the carl spain center
Experience a renewed “inward orientation.”
About THE CENTER
History
The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action was founded in 2018 by Dr. Jerry Taylor, Associate Professor of Bible at Abilene Christian University (ACU). Dr. Taylor chose to name the new center after Carl Spain, a legendary figure at Abilene Christian College (ACC), presently known as Abilene Christian University (ACU). His prophetic voice was a catalyst for change on the campus in the mid 1900’s. Dr. Spain, an ACC Bible professor, used speech at the 1960 Abilene Christian College Lectures to challenge the school and other Christian colleges to open their doors to Black students. While he was greatly outnumbered in his sentiment and lost favor with many people, the school soon changed its anti-Black policy and began admitting Black students the following academic year. Through the work of the Carl Spain Center, lines of communication, previously non-existent, are being formed and cultivated into multiracial alliances.
mission / vision
The Carl Spain Center was founded to be a voice of hope that speaks to the hearts, minds, and souls of all Christians. Inspired by the same Spirit that emboldened Carl Spain’s courageous and prophetic speech in 1960, we have sought to renew his original call to the Christian community today by boldly engaging in the work of racial unity. The Center heavily emphasizes spiritual formation as a method to address racism that is often “spiritualized” in the hearts of Christians. Out of our commitment to racial unity, the Carl Spain Center seeks to address the hearts, minds, and souls of all Christians through an engagement in spiritual disciplines, critical inquiry, and compassionate dialogue. As the world becomes increasingly polarized, the Carl Spain Center is uniquely equipped to help lead the ACU community and the Christian church with courageous compassion.
The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action honors the courage and legacy of Carl Spain, an ACU professor who challenged the school to open its doors to Black students with his speech, “Modern Challenges to Christian Morals,” at the 1960 ACU Lectures (formerly ACC).
“Observing the current moment reveals a desperate need for leadership that can model the boundary-defying and unifying teachings of Jesus to the Church and nation. I believe the Carl Spain Center is uniquely equipped to help meet this need and lead the ACU community and Christian church towards unity. Together, we will be catalysts for spiritual formation and social change in our religious communities.” – Tryce Prince, Executive Director
staff
Tryce Prince, Executive Director of the Carl Spain Center, is a 2018 graduate of ACU, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. Tryce is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), where he studies how race shapes individual experiences and religious communities. He is the co-author of “Religion and Race: A Double-Edged Sword,” which appears in Religion Matters: What Sociology Teaches Us About Religion In Our World. In his studies at UIC, Tryce has been advised by and worked alongside Dr. Michael O. Emerson, author of Divided By Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. He is also a Center for the Study of Religion and Society Affiliate at the University of Notre Dame (2024-25), where he has served as a consultant on research projects directed by Dr. Kraig Beyerlein and Dr. Christian Smith. Tryce, his wife Erin, and their three daughters currently live in Chicago, IL as he works towards the completion of his doctoral program.
Email: tdp15a@acu.edu
Experience THE CENTER
Spiritual Formation
The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action is committed to the spiritual formation of persons who desire to join God’s ministry of racial healing. By spiritual formation, we mean the “spiritual, intellectual, social, and emotional development” of human beings endowed with the Creator’s image through spiritual practices, scholarly research, and diverse community. Our primary foundation for practices, research, and community is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Practices
Spiritual practices or spiritual disciplines are activities or exercises that aim to direct one’s entire mind, body, and soul towards deep engagement with God and interactive sharing of life with others. These practices engage people at both the individual and community levels. By taking part in these practices, we will not only foster substantial social camaraderie with one another, but will also heighten our own intimacy with God that renders us open to the Spirit’s transforming power across the lines of racial distinctions.
Scholarly Research
Critical inquiry into the subject of race through sound theological lenses requires a deep commitment to intellectual qualities like, humility, open-mindedness, and attentiveness. In this sense, the spiritual life and the life of the mind are not independent of one another but are to be viewed as a unified whole. The Center aims to share its scholarly research by providing materials, educational opportunities, and other relevant resources to any who have a desire to deepen their understanding on race and its function in the church and broader society.
Diverse Community
Community is an essential dimension for proper spiritual formation. While some spiritual practices require our individual attention, not all are to be practiced in total isolation. Similarly, critical inquiry and dialogue on subjects like race almost guarantee productive argument. However, as we find value in robust conversation, we also value and prioritize a commitment to one another as fellow human beings created in the image of the same God. The Center will thus provide events that not only foster meaningful dialogue but also serve as a catalyst for deepening the bonds of friendship between people across lines of race.
Racial Unity Leadership Events
The Carl Spain Center on Race Studies & Spiritual Action hosts Racial Unity Leadership events across the country to enhance individuals and develop their leadership. The goal of our Racial Unity Leadership events is to provide spiritual formation and an educational learning experience in order for us to have a deep impact on communities of faith through the exercise of spiritual disciplines. Visit our events page for more details on upcoming Racial Unity Leadership events.
