Azusa Pacific University (APU) is a private Christian university in Azusa, California, founded in 1899. It is a CCCU member and one of Southern California's most prominent Christian universities. In recent years it has navigated significant tensions between its evangelical identity and California's progressive cultural environment.
Azusa Pacific was founded by Friends (Quaker) Christians and has maintained broad evangelical identity for over a century. It is a CCCU member institution with a faculty Statement of Faith, chapel requirements, and integration of Christian faith across academics. Nursing, education, social work, and liberal arts programs serve a substantial student body.
In 2018, APU revised its student handbook to allow same-sex relationships — a departure from its historical traditional marriage position. After significant response from evangelical alumni and donors, the university reversed the policy change in early 2019. This episode is relevant for Christian families: it demonstrates both the institutional pressure APU faces from California's culture and the responsiveness to evangelical donor/alumni pressure that reversed the change.
APU remains a functioning evangelical Christian university with real faith requirements and campus culture. The 2018 episode creates legitimate uncertainty about the trajectory of its Christian identity. Families seeking a more stable evangelical environment should consider Cedarville, Biola, or Taylor. Families comfortable with APU's history and location will find a genuine Christian community in a challenging cultural setting.
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