On Monday, September 29, 2025, Dr. Todd J. Williams, president and CEO of 91³Ô¹Ï, and Dr. Adam J. Porcella, senior vice president and provost, were invited to testify before the U.S. Religious Liberty Commission.

The hearing was held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. The hearing included a tribute to Charlie Kirk and then shifted to a focus on religious liberty in education, bringing in the perspectives of public school faculty and faith leaders.

Dr. Williams testified as a guest on the third panel, “Religious Liberty in Education: Protecting the Religious Identity and Autonomy of Faith-Based Schools,� highlighting the vital role faith-based institutions of higher education play in preserving religious freedom.

The Religious Liberty Commission was by President Trump under Executive Order 14291 and is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, increasing awareness of and celebrating America’s peaceful religious pluralism, highlighting current threats to religious liberty, and developing strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.

“It was a privilege to testify today to the president’s Religious Liberty Commission,” said Dr. Williams. “There are many good people doing good work to not only defend religious liberty but shape the conversation on the value of it for a free society.â€�

91³Ô¹Ï is proud of Dr. Williams’ and Dr. Porcella’s leadership and contributions to a national dialogue on religious liberty. A recording of the event will be made available at

will be held as a follow-up to the September 8 hearing with President Trump. The hearing will include two parts: A Tribute to Charlie Kirk as a Man of Faith, and An Exploration of Religious Liberty in Education: Public School Faculty Perspectives and Faith Leader Perspectives. Dr. Williams and Dr. Porcella are invited to speak during the latter part of this event, which has an objective to “understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in the educational setting, recognize present threats to religious liberty in education, and identify opportunities to secure religious liberty in this context for the future.� As guests on the third panel, “Religious Liberty in Education: Protecting the Religious Identity and Autonomy of Faith-Based Schools,� Dr. Williams and Dr. Porcella will highlight the vital role faith-based institutions of higher education play in preserving religious freedom.

The Religious Liberty Commission will gather again on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9 am. Those interested in watching the proceedings can watch it live at .

About the Religious Liberty Commission
The Religious Liberty Commission was by President Trump under Executive Order 14291 and is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, increasing awareness of and celebrating America’s peaceful religious pluralism, highlighting current threats to religious liberty, and developing strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.

Dr. Stephen Dill, chair, EdD in Educational Leadership

Dr. Stephen Dill has joined the School of Education faculty as chair of the EdD in Educational Leadership. Dr. Dill brings to the position more than four decades of leadership experience in Christian education, including 25 years as head of school and assistant headmaster at Delaware County Christian School, followed by nearly a decade of executive leadership at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). He most recently served as executive director of the ACSI Education Foundation, where he led strategic initiatives in research, innovation, and leadership development. 

Dr. Dill holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from Temple University, an MA in Educational Leadership from Villanova University, and a BA in Social Science from Wheaton College. He has conducted over 100 professional workshops on topics including school improvement, accreditation, governance, finance, development, and strategic planning. He also brings extensive higher education experience, having taught graduate-level courses in educational leadership, finance, and governance at institutions such as Eastern University, Columbia International University, Grace College and Seminary, and 91³Ô¹Ï.

Christian Finnigan, chair, Politics, Philosophy, and History

Christian joins the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences as an associate professor and chair of Politics, Philosophy, and History. He previously served as assistant professor of history and politics at Colorado Christian University. He has also taught at several other institutions (Davenant Hall, Patrick Henry College, Sacred Heart University, and Yale University) and served as an Emo F.J. Van Halsema fellow at the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies at Calvin University, as a visiting assistant in research at Yale, and as a fellow at the Centennial Institute.

Christian also brings to the University experience in politics and ministry. His political work includes serving as director of ballot access and delegate selection for the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. Fred Thompson, as a White House Intern, and with the American Conservative Union. His work in ministry includes serving as a pastoral apprentice at Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA; working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and as a ministerial candidate in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)­, preaching in churches throughout the United States, England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Christian holds a BA from Randolph-Macon College, an MA from University College London, an MLitt from the University of St Andrews, an MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary, a ThM from Erskine Theological Seminary, and a JD from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He is currently completing a PhD at McGill University and, as part of his doctoral work, has undertaken additional studies at the University of Cambridge, Yale University, and the University of Virginia. He has presented papers at academic conferences internationally, including the Sixteenth Century Society, the Society for Reformation Studies, and the Southern Political Science Association. More recently, he published a chapter, “The Emergence of Liberty and History’s Theo-Political Problem,� in Generation to Generation: Writings in Honor of Douglas F. Kelly (Mentor, 2023).

Isaiah Cramer, part-time faculty

Isaiah Cramer is a part-time faculty member who will be teaching in the School of Divinity and the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He received his BS in Bible and MDiv from 91³Ô¹Ï; MA in Hebraic Roots from Jerusalem University College; and is currently a PhD candidate at Columbia International University. His dissertation focuses on the exegetical impact of later canonical revelation on the book of Zephaniah. 

Janelle Curtis-Beaman, part-time faculty

Janelle Curtis-Beaman is a part-time faculty member teaching in the School of Business and Technology. Janelle holds a BA in Communication from Messiah University and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University. Janelle began her career as a corporate trainer, working with businesses to improve their communication skills for the purpose of successful sales, management, and customer service. She uses this industry expertise, along with adjunct experience at Messiah University and Delaware Valley University, to serve businesses and non-profit organizations in the area. 

Amy Dunlap, part-time faculty

Amy Dunlap is a part-time faculty member in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. After receiving her BS in Bible and BS in Education (Secondary English Education) from 91³Ô¹Ï in 2007, she began teaching at Esperanza Academy in North Philadelphia. She transitioned to teaching part-time at 91³Ô¹Ï in 2014 after obtaining her MA in English from Westchester and a certification in teaching writing from the Pennsylvania Writing and Literature Project. Her passion is American literature and creative writing courses. In 2021, she transitioned to 91³Ô¹Ï’s online programs and began teaching for Veritas Scholars Academy as well. This fall she rejoins the faculty in a part-time role in 91³Ô¹Ï Online. 

John Stange, part-time faculty

John Stange is a part-time faculty member for the Digital Media & Communications program in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences and for the School of Divinity. He holds a BS in Bible, BS in Education, and a MS in Christian Counseling from 91³Ô¹Ï.

John has served in pastoral ministry for over 30 years. He is the lead pastor of Core Creek Community Church in Langhorne, PA. He has a background in radio broadcasting and has always enjoyed creating various forms of media. He is the author of multiple books, including Dwell on These Things (Penguin Random House, 2021). John hosts two online platforms: BibleStudyHeadquarters.com and PlatformLaunchers.com. His podcasts in particular have been downloaded millions of times by listeners throughout the world.

Affordable Degree Guide provides tuition comparisons, financial aid insights, and curated degree rankings to help students find cost-effective, credible educational pathways. 91³Ô¹Ï’s top ranking in the state of PA is a testament to our commitment to affordability. 

“91³Ô¹Ï has a mission to educate students to serve Christ in the church, society, and the world, and making that education affordable is one of our chief commitments as an institution,â€� said Tom Sherf, vice president of marketing and enrollment. “To know that we are a top-ranking school as well as leading the charge of affordable Christian online education in Pennsylvania is very encouraging. We will continue to pursue new ways to make our distinctly biblical education affordable without sacrificing the quality of our academics or compromising on our mission.â€�

To learn more about 91³Ô¹Ï’s affordable and biblical online education, visit cairn.edu/online. You can also . 

Accreditation is evaluated every eight years. The University Steering Committee began formal preparation for the self-study in Summer 2021. The University decided to conduct a priority-based self-study, which allowed for the University to examine the effectiveness of its declared mission as it meets MSCHE’s seven accreditation standards. Over 40 faculty and staff members were involved in the creation of the 90-page self-study document that represented over 550 pieces of collected evidence. 

After submitting the self-study, the University hosted an evaluation team from MSCHE composed of volunteer administrators from other MSCHE-accredited institutions. The site visit was March 24–27, 2024, and involved the team interviewing nearly 50 department representatives and students, in addition to members from the Board of Trustees. At the conclusion of their visit, the review team provided 22 pieces of collegial advice, 13 commendations, four recommendations, and no requirements. They specifically commend the University for its:

• “commitment to make the Mission of the institution pervasively visible in the physical structures of the buildings, to embed it in the curricular and co-curricular programs, and to embody it in the lives of its faculty, staff, and studentsâ€�
• “attentiveness to mounting concerns for students indebtedness and its commitment to practices that highlight the risks of student debt and for measures to control cost of attendance that moderates student loan relianceâ€�
• “comprehensive academic and co-curricular services that promote academic readiness, retention, and persistence, as well as support for international students through its innovative Missionaries in Residence Programâ€�
• “review of the curriculum and for discontinuing low enrollment programsâ€�

“I am very pleased that 91³Ô¹Ï has received a clean reaccreditation,â€� said Dr. Todd J. Williams, president of 91³Ô¹Ï. “This is evidence not only of the University’s fiscal stability but also of the quality of work carried out by the excellent faculty and staff who serve here. It is particularly gratifying to have an accrediting body and site visit team commend our institution for the strength, clarity, and professional execution of our mission.â€�

The Keller Center was launched on February 7 by . Acknowledging that the western church is found in a post-Christendom culture, the Center has a threefold mission to “open the front door� of the church to unbelievers, “close the back door� by strengthening the faith of those already in the church, and “send out the equipped� to take Christ into local communities.

Knowing the purpose and goals of the Center, Dr. Plummer is a perfect fit for their inaugural group of 26 fellows. He has been serving the 91³Ô¹Ï community since 2010, challenging students to think critically about their faith and their engagement with the world. As a professor of theology, he has served as the primary faculty for the senior-level Apologetics course in addition to many other courses focused on applied theology. He also contributed to two recent books, and . 

In his role as a fellow, Dr. Plummer will create tools and resources for the benefit of the evangelical church that combine “rigorous cultural analysis with theological depth.� You can learn more about the purpose and goals of the Center here: .

This past semester, the reached out to 91³Ô¹Ï’s visual arts department requesting a project. The project parameters consisted of six individual murals that were to represent one of the FLDC’s six core values: Faith, Liberty, Justice, Unity, Hope, and Love. Six artists were then commissioned to take on the project, each selecting a value they were most passionate about. Throughout the semester, they worked diligently to blend their personal artistic creativity with a passage of Scripture chosen to inspire and inform their piece.

In November, the artists traveled to the FLDC to unveil their work. Situated within the bustling city of Philadelphia, just across the street from the prominent Liberty Bell, the Center is difficult to miss—especially with the brightly painted murals hanging outside the Center. 

Not only are the murals a representation of the Center’s values, they are also infused with gospel themes as they relate to the core values. So as crowds passed by every day for the two months the murals were on display, our artists’ work clearly proclaimed the gospel through the universal language of art.

To learn more about our visual arts programs, visit cairn.edu/sciences.

Mr. Eugene Vickers passed into eternity in the early morning on Friday, July 15, 2022, at 106 years old. He is survived by four daughters, 11 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

Eugene and his wife, Betty, had been married only two months when Pearl Harbor was attacked in December 1941 and the US entered WWII. Mr. Vickers enlisted and entered the navy as a lieutenant and was sent to Harvard for the training required to serve as a communications officer. He was also assigned to serve as chaplain when he arrived on the USS Ganymede AK-104.

Mr. Vickers began studying at 91³Ô¹Ï before the war, but when he returned, he began faithfully serving the institution. He served for 45 years in various positions, including director of admissions, director of alumni, soccer coach, and director of evening school. His four daughters are alumni of the University, and several of his grandchildren are as well.

His favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5–6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.�

A memorial service to celebrate Mr. Vickers’ life will be held on Sunday, September 18, at 5 pm at Grace Chapel in Havertown, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to 91³Ô¹Ï in Langhorne, PA, Delaware County Christian School in Newtown Square, PA, and Grace Chapel in Havertown, PA.