Comments on: Seminary President Ousted for Performing Daughter’s Gay Wedding

By: Just Me

Just Me — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 14:15:22 +0000

"James, what about the âacademic freedomâ argument here?"

Well to begin with, most seminaries/religious affiliated colleges, have their proffessors sign an agreement that they believe/support church doctrine.

Also, not sure how/if tenure issues apply to a president. Plenty of college presidents get fired from their positions, so I figure going into administration is probably akin to the union guy who loses his union representation and protection, when he heads into management.

By: Kappiy

Kappiy — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 04:06:22 +0000

James, what about the "academic freedom" argument here?

New Brunswick Theological Seminary is a degree-granting educational institution and Kansfield is a faculty member--holder of the esteemed title of John Henry Livingstone Professor of Theology.

He is essentially being fired for a perfectly legal and ethical act that the Board of Trustees happens not to agree with.

Most serious universities that are associated with a faith tradition and have seminary training and theology programs (e.g. University of Chicago, Notre Dame) abide by general understandings of academic freedom.

Ones that don't tend to show up on the American Association of University Professors' Censure List and tend to be pretty crummy schools.

New Brunswick Theological Seminary may already fall into this latter category, so perhaps the threat of censure is not a big deal for them. But any institution of higher learning that sacks employees for views it doesn't agree with is antithetical to the principles of debate and deliberation that are integral to a quality education.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:54:05 +0000

Also, Sullivan misrepresents the reason he was removed, it wasn't because he had a gay daughter, but because he performed a wedding ceremony, contrary to the teachings of the church he is working for.

By: Just Me

Just Me — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 00:51:35 +0000

A religious body has the right to set the standards by which it wants its pastors and seminary instructors to operate, and if they go outside those boundaries, the church is well within its right to censure them.

By: Zed

Zed — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 22:10:52 +0000

I know how Sully feels. My agent is expecting a completed manuscript by next month. I am sad loser who has let blogging rule over business. But really that is just an excuse for not being professional.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 19:05:33 +0000

Never miss the opportunity to take a jab at Sullivan, eh James? Aside from the State of the Union, which he said he was going to blog anyway, Sullivan has written exactly 24 posts since February 1st. And given that he did say this:

So I'm going to turn this into a far more occasional operation for a while. I'll keep posting when the feeling grabs me

...then I don't see your jab as anything more than an opportunity. Just sayin'.

By: bryan

bryan — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 16:41:44 +0000

Yes, to say the reformed church is one of the "more conservative" churches is putting it lightly. However, it does boast Calvin College in Grand Rapids, which has had some outstanding academics throughout the years.