The Navigators (organization)
Encyclopedia
The Navigators is a worldwide Christian
para-church organization
headquartered in Colorado Springs
, Colorado
. Its main purpose is the discipling
(training) of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith
with others.
The Navigators works alongside local churches by providing resources such as Bible
study booklets and study aid materials, Scripture memory aids, and Christian-oriented books. These are produced through the organization's NavPress publishing group, which also offers The Message
Bible paraphrase. It also supports full-time workers who work mostly within local communities. Currently, more than 4,600 Navigator staff of 69 nationalities minister to college students, military personnel, business and professional people, communities, and churches in 103 countries.
On 1 January 2005, Michael W. Treneer
succeeded Dr. Jerry White
as The Navigators' international president. White had served in that capacity for the previous 18 years.
. As a result of mentoring United States Navy
sailor Lester Spencer aboard USS West Virginia
, 135 additional Sailors on Spencer's ship became Christians before it was sunk at Pearl Harbor
. By the end of World War II, thousands of men on ships and bases around the world were learning the principles of Christian discipleship.
The collegiate chapter of the Navigators was founded in 1951 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The organization was established by a group of students in the Sigma Nu
fraternity house who along with Trotman decided to spread the organization onto the college campus. The collegiate organization of the Navigators has since spread to over fifty different campuses.
Since WWII, The Navigators has grown into a worldwide organization with representatives in most countries. In 1953, it acquired its current location at Glen Eyrie
through Billy Graham's sale of the then-vacant property to Trotman's organization. As a result of a well-organized fund raising effort despite an extremely tight deadline, friends of The Navigators provided the money needed to purchase the site.
The Navigators organize and offer over 100 Christian conferences, retreats, and programs each year at Glen Eyrie
. The general public is allowed on its grounds during the day to visit its bookstore and café. Tours of the Castle—originally the home of Colorado Springs founder General William Jackson Palmer
—are available to the public for a nominal fee, although advance reservations are required. The Castle also serves as a conference and retreat center available for use by various groups.
The Navigators' modern administration headquarters building, located in the northeastern part of the Glen Eyrie property, is viewable from 30th Street, south of Garden of the Gods Road, off Interstate 25
.
by Michael Weinstein in 2005. The lawsuit alleged that Darren and Gina Lindblom, assigned to the Academy through The Navigators, were favored by the Air Force to the exclusion of other religious groups in violation of the Establishment Clause
of the United States Constitution
. This lawsuit was later dismissed. Additional lawsuits by Weinstein's organization, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation
, have named The Navigators in similar complaints of alleged proselytizing in the military.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
para-church organization
Parachurch organization
Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism, usually independent of church oversight. These bodies can be businesses, non-profit corporations, or private associations. Most parachurch...
headquartered in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Its main purpose is the discipling
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
(training) of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
with others.
The Navigators works alongside local churches by providing resources such as Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
study booklets and study aid materials, Scripture memory aids, and Christian-oriented books. These are produced through the organization's NavPress publishing group, which also offers The Message
The Message (Bible)
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language was created by Eugene H. Peterson and published in segments from 1993 to 2002. It is an idiomatic translation of the original languages of the Bible.-History:...
Bible paraphrase. It also supports full-time workers who work mostly within local communities. Currently, more than 4,600 Navigator staff of 69 nationalities minister to college students, military personnel, business and professional people, communities, and churches in 103 countries.
On 1 January 2005, Michael W. Treneer
Michael W. Treneer
Michael W. Treneer is the current international president of The Navigators. His appointment as President was announced on August 26, 2004. On January 1, 2005, he succeeded Dr. Jerry White who previously served as President for 18 years.-Biographical Sketch:Mike Treneer came to faith in Christ...
succeeded Dr. Jerry White
Jerry White (Navigators)
Dr. Jerry E. White is an author, scientist, retired US Air Force Major General, and is perhaps best known as a Christian leader who is the immediate past International President of The Navigators, a worldwide Christian parachurch organization organization whose main purpose is the discipling of...
as The Navigators' international president. White had served in that capacity for the previous 18 years.
History
The Navigators was founded in 1933 by Dawson TrotmanDawson Trotman
Dawson Trotman was an evangelist, crusader and founder of The Navigators.Trotman founded The Navigators in 1933 and through this worldwide Christian organization supported various Christian ideals: maintaining the basic disciplines of the Christ-centered Spirit-filled life, abiding in the Word of...
. As a result of mentoring United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor Lester Spencer aboard USS West Virginia
USS West Virginia (BB-48)
USS West Virginia , a , was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 35th state.Her keel was laid down on 12 April 1920 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 17 November 1921 sponsored by Miss Alice Wright Mann,...
, 135 additional Sailors on Spencer's ship became Christians before it was sunk at Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. By the end of World War II, thousands of men on ships and bases around the world were learning the principles of Christian discipleship.
The collegiate chapter of the Navigators was founded in 1951 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The organization was established by a group of students in the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity house who along with Trotman decided to spread the organization onto the college campus. The collegiate organization of the Navigators has since spread to over fifty different campuses.
Since WWII, The Navigators has grown into a worldwide organization with representatives in most countries. In 1953, it acquired its current location at Glen Eyrie
Glen Eyrie
Glen Eyrie is a 67-room English Tudor-style castle built by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. This house was his dream home and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations...
through Billy Graham's sale of the then-vacant property to Trotman's organization. As a result of a well-organized fund raising effort despite an extremely tight deadline, friends of The Navigators provided the money needed to purchase the site.
Glen Eyrie
Glen Eyrie
Glen Eyrie is a 67-room English Tudor-style castle built by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. This house was his dream home and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations...
. The general public is allowed on its grounds during the day to visit its bookstore and café. Tours of the Castle—originally the home of Colorado Springs founder General William Jackson Palmer
William Jackson Palmer
William Jackson Palmer was an American civil engineer, soldier, industrialist, and philanthropist.-Overview:...
—are available to the public for a nominal fee, although advance reservations are required. The Castle also serves as a conference and retreat center available for use by various groups.
The Navigators' modern administration headquarters building, located in the northeastern part of the Glen Eyrie property, is viewable from 30th Street, south of Garden of the Gods Road, off Interstate 25
Interstate 25
Interstate 25 is an Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway. I-25 stretches from Interstate 10 at Las Cruces, New Mexico, , to Interstate 90 in Buffalo, Wyoming, .Interstate 25 is the main north–south expressway through...
.
Controversy
The Navigators was cited in a lawsuit against the United States Air Force AcademyUnited States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
by Michael Weinstein in 2005. The lawsuit alleged that Darren and Gina Lindblom, assigned to the Academy through The Navigators, were favored by the Air Force to the exclusion of other religious groups in violation of the Establishment Clause
Establishment Clause of the First Amendment
The Establishment Clause is the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, stating, Together with the Free Exercise Clause The Establishment Clause is the first of several pronouncements in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,...
of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. This lawsuit was later dismissed. Additional lawsuits by Weinstein's organization, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Military Religious Freedom Foundation
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation is a watchdog / advocacy group and civil rights organization whose stated goals are to ensure that members of the United States Armed Forces receive the Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom to which they are entitled by virtue of the Establishment...
, have named The Navigators in similar complaints of alleged proselytizing in the military.