The George Fox Center for Christian Formation
The Center for Christian Formation brings Christian thought and action together, shaping important cultural conversations and connecting the George Fox community to the regional and global movements that impact our flourishing as citizens, leaders and followers of Christ.
We believe your college years should do more than prepare you for a career; they should inspire a lifelong pursuit of spiritual growth and the common good. The center serves as a visible, accessible entry point for this kind of “whole-person” education through its mission:
“To form thoughtful, faithful, and engaged citizens who pursue the common good with deep wisdom, moral courage and neighbor love.”
Initiatives
Public Forums for Christian Thought
The George Fox Center for Christian Formation will host the university’s public flagship conferences, inviting the community to encounter world-class thinkers, performers and spiritual mentors through on-campus events.
Fall Conference
Fall events are designed to spark intellectual and spiritual renewal, with conferences rotating between The Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, a gathering of 250-plus international Lewis scholars and enthusiasts, and Resonate, a collaboration with TogetherPDX to understand modern challenges through the lens of timeless Christian wisdom.
Watch: The Best Advice about AI & Faith You’re Going to Get in 2026
Spring Conference
Spring events focus on the Christian call to neighbor love through the work of peace, justice and reconciliation. The Woolman Forum and Shalom conferences ground these issues in our unique Quaker heritage, while amplifying new voices and approaches to restoring the brokenness of our world.
Watch: George Fox University Students Find Peace & Community
Vocational Events
The Center for Christian Formation will work in partnership with academic programs to identify and promote topic- or discipline-specific events, including:
- Reiten Lecture (organized and sponsored through the College of Business)
- Dalton Lecture (organized and sponsored by College of Natural Sciences)
- Richard J. Foster Award Lecture (organized and sponsored by Theology & SPIL)
Town Halls
Designed to promote civil discourse and community dialogue, Town Halls will be student-led events emphasizing listening, discernment and civility.
Additional lectures or university events may be incorporated into the center based on faculty or community recommendations.
Student Track in Civic Life & Leadership
The center will establish a multi-disciplinary academic track that equips students with the foundations and practical tools of civic engagement, public service, and leadership.
Drawing on existing courses in American political history, political theory, theology of public life, economics, ethics, communications, and related fields, the track may be offered as a certificate or minor housed in the Department of History and Political Science. The program will include:
- Designated courses and mentorship
- Experiential learning; internships
- Project-based civic-engagement work
A Legacy of Christian Leadership
As Oregon’s largest private university and its premier Christian institution, George Fox is uniquely positioned to bridge faith, learning and culture.
We are the only university in the Pacific Northwest to produce a U.S. President. Richard J. Foster, who inspired millions of evangelicals with his Celebration of Discipline is a George Fox alumnus. Senator Mark Hatfield, a Republican known for his bipartisanship and casting the lone “no” vote on the Vietnam War, chose George Fox University as the place to teach and write in the twilight of his career, stating “Our moral basis comes out of institutions like George Fox.”
Drawing from this rich history, and building upon the transformative work of programs like the Center for Peace and Justice, The Civility Project and the Program for Leadership & Formation, the Center for Christian Formation provides a platform for coordinated action and continued investment in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
Contact
The George Fox Center for Faith Formation is chaired by Dr. Joseph Clair, Associate Provost for the Division of Humanities & Honors. For more information contact formation@georgefox.edu.