Life Pacific University
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 The Hicks Center | |
| Established | 1923 |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | International Church of the Foursquare Gospel |
| President | Angie Richey |
| Location | , , United States |
| Athletics | NAIA |
| Website | lifepacific |
Life Pacific University (LPU) is a private Christian bible college endorsed by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and located in San Dimas, California. LPU serves as the denomination's flagship institution for higher education. Until 2004, the college also operated an extension site, LPU Virginia, in Christiansburg, Virginia.[1]
History[]
The school was founded in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California. [2] The name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it moved into a newly constructed five-story complex next door to Angelus Temple. In 1990 the college relocated to its current home in San Dimas, California. In the early 2000s the name Life Pacific College was adopted and in 2019 the institution was renamed and restructured as Life Pacific University with the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Theology & Ministry.
In 1957, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, sister college Mount Vernon Bible College was founded, relocating to Christiansburg, Virginia in the 1980s. The name was changed to LIFE Bible College East in 1988. In 2003 LIFE East closed for financial reasons and its records were transferred to Life Pacific. Life Pacific now operates LPU Virginia as an extension campus at the former LIFE Bible College East property.
The university was granted an exception to Title IX in 2017 which allows it to legally discriminate against LGBT students for religious reasons.[3]
Alumni[]
Alumni have played a significant role not only within the Foursquare church, but also within the Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard movement. Life's most prominent graduates include pastors Jack Hayford, Chuck Smith, Ronald D. Mehl, Ralph Moore, Ricky Temple, Jim Tolle, Chad Veach, Irene Poupore, Randy Remington, and the late African American actor, pastor and academic Otis Young.
Accreditation and Affiliations[]
LPU is accredited by The Association for Biblical Higher Education, and with Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It is an affiliate member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. LPU also holds membership in the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), as well as many other professional higher education associations and societies.
References[]
- ^ http://crosspointeconferencecenter.com/about/history-of-the-crosspointe-campus/
- ^ George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, Volume 5, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 1200
- ^ "Worst List: The Absolute Worst Campuses for LGBTQ Youth". Campus Pride. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
External links[]
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Coordinates: 34°05′57″N 117°49′44″W / 34.0993°N 117.8290°W
- Association for Biblical Higher Education
- Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- The Foursquare Church
- Bible colleges
- Pentecostalism in California
- Educational institutions established in 1923
- Universities and colleges in Los Angeles County, California
- San Dimas, California
- 1923 establishments in California
- Private universities and colleges in California