Pietistic and Holiness Movement Bible colleges are colleges that have a focus of training Christian church leaders to help congregants lead a holier life every day. These colleges follow some of the basic tenets of John Wycliffe, Martin Luther and John Wesley’s theological practices. In contrast to traditional Protestant churches, Pietistic and Holiness Movement churches focus on helping build individual holiness and the desire to live a daily more consistent Christian life.
The intended Christian goal of the Pietistic and Holiness movement is to change the heart of each person and implant Christ in their inner soul. In doing this, the congregant is taught to live more Christ-like in ways that result in visible fruits of good works. Therefore, the focus of the church leadership is to encourage parishioners to go beyond simple words of professed faith and Sunday church attendance and instead to actively participate in efforts according to God’s will for man through Christ’s examples.
These Bible colleges train people for ministry, pastoral support and church leadership positions as well as missionaries to be the guidepost for churches whose direction is concurrent with this Christian vision. They traditionally offer associate and bachelor’s degree programs.
Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection Undergraudate Christian School
The Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection is distinct form what is now the Wesleyan Methodist Chuch. The Wesleyan Methoidst (Alleghency Conference) tends to have conservative churches that find their roots in the holiness movement.
There is one Alleghency Wesylan Methodist Connection undergraudate Christian school:
- Allegheny Wesleyan College, a Bible college of the Wesleyan Methodist Church (Allegheny Conference)
Christian Missionary Alliance Christian Universities
The Christian and Missionary Alliance was formed in the late 1800s and has approximately 500,000 members throughout the world today. The denomination’s history has led to strong missionary, pentecostal and holiness movement influences.
There is one official Christian and Missionary Alliance Bible college
- Ambrose University, a joint Church of the Nazarene, and Christian and Missionary Alliance Bible college
Another school has historically been affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance:
- Prairie College, a Bible college formerly with the Christian and Missionary Alliance
Church of the Nazarene Bible Colleges
The Church of the Nazarene grew out of the holiness movement in the 19th Century and continues to have strong pietistic influences. The evangelical denomination counts more than 2 million members worldwide.
There are a couple of Church of the Nazarene Bible colleges:
- Ambrose University, a joint university of the Church of the Nazarene, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance
- Nazarene Bible Colleges, a Bible college of the Church of the Nazarene
Evangelical Covenant Church Christian College
The Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) has over 800 congregations throughout North America. The denomination is characterized by a pietistic influence and historically lutheran theology, although its churches are now mostly broadly evangelical.
There is one official ECC Bible College:
- Alaska Christian College, an Bible College of the ECC located in Alaska
Other Undergraduate Bible Schools form the Holiness Movement
The holiness movement of the 1800s gave rise to several other bible colleges that aren’t denominationally affiliated today. These schools continue to show their pietistic roots, however.
There are several Bible colleges with holiness and pietistic influence:
- Kentucky Mountain Bible College, a holiness Bible college in Kentucky
- Penn View Bible Institute, a wesleyan Bible institute with holiness roots
See more accredited Christian undergraduate colleges:
- Anabaptist Bible Schools
- Conservative Bible Schools
- Missions Bible Schools
- Pentecostal Bible Schools
- Wesleyan Bible Schools
Alternative, check out all the lists of Bible schools by denomination.