Fortnightly Club of Redlands

Forman Christian University in Pakistan:
A Strategic Mission

James R. Appleton was named eighth president of the University of Redlands in September 1987.

Prior to this he served for 15 years at the University of Southern California as a member of the faculty, as vice president for student affairs and then as vice president for development. Before 1972 he served in various faculty and administrative positions at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

Dr. Appleton currently serves on several boards and committees outside the University of Redlands. He is serving a three-year term as Chair of the Western Association of Schools & Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities and served for many years on the executive committee of the board of the Washington-based National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the President's Council of NCAA. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Redlands Centennial Bank.

Most recently by invitation Dr. Appleton participated as faculty at a Symposium on Universities and Social Transformation sponsored by the prestigious Salzburg Seminar’s Universities Project. Subsequently, he was named to their Visiting Advisors Program, which is composed of senior level educational leaders who provide advice and recommendations on specific institutional concerns and challenges to universities primarily in Eastern and Central Europe.

He received his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, Illinois. His Ph.D. is from Michigan State University.

From its founding by Presbyterian missionaries in 1864, Forman Christian University (FCC) was widely recognized as one of the best colleges in the Subcontinent. It was a source of leadership development for the Christians in Pakistan but was equally important in educating Muslim leaders in this Islamic Republic with the discipline and core values embraced by FCC. In 1972 the Islamic Regime in power at the time nationalized FCC and over the years the physical plant fell into serious disrepair, the educational quality deteriorated, and its Christian legacy was all but extinguished. Then in 2003, after more than 30 years of government control, by a dramatic move negotiated over three years, the College was returned to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

I visited FCC in Lahore, Pakistan in February 2006 at the invitation of Dr. Peter

Armacost who has served as the president in the three years since denationalization.

Peter has been a professional colleague and a good friend for most of my career. I

provided some assistance to the administration in the efforts to revitalize the FCC

Pakistani alumni and fund development, informally evaluated the progress to determine

whether I could with confidence represent the interests of FCC in this country, and was

helpful to Peter with the random advice that emerges by simply looking carefully at one’s

setting. So this paper draws not only from selected publications and documents, but also

The important question to be answered of course is “Why would the Islamic leadership of

a Muslim country initiate the action to denationalize the College and return it to a

Christian organization?” On the surface this seems incredulous but it is the remarkable

Let’s pause to take a look at Pakistan – to establish some context for the importance of

this story. Pakistan borders the Arabian Sea on its southernmost edge, with India on the

east, Afghanistan on the west and China on the north. The disputes with India over the

state of Kashmir are ongoing, but these tensions pale when compared to Pakistan’s

presence in the world scene of terrorism and the recent claims that extremists are

It is superficial to retell history by centuries, but in this instance it may be justified to fly

through Pakistan’s rich, if turbulent history, just to get us quickly to the present day.

Archeological explorations have revealed impressive ruins of a 4,500-year old urban civilization in Pakistan’s Indus River valley. The reason for the collapse of this highly developed culture is unknown. A major theory is that it was crushed by successive invasions (circa 2000 B.C. and 1400 B.C.) of Aryans, Indo-European warrior tribes from the Caucasus region in what is now Russia. The Aryans were followed in 500 B.C. by Persians and, in 326 B.C. by Alexander the Great.

from A.D. 50, for over 200 years, the Kushan Dynasty was established with Taxila

learning, philosophy, and art. Pakistan’s Islamic history did not emerge until with the

arrival of Muslim traders in the 8th century. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the

Mogul empire dominated most of South Asia including much of present-day Pakistan.

consolidate control of the region until the latter half of the 18th century. After 1850,

the British, or those influenced by them, governed virtually the entire Subcontinent.

By the early 20th century, South Asian leaders began to agitate for a greater degree of

autonomy from British rule, and by the 1930s growing concern about Hindu domination

of the Indian National Congress led to the idea of a separate Muslim state. It was not

until June 1947, however, that the British Government declared that it would bestow full

dominion status upon two successor states – India and Pakistan (at that time with rather

distinct eastern and western areas). The western area comprised the contiguous Muslim-

Political instability and economic difficulties became prominent features of post-

independence Pakistan, even to this present day. For example, in series, a constitution

elections were held again in 1970 but the country was so split that a civil war ensued

with Zulfikar Bhutto serving as president of Pakistan and the eastern section declaring

Bhutto served during turbulent years until in 1977 when the military again exercised

sentenced to death for alleged conspiracy to murder a political opponent, and he was

daughter of Zulfikar returned to Pakistan from exile in Europe. In 1988 President

Zia proclaimed the supremacy in Pakistan of Shari’a (Islamic law) by which all civil

In August of the same year President Zia, the American Ambassador, and others died

in plane crash and the acting president announced elections scheduled later that year.

elections in 1990. Then in rather rapid succession – (1) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif

corruption, mismanagement of the economy, and implication in extra-judicial killings

in Karachi; (3) Sharif again formed a government in 1997 but when Sharif tried to

This brings us to 1999, when General Musharraf took power in a military coup, declared

a state of emergency and issued the Provisional Constitutional Order that suspended the

federal and provincial parliaments, held the constitution in abeyance, and designed

himself as Chief Executive. A year later, Pakistan’s Supreme Court unanimously

validated the 1999 coup and granted Musharraf executive and legislative authority for

three years from the coup date. He named himself as president in 2001. In a referendum

Musharraf won a vote of confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and the four

provincial assemblies. While Musharraf’s future personal plans are not clear to us, there

is some conversation about him establishing a new political party and running as its

A reform agenda has been instituted and Musharraf has been widely acclaimed for his

moderate positions and friendliness with the west… not without his critics to be sure.

Pakistan’s quick agreement to support the United States following 9/11/2001 led to U.S.

military assistance and economic aid that continues to this day. While the country is

fractured and fragile, there is considerable governmental and public support for General

Musharraf and his acknowledged support of the United States. This is not to deny that

there are numerous extremist Muslim groups currently operating within the country; they

have assumed responsibilities for various services and actually operate educational

institutes that can include military and weapons training. These militia-type groups

export such fighters for Muslim causes in areas like Afghanistan and around the world

and gain popular public in regions of the country due to the services and hope they

provide. (Note: This article cited below is a good example of a position stated by the

The Pakistani population of over 163 million today claims to be close to 98% Muslim

(the large majority of who claim Sunni identification) with small minorities of Christians,

Hindus, and others. Literacy rates in 2005 were 60% for males and 31% for females

improvements are noticeable in the urban areas, western dress is seen more frequently

experienced in other countries. A haircut with a shave thrown in might cost as little as 50

cents US (the barber shop being a chair perched on a street corner), religious freedom is

exercised but prejudice and bias in jobs is prevalent, and a visit to the rural areas reveals

its true marks as an impoverished and underdeveloped country. It has suffered from

decades, if not centuries, of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment,

and a costly, ongoing confrontation with India. However, the government has made

substantial economic gains in the last three years; prospects for job creation and poverty

reduction are the best in nearly a decade. GDP growth, spurred by double-digit gains in

This may be best told by Reverend Vic Pentz, senior minister of Peachtree Presbyterian

Envision a group of Muslim boys who meet at age fifteen at a boarding school.
The school is run by foreign Christian missionaries. Their parents are eager for their children to receive the finest education available and so they entrust the care of their young teenagers during their most impressionable years to American missionary teachers who become surrogate parents. Along with the rigorous academic regimen, the missionaries instruct the boys in the art of living. They receive instruction in manners and morals and the social graces. While overt proselytizing is forbidden by the culture, the youngsters are steeped in the ethic of Jesus, “In love, serve one another,” of which the missionaries themselves are living examples. In addition, the students experience the typical madcap antics of college life – pranks, “all nighters” before exams, coming of age episodes – and carry their rich friendships into their adult years. Memories of life at the college bond a mushrooming network of alums throughout the nation who have lived in the same dormitories, been “adopted” by the same missionaries, been held to the same demanding rules, been instructed to live by the same motto of “In Love Serve One Another” and worn the same blue blazer to class.

Meanwhile forces are at work in the society around them. There is a global escalation of Islamic extremism and intolerance. Their government falls into the hands of these forces. A former editor of the college newspaper is imprisoned for his outspoken opposition of the Islamic government. Virtually all of the alumni oppose the rising tide of extremism. Sadly, in 1971 their beloved alma mater itself falls and is nationalized by the new Islamic government. The missionaries are told to leave; the college is taken from the church. Christian teachers are let go, Christian students are not admitted, and without expanding the campus facilities the student body grows from 1600 to over 4000…. Academic standards are relaxed. The curriculum is politicized to favor the hiring of unqualified teachers who toe the party line. Many are corrupt and hold separate classes in their homes while charging students extra fees. The former “Harvard of the Subcontinent” falls into ruins and disrepair and stays that way for thirty-one years. What had been a lush showcase campus becomes an eyesore of weeds, peeling paint, and dilapidated buildings.

During these bleak years, the alumni chums live through their thirties, forties, and fifties. Having been prepared by their superb early education, they rise through the ranks in law, medicine, business, the arts, religion and government and by their fifties gain access to the corridors of power. As the extreme Islamic government fails to improve the lives of the people, these former college classmates fill the void in leadership to become the senators, governors, judges, business leaders and generals of their nation. Recently one of these fifteen year old boys adopted by the missionaries has risen to become President of the second most populous Muslim nation in the world. Among the highest appointees to President Musharraf of Pakistan are many of his classmates from the Presbyterian mission school.

Aha, the intrigue unfolds. At the present time, not only President Musharraf, but the

Chairman of the Senate (who serves as the acting president when the president is out of

Pakistan), the Secretary of the National Security Council, a Supreme Court Justice, and

three other members of the Federal Cabinet are all graduates of the college. So is the

previous Secretary of Education with whom I met for a lengthy conversation when in

President Musharraf remembered the important educational contribution FCC had made

in earlier years and determined that FCC would return to its former respect as an

educational institution as a training ground for future leaders. He provided strong support

for fellow alumnus Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the Chief Minister of the Punjab, who led the

This effort actually began many years earlier. “Some time after the college was

nationalized in 1972, the Presbyterian church filed a lawsuit in Pakistani courts

demanding compensation for the property. The court process remained inconclusive until

1996 when a Justice ruled in favor of the church. A task force to resolve this matter was

formed during the government of Nawaz Sharif.” After many years, these negotiations

took a new turn in 2000 led by David Stoner as the sole negotiator for the Presbyterian

Church (USA) with assistance on site by Peter Armacost starting sometime in 2002. The

College, as mentioned earlier, was denationalized in 2003. The College is now operated

controversy. The removal of the extreme Islamic administration coupled with the return

to the governance of the Presbyterian Church sparked protests in the streets of Lahore.

By some, the privatization of FCC was portrayed as a stand against Talibanization of

Pakistani society and a violation of the government’s own memoranda that more public

education resources would not be privatized. Nevertheless Peter received an enthusiastic

welcome from the Punjab Secretary of Education along with the charge, “Remember, Dr.

Armacost, all of Pakistan is watching you.” Peter originally agreed to accept this

responsibility for three years and has now renewed his commitment for the foreseeable

The present leadership in Pakistan was not only in support of denationalizing FCC, but is

providing material as well as political help and security. While the campus is gated and

government-armed guards are at every gate, the administration and faculty from other

countries have experienced no incidents of violence or even threats to their well being

As evidence of President Musharraf’s commitment, he has forged a personal relationship

with Peter and his wife, Mary Linda. He has returned to deliver speeches at the college

and has instructed his chief of staff to do all he can to favor FCC’s renaissance. He also

has indicated that FCC exhibits the best example of Muslims and non-Muslims working

together in his country. How important must this be [!!] but we are getting ahead of the

A remarkable transformation has been in the works. Thirty three percent of the faculty

are now Christian; over 300 of the 3,570 students are Christian. It is intended that the

leadership and the faculty be composed of both Muslim and non-Muslim who will learn

to work and live in harmony and common purpose. To enable this College to flourish

with such a coalition could become a model for leadership in Lahore, Pakistan, and, if

one is bold enough to think it, the world itself. If such models do not emerge in larger

A discipline has returned to the classroom, a grading system instituted with appropriate

standards, and a statement of core values reinstated to which each student must strive.

These core values define integrity, excellence, respect for the dignity of each human

being, discipline and accountability for one’s actions, fairness and justice, and the

importance of education for service as a way of life. It states “because we are bound

together by common purposes, objective and values, the welfare of all will be my

concern.” The program is designed to graduate persons who are empowered, informed,

The College has been granted university status by the Secretary of Education which

enables it to determine its own degree requirements. In September 2005, FCC under

Peter’s leadership launched a new four-year US-modeled Bachelors degree program,

unique to Pakistan, that even government officials would like to see develop as a model

for higher education in the nation. It is my observation that the historical Bachelors

degree is somewhat the equivalent of the US community college level of post secondary

education. FCC’s desire to seek US regional accreditation will depend in part on the

The building renovation is well underway through direct support of $4,166,667 US

dollars from the Chief Minister of Punjab that was concluded as part of the negotiations

because it was during the period of nationalization that this property was allowed to

deteriorate. More assistance is anticipated from government sources and from private

fund development. Several of the existing buildings have been refurbished, a new

business/social science building has been completed, and a new science building is

projected. An ambitious set of capital projects is projected into the future but with a price

FCC has been awarded a grant of $5 million by USAID for new program development,

faculty professional development, scientific equipment, technology, and the partial cost

The new Bachelors degree program is co-educational and there are now well over 300

directors on HEDCO foundation, this foundation recently made a grant of $300,000 that

matches a $250,000 grant made by the National Presbyterian Women. These two grants

will enable one of the existing buildings to be renovated as the first women’s hostel so

that additional women, now both from the villages as well as from Lahore, can be

The Friends of Forman Christian College, a 401C3 organization, has been formed in the

United States to represent the College interests here and a Director is employed to assist

in fund development in the United States and in seeking faculty and administrative

candidates who might use sabbaticals or take leave from their present institutions or

consider longer term affiliation with FCC. Part of the fund development strategy is to

work with selected “big steeple” Presbyterian churches and the “Hearts and Hands”

national church campaign to raise scholarship funds and salaries for personnel. Full

It is important to emphasize that even in the early years of FCC, the intent was always to

institution that has as its motto “By Love Serve One Another” with core values that are

embraced with FCC as a Christian-led college in an Islamic Republic could be extremely

At a time when the dissent and bitterness among Muslim and non-Muslim nations and

peoples is raging, in a world where lack of understanding among peoples of deep and

differing religious faiths and cultural differences are ripping us apart, FCC is in a unique

Christians as they work side by side in harmony, peace, and respect for one another.

This may be the place to remind us of the strategic importance of Pakistan to the US

because of its location in Southeast Asia and its moderate leadership of the second largest

Muslim nation in the world. Both countries stand to win with the success of FCC.

Of course, one might ask the question “What is likely to occur if this regime is not

retained in power?” This makes the next two years before a referendum all the more

important. FCC is being considered as a model for other colleges in improving higher

education in the nation. If sufficient testimony of the quality that has been restored is

articulated, it will be increasingly difficult to reverse gears again. When I addressed this

question to the former Secretary of Education he commented “We made this mistake

once, we will not nationalize FCC again.” This may still be a future issue but should not

From a Christian perspective, while it is not the intent of this writer to focus primarily on

this point of view, FCC is a lighthouse of Christian influence in a country where non-

Muslims compose only slightly over 2% of the total population. Historically Christians

have been disadvantaged in education, professional jobs, governmental leadership to be

sure, and society in general. These non-Muslims are among the poorest families and

children grow up with the biases and insecurities that such a minority position ingrains.

For the Christian students, not only is the content and quality of the education important

but, as one student stated to this writer, “I am gaining the self confidence to be a leader.”

For non-Muslim faculty it is a source of employment not always available to them.

There is multiplier effect as well. FCC is providing effective teacher education for the

teachers in the schools operated by the Presbyterian Education Board in Pakistan that

serves over 3000 K-12 students. FCC’s university status enables the Gujranwala

Theological Seminary to award degrees through FCC. New leadership for the churches

in Pakistan as well as for business and professional careers will develop over time.

Muslim students taught the core values of the college have the possibility of becoming

strong, moderate leaders of Pakistan to follow in the footsteps of those college chums

From the perspective of the Christian church, namely the Presbyterian Church (USA),

there could not be a more strategic mission as long as one accepts the principle of faith

systems living in harmony with others. With eyes on the global political scene, Forman

organizations – that of creating educational excellence based on a sound set of core

values for both Muslim and non-Muslim students in their strategic part of the world.

Can these noble traditions of integrity, respect for the dignity of each human being,

discipline and accountability for one’s actions of fairness and justice and the importance

of community thrive in this troubled environment? Will the combination of support from

two governments, not always aligned, and private and church resources provide the

needed financial support to enable FCC to meet its objectives? Will the leadership be

available over the years to complement the extraordinary and heroic work of President

Peter Armacost? Will non-Muslim graduates be able to become leaders in law, business,

medicine and even government in Pakistan? Will moderate Muslim leaders twenty years

from now celebrate the quality of their education and bring about reforms that will enable

world peace as well as stability for their own nation? These are the questions that will

From a variety of sources, primarily from College publications and presentations by others.

www.traveldocs.com/pk/history.htm, Most of the material about Pakistan is taken almost directly from this source. Though tempted to do so, I have not simply placed quotation marks around this section as I have rephrased and added where appropriate and useful without altering the accuracy of the text.

Alas, the best historical information is in a FCC document titled The Folio published in 1964 for the FCC Centennial Celebration and a second Folio published in 1984. Other than the copies held by individuals in Pakistani, the only copies I am sure exist are in the FCC library in Pakistan. I have sent for these publications and will amend this paper in the future to give a better picture of the FCC earlier years. A brief statement about the College History is in www.fc.edu.pk/pages/history.html.

www.peachtreepres.org, Reflections on Forman Christian College, pgs.2-3.

The Forman Christian College Core Values are attached as an appendix

Informal notes between President Peter Armacost and Dr. James R. Appleton, and various catalogs and unpublished materials of Forman Christian College.

Jillani, Justice Tassaduq Hussain, “Religion in the Public Sphere; Challenges and Opportunities,” presented at the International Conference of the International Academy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Provo, Utah, October 3-6, 2004.

Minutes of the Board of Directors, Friends of Forman Christian College, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, May 24, 2006.

www.peachtreepres.org, Reflections on Forman Christian College, a call to action for Presbyterians by Dr. Vic Pentz.