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EDUCATOR I News Journal of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities Volume LXXI, No. 1 Fourth Quarter–2006 43 IABCU Member Colleges and Universities Listed Among Nation’s Best in US News Annual Rankings by Bob R. Agee, Executive Director combined high academic reputation with are then ranked against their peer insti- International Association of Baptist the most reasonable price as compared to tutions and assigned a score based on the Colleges and Universities peer institutions. Mercer University, accumulated data. he colleges and universities that are Mississippi College, Carson-Newman The twenty-six IABCU member Tmembers of the International College, Samford University, Wayland schools ranked in the top tier were listed Association of Baptist Colleges and Baptist University, Ouachita Baptist in Best National Universities, Best Universities (IABCU), formerly the University, East Texas Baptist University, Universities—Master’s and in Best Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Howard Payne University were listed Comprehensive Colleges—Bachelor’s. and Schools, continue their prominent among the “Great Schools at a Great Baylor University was listed in the top role within the American higher education Price” in their respective categories. tier of Best National Universities catego- community. Demonstrating that it is pos- The rankings also noted institutions ry, ranking 81st among the 248 institu- sible to be intentionally Christian and aca- where students graduated with the most tions that fit the profile. These schools demically excellent, 43 IABCU member debt and the least debt. Among the are evaluated based on the fact that they institutions were listed among the nation’s schools where students graduated with offer a “wide range of undergraduate best in a national survey conducted annu- the least debt were Gardner-Webb majors as well as master’s and doctoral ally by U.S. News and World Reports University, Mercer University, Southwest programs.” The group included 162 pub- magazine. Baptist University, lic institutions and Twenty-six of the IABCU member and Mid-Continent Twenty-six of the IABCU 86 private institu- schools were listed in the top tier of University. No IABCU member schools were listed tions. institutions analyzed and compared in member schools IABCU member four categories. The magazine ranked the were listed among in the top tier of institutions schools emerged in top 100 schools in each category and schools from which analyzed and compared in significant leader- considered those schools as the top tier students graduated four categories. ship positions with- of institutions. IABCU member schools with the most debt. in the Best continue their march into the top tier The national news magazine studied Universities—Master’s category. Samford this year, indicating significant progress more than 1,400 institutions scattered University (4th ), Mercer University (9th), and achievement in those schools ranked across the United States, gathering data Belmont University (10th), Union in the top group. from the schools themselves and solicit- University (25th), Mississippi College Ten schools were listed in the third ing opinions from peer institutions (29th), Carson-Newman (33rd), Campbell tier, and seven were listed in the fourth regarding their perception of quality. University (44th), Gardner-Webb tier. Two of the member schools were Using a weighting system based on what University (61st) and University of the ranked in the top five among schools in the editors believe to be indicators of Cumberlands (64th) were ranked in the their respective category with the highest excellence, they assign a ranking in four top tier of Best Universities—Master’s in graduation rates. Both Oklahoma Baptist categories: Best National Universities; the South. Hardin-Simmons University University and Samford University were Best Liberal Arts Colleges; Best (38th), Houston Baptist University singled out for the high percentage of Universities—Master’s (by region); and (49th), California Baptist University students who started their educational Best Comprehensive Colleges— (51st), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor pilgrimage at those institutions and com- Bachelor’s (by region). The journal’s (57th) and Dallas Baptist University pleted degrees within six years. ranking is determined by analyzing infor- (61st) were ranked in the top tier of Best Based on the criteria used, the maga- mation gathered on peer assessment, Universities—Master’s in the West. zine identified the schools they consid- graduation and retention rates, faculty Samford University was also listed among ered “Great Schools at a Great Price”. resources, student selectivity, financial the top five in graduation rate within the The category ranked the schools that resources and alumni giving. The schools (Continued on page 2) Liberal Arts Colleges, Georgetown Contents Baptist Colleges... College was listed in the third tier of (Continued from page 1) institutions. 1 Baptist Colleges and Universities category of schools. The Best Among the Best Universities— Listed Among Nations Best in Universities—Master’s category looked at Master’s, Campbellsville University, U.S. News Annual Rankings 557 schools classified in this group. Charleston Southern University, Palm These schools provide a full range of Beach Atlantic University, University of 3 Comment undergraduate and master’s level pro- Mobile and the University of the grams but offer few, if any, doctoral pro- Cumberlands were listed among the 4 World Christian Universities grams. schools in the South. Wayland Baptist Of the institutions University was listed 10 IABCU Website Expands Services ranked in the category among the schools Best Comprehensive The number of IABCU located in the West. 11 Gifts and Grants Colleges—Bachelor’s, member schools ranked Southwest Baptist twelve IABCU member in the top tier was the University was ranked 12 Names and Faces schools made the top highest in the history in the third tier in this tier. In the West region, category in the Midwest 13 Legal Notes Oklahoma Baptist of the rankings by U.S. region. 14 Presidents of IABCU Member University (5th), East News and World Report. Within the category Schools Texas Baptist University of Best Comprehensive (11th), and Howard Payne (16th) were Colleges—Bachelor’s, two IABCU mem- 16 IABCU Corporate Sponsors ranked as top tier institutions. In the ber schools were ranked in the third South region, Ouachita Baptist tier. Virginia Intermont College and University (5th), Shorter College (21st), Williams Baptist College were listed Vol. LXXI, No. 1 Fourth Quarter 2006 Louisiana College (30th), Mars Hill among schools located in the South Publisher: Bob R. Agee, executive College (38th), Blue Mountain College region. director/treasurer, ASBCS (41st), Anderson College (44th), Seven IABCU member schools were Managing Editor: Tim Fields, director Bluefield College and North Greenville ranked in the fourth tier of their respec- University (tied for 49th), were listed tive categories. Those listed included: of communications, ASBCS among the best in this category. In the Judson College (Alabama), among the Editorial Assistant: Tammy Drolsum, Midwest region, Judson College in Best Liberal Arts Colleges; William administrative assistant, ASBCS Illinois (44th) was ranked in the top tier. Carey University, among the Best The Baptist Educator (ISSN 0038-3848) is a Oklahoma Baptist University was also Universities—Master’s; Brewton-Parker news magazine published quarterly for admin- ranked in the listing of schools in this College, Chowan University, Mid- istrators, faculty, staff, trustees and friends of category with the highest graduation Continent University, Hannibal member schools by the International rate among the Best Comprehensive LaGrange College and Missouri Baptist Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. Colleges—Bachelor’s. University were listed in the fourth tier The category includes 320 institu- among Best Comprehensive Colleges— POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: tions that were evaluated by U.S. News Bachelor’s. International Association of Baptist Colleges and includes schools that offer a wide Thirteen member schools reported and Universities range of undergraduate degrees in liber- graduation rates of 50 percent or higher, 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 al arts and professional disciplines. with Baylor (72 percent) and Samford Nashville, TN 37221-1410 The magazine also ranked schools (70 percent) leading the way with a high To contact the publisher write: with outstanding undergraduate pro- percentage of entering students gradu- Bob Agee, executive director, IABCU grams in business and engineering. The ating within six years. A close look at P. O. Box 11655 Jackson, TN 38308-0127 E-mail: [email protected] undergraduate engineering programs at the reported freshman retention rates Baylor University (20th) and Mercer reflected that 18 IABCU member schools Send news items to: University (36th) were noted among reported retention rates above 70 per- The Educator those with best programs. cent, reflecting admirable success in E-mail: [email protected] 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 The number of IABCU member keeping students who begin their stud- Nashville, TN 37221-1141 schools ranked in the top tier was the ies at IABCU schools. Fax: (615) 662-1396 • Phone: (615) 673-1896 highest in the history of the rankings by Schools listed in the U.S. News and “Legal Notes” is designed to provide accurate and U.S. News and World Report. Several World Report annual ranking of colleges authoritative information on legal issues facing schools moved from third tier to top tier and universities benefit from the report. Baptist-related higher education. It is provided categories, indicating strong effort on Today’s students study the rankings and with the understanding that the publisher and the part of administration and faculty to often are influenced in their choice of editors are not engaged in rendering legal coun- strengthen their reputation for quality school by whether or not an institution sel. “Legal Notes” is not intended as a substitute education. is listed in the magazine’s annual for the services of a legal professional. If your institution needs legal counsel, a competent Schools that ranked in the third tier review. The magazine reports that the attorney should be consulted. in their respective categories included annual “America’s Best Colleges” issue 10 IABCU member schools. Among Best is the best-selling issue. I Annual subscription is $8.00.
2 The Educator CCOMMENTOMMENT:: ATATRIBUTERIBUTE TOTO EEXCEPTIONALXCEPTIONAL CCOURAGEOURAGE Bob R. Agee, Executive Director, ASBCS
n September 23 I attended the funeral William Carey. Applications were up sig- were remarkable, Oof our colleague and friend, Dr. Larry nificantly and it appeared they were but what he led Kennedy, President of headed for another record-breaking year. William Carey William Carey He was excited about the wonderful to accomplish University. He had prospects for the future. during his last served that fine insti- In late Spring he began to have some year was noth- tution for the past health problems that he and his doctor ing short of eight years, and the couldn’t explain. After extensive tests miraculous. By the record of his accom- over several weeks, in July the doctors time he reported his illness to the Board plishments is excep- determined that he had ALS (Lou and to the campus family in November, tional. Gehrig’s Disease). He and his wife began his body was suffering the debilitating Following years of to think of when and how best to tell the effects of ALS. However, he continued to effective service as a Bob R. Agee Board of Trustees. work and to lead. Unable to dress himself pastor in the state of Mississippi, he went Then, in August, Hurricane Katrina and often needing help with the simplest to William Carey in 1991 as professor of hit the Gulf coast. William Carey’s of things like eating, he kept at the task. religion and became dean of the Cooper Gulfport, Miss., campus was destroyed, Often seen on his electric scooter tour- School of Missions and Biblical Studies. as well as its nursing school on the cam- ing the campus, he continued to encour- Kennedy also filled the role as Vice pus of New Orleans age students, President for Church Relations, helping Baptist Theological What an example to all of us that faculty and staff, the college strengthen its relationship Seminary. The faith and courage, a compelling working to keep with the pastors and churches of main campus in vision, and genuine love for an the campus morale Mississippi. In 1998 he was named Hattiesburg sus- high. President of the college and served in tained extensive institution are indispensable As he drew his that capacity until his death. damage to campus ingredients to effective leadership. last breath on He became president at William Carey grounds and build- September 22, he at a critical time in its history. The ings. What had been excitement over left a university back on its feet, with school faced problems with the federal anticipated record enrollment turned strong enrollment, a balanced budget, government, serious financial difficul- into the nightmare of delayed opening of campus facilities restored, and debt-free. ties, sizeable debt, poor morale on cam- school, current and prospective students The university celebrates its 100th pus, and enrollment problems. The scattered, and worries over how William anniversary stronger than ever, with a campus was in poor condition, which Carey could survive this tremendous bright and hopeful future. contributed to low morale and enroll- blow. I’ve had the privilege of watching a ment problems. Larry made the decision to keep the number of our colleagues rise to chal- He tackled the problems driven by a news about his terminal illness confi- lenges and carry out their work under compelling vision, a dream for the col- dential, believing that the college had all difficult circumstances and have always lege to regain its strength, and a deter- the negative issues it could handle. He appreciated their efforts. Never have I mination that the school would pay off simply set himself to the task of leading been touched as deeply as I have been by the debt and restore the campus to beau- the school to get back on its feet. He led Larry Kennedy’s courage and faithfulness ty and quality. in endless hours of planning, fund-rais- to the task. What a legacy to leave a cam- Over the next eight years, remarkable ing, caring for faculty and staff whose pus family! What an example to all of us things took place. Enrollment grew from homes had been damaged, reaching out that faith and courage, a compelling 1,980 students to more than 3,000. New to prospective students and their par- vision, and genuine love for an institu- degree programs and degrees were ents to assure them that they would be tion are indispensable ingredients to added, accreditation was reaffirmed for safe. effective leadership. 10 years, numerous construction and They faced the challenge of finding an I know all of us want to keep his wife renovation projects were completed alternative site for classes in Gulfport Sarah and their three sons in our totaling more than $22 million, and the and the challenge of finding some way prayers. I’ve lost a friend, and our ranks stifling debt was paid off almost a year for nursing students in New Orleans to have lost one of our finest. Thank God ahead of schedule. be able to continue their studies. for all of you who have responded to He and I talked in late Spring of 2005 The accomplishments made during God’s call to serve in Baptist/Christian about the wonderful things happening at Larry’s first seven years of presidency higher education. I
Fourth Quarter 2006 3 2006 H.I. Hester Lecture, Part 2 World Christian
Editor’s note: The following article is from the Hester Lecture others have painted it in nearly millennial colors, as the part 2 delivered June 5, 2006 in Charleston, South Carolina, source of new prosperity and cultural creativity everywhere.3 at the annual meeting of the Association of Southern Baptist More sober assessments now exist, among them those of the Colleges and Schools (now International Association of Princeton theologian and ethicist Max Stackhouse, who sees Baptist Colleges and Universities) by Joel Carpenter, director globalization to be one of the elemental forces of our time, of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity at one of what the Bible calls the “principalities and powers” of Calvin College. this world. Neither purely demonic nor millennial, these pow- ers are nevertheless in need of taming and reining in. Jesus by Joel A. Carpenter Christ is lord over all such powers, the apostle Paul tells us, and as the Lord’s agents in the world, we do indeed wrestle he worldwide spread of Christianity with them.4 Tis making for some major changes This rapid and worldwide interchange is an undergirding in the character of the Christian faith feature of world Christianity. The rise of new and locally root- in our time. The great shift of the ed forms of Christianity around the world is “globalization number and proportion of Christian from below,” as my colleague, Paul Freston, puts it,5 and these adherents toward the global south and new movements travel rapidly to new places along with the east is reshaping the worldwide people who give witness to them. church’s thinking, leadership and pri- orities. World Christianity Is Here But what do these changes mean for Joel Carpenter Because of globalization, we see features of the new world North American Christian higher edu- Christianity with increasing frequency here in North America. cation? Perhaps the easiest and most natural response for a Take, for example, the busy educator, preoccupied with people and institutions close basic demographics of Christian colleges and uni- at hand, is to acknowledge that this is interesting information, your home town. Even versities need to reorient but to wonder about its immediacy and relevance. I want to the historically white insist that these changes in the worldwide makeup and char- Upper Midwest, where I their attention and commit- acter of Christianity are having an impact on you and your live, is undergoing ments now if they are to campuses right now, and these trends will only grow more rapid change. The small prepare students to be powerful in the years to come. Christian colleges and universi- farming towns of Iowa, effective agents of God’s ties need to reorient their attention and commitments now if for example, have fresh grace in the world now they are to prepare students to be effective agents of God’s infusions of Latino and emerging. grace in the world now emerging. Southeast Asian immi- grants, many of whom New Global Interactivity work in the agribusiness food processing plants. In the county I am convinced that these emerging trends are no mere surrounding my hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, we matters of exotic interest, but are close at hand. What appears have seen the Latino population swell from three percent to as a change in the patterns of Christian witness in the north- eleven percent in 15 years, to where it now rivals the African- ern regions of Nigeria or India today is in your city and on American population in size. your campus tomorrow. Our world is shrinking; it is becom- With new people come new churches, springing up in our ing more interactive than ever before. This state of affairs we communities, meeting in storefronts, warehouses and school are coming to call globalization—social scientists’ way of say- auditoriums, and bearing intriguing titles, often with “inter- ing that there has been a major increase in the volume and national” or “global” as part of them. Others borrow the facili- rapidity of international exchanges of goods, services, money, ties of older congregations. Grand Rapids has a congregation people, information, ideas and artistry in the contemporary of Sudanese people, mostly resettled refugees, who worship in world—are leading to greater interdependence and mutual the Dinka language at an Episcopalian parish. Some of these awareness among people and institutions across greater dis- new churches are the missionary church-planting efforts of tances than ever before.1 Globalization has been identified as overseas denominations. One Nigerian Pentecostal denomina- one of the great forces of our time. Some have deemed global- tion, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, founded in ization to be the great, demonic, cultural and economic tsuna- 1952 but already claiming more than three million members, mi of our day, bringing disaster everywhere in its wake,2 while has been planting new congregations in the United States. In
4 The Educator Universities
2005 the denomination claimed to have 250 worship sites growth of born-again, spirit-filled Christianity on these cam- around the nation.6 puses. Within our own congregations, too, changes are appearing African-American gospel choirs praise the Lord at that suggest we are assimilating aspects of the new worldwide Princeton, while Chinese and Korean musical ensembles lift church. Members of many congregations and campuses are His name on high at Johns Hopkins. making cross-cultural mission or service trip visits with fellow These are but a few of Christians. And how many congregations have never sung a the examples that show “Much of the new growth in new song that was created in Africa, Latin America or Asia? E- how new Christian the traditional college-age mail correspondence, affordable and reliable jet travel, and movements from Africa, population of the South interactive popular cultures of print, music and preaching are Asia and Latin America, globalizing our common expressions of faith here in North and among their descen- …will be among people America. dents in diaspora here whose grandparents grew We have tended to think of Christianity in the southern for a much longer time, up in Asia, Latin America and eastern continents as mediated to us by our foreign mis- are changing the face of or the Caribbean.” sionaries, and the churches there as the beneficiaries of our American religion today. Christian generosity. Yet in some cases, the actual flow of giv- They are much more important, by contrast, than is Islam in ing and receiving may be going the other way. It is possible, America. Paul Freston speculates, that the Assemblies of God in the So what are the implications for us in Christian higher United States benefit more from their Latin American sister education who are charged to prepare students to engage the denominations than the missionaries and resources sent by world as faithful servants of Jesus Christ? the U.S. Assemblies benefit the Latin American Assemblies.7 It would be interesting, would it not, to run a study assessing The Challenge for Christian Colleges the balance sheet between the Southern Baptists and their Some regions of the country are more affected by the world overseas sister churches today? come to our doors and the new world Christianity that the In some cases, the new Christianity that comes to our immigrants bring with them than are others. In general, the shores is not directly benefiting the older American denomi- southern half of the country, stretching from southern nations so much as competing with them. A recent study of California to the Carolinas and Florida, is the region of the the extended worldwide community of Christians among the United States that is most affected. Since this region is also “overseas Chinese,” including those who live in the United the area of historic concentration for the Southern Baptist States, found that unlike the Chinese immigrant Christians of Convention and its related colleges and universities, you are at the mid-20th century, who tended to affiliate with the older, the front edge of this historic change. In these states, the low- mainline Protestant denominations, the new Christian con- est percentage enrollment of students of color in public gregations of Chinese immigrants tend to be ardently evangel- schools is still above 30 percent, and in Texas, New Mexico, ical and charismatic, suspicious of theological liberalism in Mississippi and California, the percentage of students of color mainline Protestantism, and much more likely to form inde- in the public schools is more than 50 percent.10 This basic stu- pendent, nondenominational churches. There are well over a dent pool from which college students emerge thus is more thousand Chinese Christian congregations in America today, racially and ethnically diverse than the general population. most established in the past 20 years.8 According to demographer Joseph M. Cronin, “Much of the In other cases, the new Christians in our midst are trans- new growth in the traditional college-age population of the forming older ministries. Asian students, for example, are South…will be among people whose grandparents grew up in changing the face of campus ministry. Their numbers within Asia, Latin America or the Caribbean.”11 Add that to the the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship have increased nearly already strong representation of U.S. Latinos and African 300 percent in the past 15 years. At Yale, the local chapter of Americans in the region, and it is obvious that the preponder- Campus Crusade for Christ was 100 percent white in the ance of potential students for Christian colleges and universi- 1980s; today it is 90 percent Asian American. At UC Berkeley ties in the near future is not to be found among their and UCLA, where 40 percent of the students are Asian traditional white, Euro-American constituencies. American, 80 percent of the students in the evangelical cam- The new Americans are roughly two-thirds Christian in ori- pus ministries are Asian American.9 One of the ironies of entation, and among the Christians, evangelical and pente- recent attempts to bring more diverse student bodies to the nation’s elite universities is that this move has resulted in a (continued on page 6)
Fourth Quarter 2006 5 World Christian Universities... and establishes concrete aims.14 Such efforts will be rewarded even as the task grows more complex. (continued from page 5) More than ever, our Christian colleges and universities, 12 costal faiths are over-represented. At a time when the fastest which were designed with a particular clientele in mind, will growing faith category, over-represented among the tradition- need to make themselves the home for quite different students al white population, is “no religion” (now at 15-20 percent in and their supporting communities. The aim is not merely to recent surveys), both churches and their Christian colleges be more hospitable to guests, but to open up true membership and universities have their future deeply invested in Christian and ownership to the changing Christian community we people of color. serve. We want all of our students, their parents, and their Given the prevailing whiteness of the constituencies that home churches to say, “That’s our college!” founded most of the Christian colleges and universities in the So what needs to change? Colleges are communities of United States, we who work in these institutions will need to learning, so the path to becoming world Christian universities reorient our basic assumptions about whom we serve, and must start with ideas and academics. Because they are com- change our campuses accordingly. This new situation calls for munities as well, where people work and live, the changes us to do some deep rethinking and retooling of our intellectu- need to go beyond the lab and classroom. al and academic orientation, our campus identity and outlook, and our basic patterns and practices in Christian higher edu- Changing the Intellectual Orientation cation. This new situation needs to change the way we think about Facing the matter of being racially and ethnically inclu- and approach our main realms of study. There is much to say sive—and beyond that, of being just and reconciling—is not about every realm of study, but I must be brief here. new on our campuses. These issues have been on the forefront In the humanities, liberal arts education as we know it has at southern campuses in particular for a generation, and tended to equate Christianity with the cultural heritage of because of the South’s legacy of legalized segregation, south- Christianized Western Europe, so Christian approaches to the ern campuses have been more forthright about the need for humanities have put a heavy emphasis on this “Western” her- reform than their north- itage. Yet Christianity wanes in Europe and declines here, too, ern counterparts. Given Colleges are communi- amidst the white American population with European heritage your record of facing the ties of learning, so the while it grows among those with Asian, Latin American and issues head-on and your path to becoming world African roots, so this equation of learning our “Christian her- racially more diverse Christian universities itage” with learning about Europe will seem less and less cred- context, it is not surpris- ible. Christian scholarship in the humanities began as a must start with ideas ing to see that a number gospel-and-culture dialogue within Mediterranean world, and of your colleges and uni- and academics. it resulted eventually in such wonders as the Italian versities are leading the Renaissance, and indeed, the Reformation in Northern way among Christian campuses in enrolling students of color. Europe.15 By extension, what wonders might be in store as For the United States, item number one in building more Chinese and Korean Christian scholars engage the art and inclusive, just and reconciling Christian colleges has been thought of their Confucian heritage? Our Christian colleges addressing the great historic theme of white racism toward and universities ought to lead the way in developing such new African Americans. As a number of recent sociological studies Christian approaches to the humanities. of American evangelicals have shown, differences and alien- The rise of world Christianity in the midst of globalization ation are still profound today among the nation’s African and hyper-modernity has profound implications in the social American and white, Euro-descended Americans, even those of sciences. All of the big ideas in modern social science—mod- 13 like evangelical faith. ernization, secularization, globalization, democracy, plural- The good news, however, is that the earnest and strenuous ism, human rights, and capitalism—are ripe for revision. The efforts made on Christian campuses are making a positive dif- grand expectation that modernization and globalization would ference, and these efforts are excellent preparation for the lead to secularization is being proven false. At least as much as rapidly developing next phase—becoming world Christian uni- the resurgence of Islam, rising Christianity in the global south versities. They will help you address the multiple, interethnic, is part of the “desecularization of the world” that Peter Berger interracial relationships to be worked out as our campuses and others see happening today.16 The European social pattern engage world Christianity. of rapid secularization now appears to be an anomaly, and not Recently Calvin College mounted a major effort to revise its the paradigm shaper we have made it to be. Christianity’s 25-year-old policies and aims in racial reconciliation. We were entry as a new social, political and economic factor in many confronted by the new complexities prompted by the increas- places needs careful attention. It is one of the greatest world- ing variety of the world’s people in the United States and on wide developments of our time. Christian scholars should take our campus, but we were determined not to let the new, mul- the lead in examining its impact and implications. ticultural situation distract us from the older and still funda- The implications of world Christianity for how we study mental efforts to be just and reconciling in black-white Christian theology and philosophy are also huge. Front-line relations. Our resulting statement, From Every Nation (2004), theologians and Christian philosophers have made the chal- gives a sober assessment of our situation, states clear princi- lenge of post-Enlightenment naturalism and skepticism their ples for analysis and reform, acknowledges new complexities, main concern for nearly two centuries, but these are not the
6 The Educator main challenges facing world Christianity in the global south Changing Campus Identity and Outlook. and east. Christian philosophers and theologians will need to Indeed, the outlook we promote at our colleges and univer- argue for Christianity among competing religious claims. sities — the interests we articulate on our campuses, the There is plenty of theism and spirituality around, and the priv- speakers we invite, the music and drama we perform, the ilege once granted to naturalism is no longer automatic. The places we take our students, the life callings we encourage more insistent questions now arise from other religions, from them to consider as citizens of Kingdom—should be more rival revelations. So our Christian philosophers and theolo- and more “world Christian.” We need to draw our Christian gians should give more attention to testing the coherence of identity and outlook more from the Global South and East, Christianity over against other religious and ethical systems, where the vast majority of and discerning its resonances with them as well. To focus so our Christian brothers and If our education does intently on secularity, European style, increasingly will be to sisters lives, and from not prepare students put one’s main forces into a rearguard action. whence comes a growing for daily cross-cultural In biblical studies, a fresh set of questions and opportuni- plurality of the Christians in ties arise. As Christian people with worldviews and cultures our own country, whether engagement, it is much closer to the biblical writers interpret the Scriptures, newly arrived or here for inadequate. the privileged place of historicism in biblical studies seems centuries already. increasingly problematic. As Andrew Walls once quipped, the The issues, concerns, and life struggles of Christian people apostle “Paul uses exegetical methods that would be ruled out of color should be of increasing concern and interest to our of court in a seminary exercise.”17 The Bible seems much more college and university communities. If we do identify with immediate and relevant to many readers in the Global South, world Christianity and the world’s preponderance of who, says Philip Jenkins, “are familiar with the dangers and Christians, tensions will emerge. We may experience conflict disasters that faced the biblical world, which seem all but between our loyalties to the primary expressed interests of our irrelevant in North America today.” And what Bible students fellow citizens or the policy directions of the American gov- in the North read “in moral or individualistic terms, remains ernment, and to what we discern to be the reign of God. for the South social and communal.”18 Can our Christian col- I think, for example, of how the bishops of the American leges and universities become a haven for rethinking theology Catholic Church have responded to some of the legislative and biblical studies in ways that respond to world proposals regarding immigration that are before the U.S. Christianity? That is a tough assignment, for the scholarly Congress these days. Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles guilds in theological and biblical studies, whether in liberal or stated that the Gospel bids Christians to welcome the stranger conservative theological camps, currently give our professors and to minister to those who are vulnerable and who suffer. If little incentive or support for such badly needed work. Congress makes giving aid to illegal immigrants a felony, There is much that might be said about the natural sci- Mahony declared, such restrictions would be “impossible to ences, the science-driven technical fields, and the professions, comply with…. It is staggering for the federal government to if space permitted. Beyond questions about reigning assump- stifle our spiritual and pastoral outreach to the poor, and to tions and epistemology in the sciences and technological impose penalties for doing what our faith demands us.”19 fields, there are increasing questions about their cultures, So what do these implications mean for the bread and but- their political economies, and their research interests. Who ter aims and practices of Christian higher education? Three decides the research topics? Who pays for the research? Whose things, generally: values, what values thus tend to govern the enterprise? In Christian colleges and universities, if our hearts and 1. Our curriculum needs to change. As you think about minds increasingly point to the global south and east, perhaps core curriculum, think about what students need generally to we can reorient our research and technical development inter- be equipped, intellectually, morally and spiritually, in skills ests as well. What kinds of immunology might matter more to and habits and knowledge base, for this new scene. Cultural us—that attending to joint replacements for our overweight studies are as important as ever, so stick with the liberal arts, fellow citizens or that which addresses the scourges of AIDs or but in every subject we will be asking new questions of old malaria? Might we shift our research and development away material and making room for new material. In our major from noise abatement in SUVs for American automakers, and concentrations and in professional degree programs, as we toward more durable refrigerators and garden tractors for the teach our students about becoming teachers, business profes- world’s rural people? Doing business, medicine, nursing, and sionals, health care workers, or accountants and engineers, we social work all assume a context. Which contexts will we need to prepare them for daily work anywhere they might go, choose to make our focus? Our student nurses may aspire to work that will be interactive with the widely varied peoples of work in hospitals, but our mission may push us and them to the world, including those living next door. If our education focus more on community-based healthcare. does not prepare students for daily cross-cultural engagement, So it goes. The intellectual and educational implications of it is inadequate. the rise of world Christianity, in a shrinking, radically interac- tive globe, are enormous. Christian colleges and universities, 2. We need to rethink our clientele and approach. Most of with their ties to the new heartlands of Christianity, could be our colleges have been designed with the white, suburban or leading the way. small-town student in mind. The trend lines in U.S. demo- (continued on page 8)
Third Quarter–2006 7 World Christian Universities... higher education. It can be a troubling time, too. As the great historian of world Christianity, Andrew Walls, puts it, Western (continued from page 7) Christians have “long grown used to the idea that they were graphics show that these folk will become a declining part of guardians of a ‘standard’ Christianity; … [but now] they find the total population. People of color, representing the new themselves in the presence of new expressions of Christianity, Christianity of the global south and east, will become a greater and new Christian lifestyles that have developed… under the share of population. What do we do, in how we teach and how conditions of African, Indian, Chinese, Korean, and Latin we organize and give texture to campus life, to refashion our American life….” campuses to be co-owned by the new world Christian majori- Walls goes on to say that in responding to these new ty? How do we encourage more of our diverse student popula- Christian neighbors, tion to feel truly at home on our campuses, not forever the “There are two dangers. One lies in an instinctive desire to guests? What food we serve in the cafeteria, while not insignif- protect our own version of Christian faith, or even to seek to icant, is one of the easiest of these matters to address. establish it as the standard, normative one. The other, and The United States has a deep legacy of racism, ethnic preju- perhaps the more seductive in the present condition of dice, and marginalizing the newcomer. Our institutions— Western Christianity, is the postmodern option: to decide that churches and their each of the expressions and versions is equally valid and colleges no less How do we encourage more authentic, and that we are therefore each at liberty to enjoy our own in isolation from all the others.” than banks and of our diverse student popu- Neither approach, Walls, insists, is the gospel way. As the businesses—have lation to feel truly at home been designed with Epistle to the Ephesians points out, we make up the Body of certain clientele in on our campuses, not forever Christ only when we are brought together, for “each of the mind. Today, even the guests? culture-specific segments [is] necessary to the body but … in spite of the best incomplete in itself. Only in Christ does completion and full- of intentions, institutions continue to carry out programmed- ness dwell. Christ’s completion as we have seen, comes from in patterns of preference about what is normal and abnormal, all humanity, from the translation of the life of Jesus into the favored and disfavored. More than we are able to easily admit, lifeways of all the world’s cultures and subcultures through these distinctions do not follow the law of God or the spirit of history. None of us can reach Christ’s completeness on our the Gospel, but the prejudgments of self-regarding groups of own. We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge, and 20 people. We need the courage and the skills to discern the dif- focus our own; only together are we complete in Christ.” ference and implement changes in the way we operate as com- We are living in an extraordinary, Ephesian moment, Walls munities.20 So what do we change on our campuses, in our insists, referring to that brief and shining time in Ephesus outreach, and our building of constituencies and prospective when Jewish and Gentile Christians were reconciled and student pipelines, to get people in these Christian communi- brought into unity. Never before in the history of Christianity ties of color to say, “That’s our college. We can entrust our have so many cultural expressions of Christianity been children to it and hold the people there accountable for our brought together in one nation as now, in the United States. kids’ education.” Can we be reconciled? Can we prepare our students to be rec- oncilers, to be world Christians? Can we be agents of reconcil- 3. Finally, we need to develop new partnerships. As we have iation in our own campus communities? It is an enormous seen, there are new Christian movements and denominations challenge, but we serve a great God, the one “who by the on the ground in North America. How do these congregations power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far 21 get on the itinerary for our choir tours? How do we convince more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Eph. 3:21) them that we are vitally interested in their young people? What partnerships do we develop with them as educational Endnotes institutions engaged in community service? There are also 1. Mauro F. Guillén, “Is Globalization Civilizing, new church and college partners elsewhere in the world who Destructive or Feeble? A Critique of Five Key Debates in the are becoming more invested in higher education. What can we Social Science Literature,” Annual Review of Sociology 27 do to participate constructively in the worldwide growth and (2001): 235-260. For recent summative works of the theoreti- development of Christian higher education? We often go into cians to which Guillén refers, see Martin Albrow, The Global such relationships, at home and abroad, assuming that we are Age (Palo Alto, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1997); and the ones who will be giving, only to find, in the end, that we Roland Robertson, Globalization: Social Theory and Global were on the receiving end the whole time. Whole new pieces Culture (London: Sage Publishing, 1992). See also Donald M. to the puzzle of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ engages cul- Lewis’ helpful essay, “Globalization: The Problem of Definition ture are revealed to us as we slow down, listen to our wise and Future Areas of Historical Inquiry,” in A Global Faith: Christian brothers and sisters, and see how they work for the Essays on Evangelicalism and Globalization, ed. Mark Kingdom. Hutchinson and Ogbu Kalu (Sydney: Centre for the Study of Australian Christianity, 1998): 26-46. A Remarkable Moment 2. See, e.g., William Greider, One World, Ready or Not: Challenges and opportunities abound, my friends. It is an The Manic Logic of Global Capitalism (New York: Simon and exciting time to be a Christian, and to be engaged in Christian Schuster, 1997); James H. Mittelman, ed., Globalization:
8 The Educator Critical Reflections (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Rienner, 1996); 11. Joseph M. Cronin, “Does the Cafe Serve Rice and and Benjamin R. Barber, Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism Beans? What Colleges Need to Know about Changing and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World (New York: Demography,” Connection: New England’s Journal of Higher Ballantine, 1996). Unfortunately, quite a few Christian the- Education v17 n2 (Fall 2002): 22-24. ologians seem to accept this demonizing view uncritically. 12. R. Stephen Warner, “Coming to America: Immigrants See, e.g., M. D. Litonjua, “Global Capitalism: The New and the Faith They Bring,” Christian Century, 10 February Context of Christian Social Ethics,” Theology Today 56 (July 2004, 20-23. 1999): 210-228; Vinay Samuel, “Keynote Address: Evangelical 13. Michael O. Emerson, Christian Smith, Divided by Faith: Response to Globalization: An Asian Perspective,” Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America Transformation 16 (January 1999): 4-7; K. C. Abraham, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000); Michael O. “Globalization: A Gospel and Culture Perspective,” Emerson, People of the Dream: Multiracial Congregations in International Review of Mission 85 (January 1996): 85-92; the United States (Princeton: Princeton University Press, and Oswald Firth, O.M.J., “Globalization: 2006); George Yancey, Beyond Racial A Christian Perspective on Economics,” Can we prepare our students to Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Dialogue 24, Colombo (1997): 101-124. be reconcilers, to be world Responsibility (Downers Grove, Ill.: 3. Kenichi Ohmae, The Borderless Christians? Can we be agents InterVarsity Press, 2006). World (New York: Harper Business, 14. From Every Nation: Revised of reconciliation in our own 1990); Lester Thurow, The Future of Comprehensive Plan for Racial Justice, Capitalism: How Today’s Economic campus communities? Reconciliation, and Cross-Cultural Forces Shape Tomorrow’s World (New Engagement at Calvin College (Grand York: Penguin Books, 1996); R.D. Lipschutz, with J. Mayer, Rapids: Calvin College, 2004). Available in print from the Global Civil Society and Global Environmental Governance Provost’s Office or online at (Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1996); and http://www.calvin.edu/admin/provost/multicultural/documents J. Brecher, J. B. Childs, and J. Cutler, eds., Global Visions: /FEN.pdf Beyond the New World Order (Boston: South End Press, 15. One classic exposition of this heritage is E. Harris 1993). One very enlightening debate between advocates of Harbison, The Christian Scholar in the Age of Reformation these differing perspectives is “Dueling Globalizations: A (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1958). Debate Between Thomas L. Friedman and Ignacio Ramonet,” 16. Peter L. Berger ed., The Desecularization of the World: Foreign Policy 116 (Fall 1999): 110-127. Resurgent Religion and World Politics (Grand Rapids: 4. See his extended treatment of this topic in Max Eerdmans, 1999). See also Paul Freston, “Globalization, Stackhouse, God and Globalization, 3 vols. (Harrisburg, Pa.: Religion and Evangelical Christianity; cited above. Other sug- Trinity Press International, 2000); and Stackhouse, et. al., gestive reviews of the prospects for globalization and religious eds., The Local Church in a Global Era: Reflections for a resurgence to revise social scientific paradigms are in an issue New Century (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000). dedicated to “Religion and Globalization” of The Hedgehog 5. Paul Freston, “Globalization, Religion, and Evangelical Review: Critical Reflections on Contemporary Culture 4:2 Christianity: A Sociological Meditation from the Third (Summer 2002). World,” in Interpreting Contemporary Christianity: Global 17. Andrew F. Walls, “Of Ivory Towers and Ashrams: Some Process and Local Identities, ed. Ogbu Kalu (Grand Rapids: Reflections on Theological Scholarship in Africa,” Journal of Eerdmans, forthcoming). African Christian Thought 3:1 (June 2000): 2. 6. Stephen Hunt, “A Church for All Nations: The 18. Philip Jenkins, “Reading the Bible in the Global South,” Redeemed Christian Church of God,” Pneuma 24 (Fall 2002): International Bulletin of Missionary Research 30 (April 2006): 185-204; Simon Romero, “A Texas Town Nervously Awaits a 70, 72. New Neighbor,” New York Times, 21 August 2005, 18. 19. “Cardinal Mahony Commemorates Migration Day By 7. Paul Freston, “Contours of Latin American Launching Justice For Immigrants Campaign In Los Angeles” Pentecostalism,” in Donald M. Lewis, ed., Christianity Archdiocesan News Archive, posted January 25, 2006, Reborn: The Global Expansion of Evangelicalism in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Twentieth Century (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004), 249. http://www.archdiocese.la/news/story.php?newsid=704 See also 8. Timothy Tseng, “The Evangelical Reconstruction of Teresa Watanabe, “Immigrants Gain the Pulpit: Cardinal Chinese American Protestantism,” paper presented at the Mahony Says He Will Ask Priests to Provide Aid without Proof American Society of Church History annual meeting, of Documentation Even If Proposed Restrictions Become Law, Philadelphia, PA, 8 January 2006. “ Los Angeles Times, 1 March 2006, A-1 9. Rebecca Y. Kim, “Second-Generation Korean American 20. Risking presumption, let me suggest that the reader Evangelicals: Ethnic, Multiethnic, or White Campus inspect From Every Nation, cited above, Calvin College’s Ministries?” Sociology of Religion 65 (Spring 2004):19-34. attempts to “come clean” on such matters and redirect its 10. “Concentration of Minorities Enrolled in Public affairs. Elementary/Secondary Public Schools, 2002-03, and Selected 21. Andrew F. Walls, “The Ephesian Moment,” The Cross- Changes from 1992-93,” found at Cultural Process in Christian History (Maryknoll, New York: http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/res/hel/hel.html#diver Orbis Books, 2002), pp. 72. I sity
Fourth Quarter 2006 9 IABCU Website Expands Services he website of the International Association Tof Baptist Colleges and Schools found at
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10 The Educator $8 Million Gift Marks Milestone events such as lectures, musical perfor- location all departments devoted to develop- for Dallas Baptist University mances, and weddings. Additional space ing Baylor students to their full potential. will be dedicated to the university’s Alumni Currently, Success Center programs are The largest gift in Dallas Baptist Association Office, Intercessory Prayer scattered in various sites across campus. University’s 108-year history will serve as Ministry, and Cook Graduate School of the foundation for the institution’s first Leadership. chapel building. Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, co- Williams Baptist College Receives Despite impressive growth—enrollment founder and chairman of Pilgrim’s Pride, $1.9 Million from Two Gifts has increased every semester since 1979— Inc., has pledged $8 million for the con- Williams Baptist College has announced DBU is still only one of a few Christian uni- struction of a 1,400-seat chapel building, its largest single gift in school history, an versities to not have a permanent chapel which will be located at the heart of cam- estate gift of approximately $1.5 million facility. The Pilgrim Chapel will not only pus. from the late Nell Mondy of Ithaca, N.Y. satisfy student seating, but will also stand as Originally established as Decatur Baptist The gift establishes the Nell I. Mondy a landmark to DBU’s commitment to College in 1898 and relocating in 1965 as Professorship in WBC’s Department of Christ-centered higher education. Dallas Baptist College, DBU achieved uni- Natural Sciences, according to Williams versity status in 1985. Mars Hill Receives $4.5 Million president Jerol Swaim. Chapel services have always occupied a Mondy was a biochemist and professor central role in DBU student life, but not from Bonner Foundation emeritus of food and nutrition at Cornell always an ideal location. In To God Be the Mars Hill College has received $4.5 mil- University, where she spent four decades on Glory, a history of DBU’s first 100 years, lion from the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner the faculty. Her particular interest was the former DBU Administrator Fred White Foundation to permanently endow the potato, which she studied extensively and described the humble conditions inside the Bonner Scholars Program at Mars Hill. The championed as a food crop for developing campus‚ first chapel - a huge canvas tent. foundation pledged the money to the college countries. “Male students lost the shine on their two years ago, with the stipulation that the Mondy attended Ouachita Baptist shoes, and the girls even lost their shoes college match that gift with an additional $2 University and then earned a master’s degree sometimes as they waded through the mud million. The college completed that chal- at the University of Texas. She completed to their assigned seats.” Within a few years, lenge this summer. her doctorate in biochemistry at Cornell in a campus gymnasium was built, and since 1953 and joined the faculty there the same that time this building has served as a Baylor Receives $2.5 Million Gift year. make-shift location for chapel services. for Paul L. Foster Success Center WBC also named its Nell Mondy Now, the $16 million Chapel Campaign Baylor University Regents have Chemistry Laboratory in her honor. Mondy’s promises to redefine the landscape of DBU’s announced that Baylor’s highest capital pri- estate gift will go into the college’s endow- campus. Plans for the Patty and Bo Pilgrim ority – the Paul L. Foster Success Center – ment, a permanent fund which draws earn- Chapel call for a colonial-style sanctuary has received a $2.5 million gift from an ings for the institution. with a towering steeple that will be the anonymous donor. It is the second major estate gift Williams tallest point on University Hill. The donor’s gift, along with a $3 million has announced in recent weeks. WBC’s The Chapel will accommodate DBU’s lead gift from Paul L. Foster, president and endowment received a $400,000 boost Monday, Wednesday, and Friday student CEO of Western Refining Co. of El Paso and recently from the estate of Judge Edward chapel services, and host major campus a 1979 Baylor graduate, will unite in one Maddox of Harrisburg, Ark. I
——Mark Your Calendar—— Future Events: International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities
December 2006 Board meeting and reception at SACS: Gaylord Palms, Orlando, Fla., Monday December 11, 5:30–7:30 pm dinner board meeting followed by IABCU reception from 8–9 pm.
Annual Meeting and Workshops: June 3-5, 2007- Marriott Williamsburg, 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, Va. Watch the IABCU website
tion of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement. I
Fourth Quarter 2006 11 William Carey President Larry Kennedy Dies from Complications of ALS ATTIESBURG, Miss. (BP)--Larry ty, founded in 1906, is debt-free as it cele- Kennedy also had received numerous HKennedy, president of William Carey brates its centennial, with its $7-million- community honors; in 2005, he was named University, died from complications from plus debt paid off in January 10 months Executive of the Year by the Sales and ALS (amyotrophic lat- ahead of schedule. Marketing Executives of Hattiesburg. eral sclerosis, or Lou Colleagues recounted appreciation for Previously as a pastor in Mississippi, Gehrig's Disease) in Kennedy’s contagious laugh, creative prob- Kennedy had served in various roles with the early morning lem-solving and fairness to all individuals, the Mississippi Baptist Convention, includ- hours of Sept. 21 at his while embracing the motto of the universi- ing membership on the Executive home in Hattiesburg, ty’s namesake, William Carey, the father of Committee and the Education Miss. He was 64. the modern missions movement: “Expect Commission. He also served as a trustee of Kennedy, who was great things from God; attempt great things the Southern Baptist International Mission diagnosed with the dis- for God. Board for eight years. ease in July 2005, had "Dr. Kennedy is an example of a man fac- He was the author of two books, “Down been president of the ing a deteriorating disease with class and with Anxiety” and “God’s Answers to dignity and resolve,” said Rep. Chip Human Dilemmas.” Baptist-related univer- Larry Kennedy sity since 1998. Pickering, R.-Miss., in a news release during A native of Ville Platte, La., he grew up Kennedy joined William Carey’s faculty in ALS Awareness Month in May. “He reminds in Pensacola, Fla.; received a history 1991. He served as professor of religion, us that anyone can be afflicted by this condi- degree from Louisiana College; and earned dean of the Cooper School of Missions and tion which has no currently known cause, a master of theology degree from New Biblical Studies and vice president of church cure or means of prevention.” Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and relations and was the university’s interim The Pickering news release recounted master of arts and Ph.D. degrees in history president from October 1997 until his selec- that Kennedy’s intention to announce his from Mississippi State University. tion as president in August 1998. condition in September 2005 was derailed by Survivors include his wife Sarah Under his leadership, William Carey’s Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Johnson Kennedy; two sons, Stephen of enrollment grew from 1,980 to 3,000 stu- Hattiesburg campus, destroyed the Gulf Jackson, Miss., and Scott Kennedy of dents as new programs and degrees were Coast campus and closed the university’s Missoula, Mont.; a stepson, Kyle Robertson added in Hattiesburg and at the universi- nursing school in New Orleans. “After shep- of Laurel, Miss.; one grandson; and his par- ty’s Gulf Coast campus. Its 550 graduates herding the school through that natural dis- ents, Wells Earnest and Cecilia Kennedy of last May marked the largest commence- aster,” the news release stated, “Dr. Kennedy Pensacola, Fla. ment in the university’s 100-year history. again put off his announcement ... when the A memorial service was held Sept. 23 William Carey’s accreditation was reaf- college was presented with a generous con- on the Hattiesburg campus. Memorials can firmed for 10 years and $22 million in con- tribution ... so as not to detract from the be made to the Larry W. Kennedy struction and renovation projects were news of the gift. He finally announced his Scholarship Fund at William Carey completed during his tenure. The universi- condition in the spring of 2006. University. I
HBU to Inaugurate President Robert B. Sloan, Jr. Charles Warren Named Interim ouston Baptist University’s tion will follow at 4 p.m. President at Bluefield College HPresidential Inauguration Committee The HBU Board of Trustees elected has announced plans for the November Sloan to the presidency on August 8, 2006. harles Warren, a retired Christian educator inaugural of Robert He had previously served as Chancellor of Cwith more than B. Sloan Jr. as the Baylor University, following his service as 14 years of experi- University’s third President from 1995-2005. ence as a college president. Sloan He served as Dean of Baylor’s George W. president, most assumed the presi- Truett Theological Seminary from 1993- recently at dency on Sept. 1, 1995. Sloan joined the Department of Lynchburg (VA) 2006, and is a Religion faculty at Baylor University in 1983. College, has been renowned Christian He also served on the faculty of named interim presi- educator, scholar and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary dent of Bluefield author. and adjunctively at Hardin-Simmons College effective Inaugural activi- University. He has served as interim pastor August 1. He suc- Charles Warren ties will take place on at more than 20 churches throughout ceeded President Dan Robert B. Sloan, Jr. Tuesday, November Texas and Oklahoma during his career. MacMillan, who served nine years as BC’s 28, with the inaugural ceremony scheduled Sloan has authored two books, edited sever- eighth president before announcing his plans for 2 p.m. on campus. A celebratory recep- al others, and has published extensively in June to depart the school for a position with Dallas Baptist University. I
12 The Educator Legal Notes: By Jim Guenther A Test Students Would Love he following test question consists of only one question. It cise of religion that the Constitution protects.” This panel Tsolicits merely a “yes” or “no” response: “Did the Third thought the University’s conduct fell into this “But” category. Circuit Court of Appeals think that the lower court had juris- That decision was generally considered by most constitution- diction to consider a sex discrimination charge by a woman al authorities as being a too narrow interpretation of the First who said she was ousted from her chaplain’s job at a Catholic Amendment’s ministerial exception. It deviated from most of the university?” case law interpreting the exception. The “But” part is where the If the student answers, “Yes,” that’s right! But, if the student deviation occurred. answers, “No,” that’s right, too. I told you students would love The case was originally heard by a three judge panel consist- this test! ing of Judges Becker and Nygaard who formed the majority, and How could this be? The Third Circuit reversed itself. First, it of Judge Smith who dissented. Judge Becker died “after the case said, “Yes;” then it reconsidered and said, “No.” (That’s akin to had been circulated to the full court, but before the opinions what can happen when a coach asks for the play to be reviewed were filed.”1 The court granted the University’s request for a and the official, after peering into the TV, reverses the call which rehearing. Judge Nygaard recused himself and the only member had been made on the field). of the first panel to serve on the second panel, Judge Smith, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act recognizes that church-relat- found himself writing the unanimous opinion of the second ed colleges have a constitutional right to be exempt from the panel. general rule that an employer may not discriminate on the basis That panel said: “Today, we join seven of our sister circuits in of religion. That exemption is written into the law. So, Gannon adopting the (ministerial) exception and hold that it applies to University was free to discriminate on the basis of its employee’s any claim, the resolution of which would limit a religious insti- religion. tution’s right to choose who will perform particular spiritual But Chaplain Petruska charged sex discrimination, not reli- functions.” The ministerial exception is that broad - no “Buts” gious discrimination. There is no exemption for church-related about it. You’ve got to love a court that will let the parties take colleges when it comes to Title VII’s prohibition against sex dis- turns winning. crimination. So, why would a court not have jurisdiction to con- Two incidental comments: sider her charge? 1. If you are wondering how a woman could be a Catholic At issue is the scope of what is called the “ministerial excep- minister, wonder no more. She was not. So how could she fall tion” to employment nondiscrimination laws. The ministerial into the “ministerial exception?” Answer: That exception applies exception is generally understood to mean that a religious body’s to persons whether they are ordained as ministers or not, if the relationship with its ministers is part of the body’s religious free “function of the position” includes “teaching, spreading the exercise right and that courts therefore have no jurisdiction over faith, church governance, supervision of a religious order, or such disputes. That means the First Amendment effectively supervision of participation in religious ritual and worship.”2 exempts a religious body from nondiscrimination laws to the 2. Two cases involving Baptist institutions are among those extent those laws would regulate the body’s relationship with its which have shaped the scope of the ministerial exception. ministers. Mississippi College was not successful in its argument that the A church, for example, may discriminate on the basis of race, First Amendment meant that none of Title VII could be applied color, national origin, sex, age or disability—or, for that matter, to the College and its relationship with any of its faculty.3 comb-overs, poor posture, or too much tweeter and not enough Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary later convinced the woofer—when it comes to employing its minister. same court that its relationship with those in certain adminis- When the first three-judge panel of the Third Circuit consid- trative positions and its entire faculty were within the scope of ered this case, two of the three judges said: When a religious the ministerial exception.4 body engages in legally prohibited discrimination based on the body’s “religious belief, religious doctrine, or the internal regula- Endnotes: tions of a church, then restricting a church’s freedom to select 1. First footnote to the second opinion, Lynette M. Petruska v. its ministers would violate the Free Exercise Clause by inhibit- Gannon University, et al., Case No. 05-1222, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. ing the church’s ability to express its beliefs and put them into practice.” And, to boot, the panel said it would also violate the 2. Rayburn v. Gen’l Conf. of Seventh Day Adventists, 772 F.2d 1164 Establishment Clause by entangling the courts in “ecclesiastical (4th Cir. 1985). matters.” But, the first panel said, “where a church discriminates 3. EEOC v. Mississippi College, 626 F.2d 477 (5th Cir. 1980). for reasons unrelated to religion, we hold the Constitution does 4. EEOC v. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 651 F.2d 277 not foreclose Title VII suits.” (5th Cir. 1981). The panel went on to say that employment discrimination by ______a religious institution that is not based on religious belief or Jim Guenther is a partner in the law firm of Guenther, Jordan doctrine is “simply the exercise of intolerance, not the free exer- and Price, P.C. in Nashville, Tennessee, (615) 329-2100. I
Fourth Quarter 2006 13 Presidents of the Member Schools of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities Dr. Evans P. Whitaker David R. Smith Dr. James H. Taylor Dr. Richard T. Bento President President President President Anderson University Brewton-Parker College University of the Cumberlands Hawaii Baptist Academy 316 Boulevard Highway 280 6191 College Station Drive 21 Bates Street Anderson, SC 29621 Mt. Vernon, GA 30445-0197 Williamsburg, KY 40769 Honolulu, HI 96817-2404
Dr. Thomas A. Kinchen Dr. Ronald L. Ellis Dr. Gary R. Cook Dr. Robert Sloan President President President President Baptist College of Florida California Baptist University Dallas Baptist University Houston Baptist University 5400 College Drive 8432 Magnolia Avenue 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway 7502 Fondren Road Graceville, FL 32440 Riverside, CA 92504 Dallas, TX 75211-9299 Houston, TX 77074-3298
Dr. Betty Sue McGarvey Dr. Jerry Wallace Dr. Bob E. Riley Dr. Lanny Hall President President President President Baptist College of Health Sciences Campbell University East Texas Baptist University Howard Payne University 1003 Monroe Avenue P. O. Box 127 1209 North Grove Street 1000 Fisk Memphis, TN 38104 Buies Creek, NC 27506 Marshall, TX 76570-1498 Brownwood, TX 76801-2794 Dr. David E. Potts Dr. Albert Reyes Dr. Michael Carter Dr. Kenneth Ridings President President President President Judson College Baptist University of the Americas Campbellsville University Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute 1 University Drive P. O. Box 120 8019 South Pan Am Expressway 1455 Gilliam Road Marion, AL 36756 San Antonio, TX 78224 Campbellsville, KY 42718-2799 Hendersonville, NC 28792-9222 Dr. Jerry B. Cain Dr. James Netherton Dr. John M Lilley Dr. Frank Bonner Judson College President President President 1151 North State Street Carson-Newman College Baylor University Gardner-Webb University Elgin, Illinois 60123-1498 P. O. Box 97096 1646 Russell Avenue P. O. Box 997 Waco, TX 76798 Jefferson City, TN 37760 Boiling Springs, NC 28017 Dr. Joe Aguillard President Dr. Robert Fisher Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr. Dr. William H. Crouch, Jr. Louisiana College President President President P.O. Box 583 Belmont University Charleston Southern University Georgetown College Pineville, LA 71359-0508 1900 Belmont Boulevard P. O. Box 118087 400 East College Street Dr. William Underwood Nashville, TN 37212-3757 Charleston, SC 29423-8087 Georgetown, KY 40324-1696 President Mercer University Dr. Bettye R. Coward Dr. M. Christopher White Dr. Woodrow W. Burt, Jr. 1400 Coleman Avenue President President President Macon, GA 31207 Blue Mountain College Chowan University Hannibal-LaGrange College BMC Box 338 200 Jones Drive 2800 Palmyra Road Murfreesboro, NC 27855 Dr. Dan Lunsford Blue Mountain, MS 38610 Hannibal, MO 63401 Mars Hill College Dr. Bill D. Whittaker 50 Marshall Street Dr. Charles O. Warren, Jr. Dr. Craig Turner Mars Hill, NC 28754 Interim President President President Bluefield College Clear Creek Baptist Bible College Hardin-Simmons University Dr. Robert Imhoff 3000 College Drive 300 Clear Creek Road 2200 Hickory Street President Bluefield, VA 24605 Pineville, KY 40977 Abilene, TX 79698 Mid-Continent University 99 Powell Road East Mayfield, KY 42066
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Presidents... Dr. Rex Horne Dr. Jerry Pounds, Sr. Dr. Paul W. Armes President President President (continued from page 14) Ouachita Baptist University Truett-McConnell College Wayland Baptist University OBU Box 3753 100 Alumni Drive 1900 West Seventh St., CMB 689 Dr. Lee G. Royce Arkadelphia, AR 71998 Cleveland, GA 30528 Plainview, TX 79072-6998 President Mississippi College Dr. David Clark Dr. David S. Dockery (Vacant) 200 W. College Street, Box 4001 President President President Clinton, MS 39058 Palm Beach Atlantic University Union University William Carey University P. O. Box 24708 1050 University Drive 498 Tuscan Avenue Dr. R. Alton Lacey West Palm Beach, FL 33416 Jackson, TN 38305 Hattiesburg, MS 39401-5499 President Missouri Baptist University Dr. Andrew Westmoreland Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom Dr. Jerol B. Swaim One College Park Drive President President President St. Louis, MO 63141-8698 Samford University University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Williams Baptist College 800 Lakeshore Drive UMH-B Box 8001 P. O. Box 3578 Dr. James B. Epting Birmingham, AL 35229 Belton, TX 76513-2599 Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 President North Greenville University Dr. Harold Newman Dr. Mark R. Foley Dr. William S. Phillips P. O. Box 1892 President President President Tigerville, SC 29688 Shorter College University of Mobile Yellowstone Baptist College 315 Shorter Avenue P. O. Box 13220 1515 South Shiloh Road Rome, GA 30165-4298 Dr. Mark Brister Mobile, AL 36663-0220 Billings, MT 59106 I President Dr. C. Pat Taylor Dr. Michael Puglisi Oklahoma Baptist University President President 500 West University St., Box Southwest Baptist University Virginia Intermont College 61241 1600 University Avenue 1013 Moore Street Shawnee, OK 74804 Bolivar, MO 65613 Bristol, VA 24201
Fourth Quarter 2006 15 If the address on this label is wrong, please send it NonProfit along with your correct address to: Organization International Association of Baptist US POSTAGE Colleges and Universities PAID Attn: Baptist Educator Permit No. 768 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 Nashville, TN Nashville, TN 37221-1410
Corporate Partners 40202 Blvd., Suite 2, Kettering, OH 45429 John Eason, Diversified Trust Co., Steve Cargill, Doug Morrow, Cargill Provide Services for [email protected], 3100 West Associates Inc., (Development Services) IABCU Member Schools End Ave, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37203 [email protected], 4701 David Farris, Valley Services, Inc. (Food Altamesa Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76133 Service), [email protected], PO Joseph R. Blasi, McGriff, Seibels and John Cox, DCA Architects – Building God’s Box 5454, Jackson, MS 39288-5454 Williams (Insurance Consortium Way Program, [email protected] Barbara Medlin, Douglas Day, GuideStone administrators), [email protected] 2909 Washington Blvd., Ogden, UT 84040 Financial Resources – SBC, Betsy Burton Strunk, Mary Jarett Whisler, Philip Bushnell, Gallagher Benefit Services, [email protected] 2401 Ann Campbell, Elizabeth Umberger, Sallie [email protected], Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX 75201 Mag, Inc. Campus Solutions, bbur- 12444 Powercourt Drive, Suite 500, Lynn Sneddon, Student Resources, [email protected], mary- St. Louis, MO 63131 [email protected] [email protected], Doug Dworak, John Callahan, Founders 748 Jacana Way, North Palm Beach, FL 805 Executive Center Dr W, St. Bookstore Services, dworak- 33408 Petersburg, FL 33702 Denzil Edge, Kim Fountain, Learning House Danny Breshears, Dan Mullins, Kingdom [email protected] Inc. (Distance Learning), Processing (credit card processing and phone: 800-869-0366; jcalla- [email protected], Speed Bldg, services), [email protected], [email protected] 333 Guthrie St., Suite 200, Louisville, KY [email protected], 3001 Ackerman phone: 800-869-0366 I
16 The Educator Fourth Quarter–2004 17 18 The Educator Fourth Quarter–2004 19 20 The Educator