Calvin News

Calvin University is establishing the Center for Faith and Technology, a new interdisciplinary center that will explore the intersection of Christian faith and technology and provide a thoughtful, credible Christian voice in conversations surrounding artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. 

Based in Calvin’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, the center will draw on the university’s longstanding strength in engineering, computer science, and faith integration while bringing together perspectives from across the liberal arts and professional programs. Its work will engage questions involving technology and how it interplays with education, business, health care, science, philosophy, psychology, media, worship, governance and other areas of society. 

“Technology is shaping nearly every dimension of our lives, and Christians need to be part of that conversation, not simply reacting to technological change, but thoughtfully considering how technology can be developed and used in ways that serve our neighbors and contribute to the flourishing of our communities,” said Calvin University President Greg Elzinga. “This center reflects the very best of Calvin University: a Reformed vision for engaging the world, a deep commitment to faith and learning, excellence in engineering and computer science, and a Christian liberal arts foundation that prepares students to serve and lead in every sphere of life. 

The center will provide resources and opportunities for students, faculty, churches, Christian organizations, educators, technology professionals, and the broader public. Its work will include academic research and publications, public events, speakers and panels, podcasts and videos, course resources, faculty development, and practical projects. 

Derek Schuurman will lead the center’s development and work as its inaugural director. 

“Calvin has a remarkable history of thinking carefully about the relationship between Christianity, technology, and culture,” Schuurman said. “We have an opportunity to build on that legacy while addressing some of the most consequential technological questions of our time. We want to help people move beyond simplistic reactions to technology and toward developing a deeper understanding of what technology is, what it does to us, and how Christians might faithfully shape and use it.”

A deep and rich history of technological engagement

The center’s work will be explicitly informed by a Reformed biblical perspective. This approach recognizes technology as part of humanity’s creative calling in God’s world while also acknowledging that technology, like every aspect of culture, is affected by the brokenness of creation. 

That perspective has deep roots at Calvin. In the 20th century, Reformational thinkers such as Hendrik Van Riessen and Egbert Schuurman helped establish important foundations for Christian reflection on technology. The 1986 book Responsible Technology, an edited project supported by Calvin’s Center for Christian Scholarship, became an influential work in Christian thinking about technology and engineering and helped inspire the creation of subsequent scholarship and organizations focused on faith and technology. 

The new center will continue that tradition while addressing contemporary questions surrounding artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and the rapid pace of technological change. 

“Artificial intelligence has made the need for this conversation especially urgent,” Schuurman said. “Technology is not neutral, and we see how AI is already affecting education, work, creativity, medicine, business, communication, and the church. There’s an adage that we shape our tools and then our tools shape us. We want Calvin to be a place where students and others can ask not only, ‘What can this technology do?’ but also, ‘what kind of people is this shaping us into and what kind of world are we building?’ To do that, we will need a multi-disciplinary approach.”

The center will collaborate with Calvin’s existing centers and institutes, including the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, the Calvin Center for Innovation in Business and the de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development. 

Leaders say the goal is to encourage dialogue across disciplines and ensure that conversations about technology do not remain isolated within engineering and computer science. 

The center also will build relationships beyond Calvin with Christian colleges and universities, faith-and-work organizations, churches, schools, ministries, and other organizations seeking to navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies. 

In keeping with Calvin’s mission to “think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal,” the center will seek to bring a faith-informed perspective to wider conversations about technology and the common good.

Engaging students

Student engagement will be a central component of the center’s work. Opportunities will include:  

• Courses and capstone experiences focused on faith and technology. 
• Speakers, conferences, and panel discussions on contemporary technology issues. 
• Books, podcasts, videos, and other resources that can be incorporated into Calvin courses. 
• Book discussions and public talks. 
• Faculty development focused on integrating faith and technology throughout the curriculum. 
• Cross-cultural interim courses exploring technology in different cultural contexts. 
• Practical projects that allow students, under faculty supervision, to develop technology solutions informed by Christian principles. 
• Partnerships with churches, Christian schools, and organizations working in technology and global ministry. 
• Potential new academic concentrations and programs involving areas such as science and technology studies, digital humanities, and digital theology. 

The center also will explore faith-informed approaches to teaching and learning in an age of AI, including questions about when students should learn with AI, without AI, and about AI. 

“The university has an important role to play in preparing students not simply to enter a technological world, but to thoughtfully participate in shaping it,” Elzinga said. “We want our graduates to bring both technical competence and Christian wisdom to the places where they will live and work.” 

The center’s work will build upon Calvin’s existing faith-and-technology initiatives and its longstanding commitment to integrating Christian faith with academic study and professional preparation. 

More information about Calvin’s work at the intersection of faith and technology is available at calvin.edu/faith-and-technology.

About Calvin University

Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its 3,700 students from 50 U.S. states, 62 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at calvin.edu.