Azusa Pacific University is an interdenominational evangelical Christian university near Los Angeles. CCCU member with genuine Christian identity, though recent years have seen controversy over LGBT-related policy changes. 68/100 Mixed.
Azusa Pacific University (APU) was founded in 1899 and has been a significant evangelical Christian institution in Southern California for over a century. It is a CCCU member with required chapel, Christian faculty commitments, and explicit Christian mission. APU has strong programs in nursing, education, and ministry training.
The concern for conservative evangelical families: APU has navigated significant controversy over its policies regarding same-sex relationships among students. In 2018, APU briefly lifted a ban on same-sex relationships among students before reinstating it under donor and alumni pressure. This pattern — policy change under pressure then reversal — suggests ongoing tension between institutional Christian commitments and progressive cultural pressure. The board ultimately maintained traditional Christian sexual ethics, but the controversy is worth knowing.
APU remains a genuinely Christian institution that has held its position on biblical sexuality despite significant pressure. For families that want a Southern California Christian university, APU is a viable option with awareness of the ongoing cultural tensions. Compare with Biola University (La Mirada) which has maintained a more consistently conservative evangelical identity.
Learn more at Azusa Pacific University.
Evaluating whether a celebrity is a Christian requires distinguishing between: cultural Christianity (grew up in church), nominal Christianity (identifies as Christian without active faith), and genuine Christianity (personal faith in Jesus Christ evidenced consistently over time). GodlyScore applies a consistent standard: documented public evidence. "The LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Score: 68/100 Mixed.
See our Christian Celebrities hub for other public figures assessed with the same standard. The Gospel Coalition provides additional cultural context.