The Firing of John Sanders: Academic Exercises Part 1

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, Here's the statement from the Board of Trustees at Huntington regarding the dismissal of John Sanders.


For over a century, Huntington College has enjoyed the evident blessing of God in fulfilling its mission and vision for the future, its physical and human resources, and increased growth. The College has experienced a growing reputation for honoring Christ in scholarship and service.
The responsibility of the Board of Trustees is to insure that the direction of the institution continue in the theological traditions of the College and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

"The Board of Trustees is committed to maintaining the College’s earned reputation and historic identity, rather than being identified by theological controversy or becoming known as a center for a theological position inconsistent with our past. During the past four years the work of the college has been impeded and the focus of the college community has been diverted by the controversy around open theism as promoted by Professor Dr. John Sanders.

During this time the Board of Trustees has made multiple, exceptional arrangements while monitoring the issues. The Board of Trustees has concluded that the issue is distractive and divisive and that the time has arrived to instruct the President of the College to resolve the employment issue by conditionally offering Dr. John Sanders a one-year sabbatical with full salary and benefits for the 2005-2006 academic year and requiring that his employment be terminated at the end of that academic year while honoring his current contract.

We are concerned for the welfare and future of Dr. John Sanders and his family and trust that God will lead him to use his considerable intellectual and pedagogical skills in another institution of higher education.

We also understand and acknowledge the concerns of various constituencies comprising the college community during this period. We remain committed to support academic freedom as an institution of Christian higher education. As a Christian community, we must rely on God’s grace and trust Him to provide healing, recovery of a sense of trust, shared values and community.
The priority of the Board of Trustees is to prayerfully refocus our time and energy on advancing the future vision and mission of the college."

I'll have something to post on this later.

posted by Jake Sikora @ 12:01 PM