do to protect institutional autonomy

▫️The dangers of open enrollment and mission drift in Christian colleges

▫️Three practical ways to strengthen your institution’s religious identity

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 Inside the Episode

02:02 - Why religious liberty is a founding principle, not a policy issue

06:13 - How freedom of faith sustains a just and virtuous society

08:02 - What history teaches when religion is removed from culture

14:56 - Todd’s experience testifying before the Religious Liberty Commission

22:12 - Why worldview and theology can never be separated from education

26:44 - Three ways Christian colleges unknowingly weaken their own liberty

34:28 - A practical first step for every Christian leader

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To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Biblical Higher Ed Talk in your favorite podcast player.

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