Prayer service for Concordia University-Wisconsin

[John_Hannah]

Does this letter addressed to the CUWAA Board of Regents appear on the CUWAA or LCMS portals?  I find nothing.  "I received this letter with encouragement to share it" is purposefully vague.  It is also hostile to the attitude taken by Synodical leadership throughout the process of the visitation, which has/had been to keep things "in house."  Specifically with regards to the outcomes desired in the letter, the process shifts from being conducted by Synodical leadership in an internal way to the mode of a peremptory strike.  It's not possible to imagine that the CUWAA Board of Regents could have responded yet, so another chapter will be revealed.

Substantially to control and command issues in the LCMS university system, this circles back to the bylaw powers of the prior approval panel in the selection of university presidents.

Dave Benke

Has CUWAA actually gone woke? Not really but it is going to pay to keep that suspicion alive and well.

It will be interesting to see how this ends. Probably not well.

Peace, JOHN

[Steven W Bohler]

Does this letter addressed to the CUWAA Board of Regents appear on the CUWAA or LCMS portals?  I find nothing.  "I received this letter with encouragement to share it" is purposefully vague.  It is also hostile to the attitude taken by Synodical leadership throughout the process of the visitation, which has/had been to keep things "in house."  Specifically with regards to the outcomes desired in the letter, the process shifts from being conducted by Synodical leadership in an internal way to the mode of a peremptory strike.  It's not possible to imagine that the CUWAA Board of Regents could have responded yet, so another chapter will be revealed.

Substantially to control and command issues in the LCMS university system, this circles back to the bylaw powers of the prior approval panel in the selection of university presidents.

Dave Benke

Has CUWAA actually gone woke? Not really but it is going to pay to keep that suspicion alive and well.

It will be interesting to see how this ends. Probably not well.

Peace, JOHN

And how do you know this, Rev. Hannah?  Have you conducted your own visitation, as did President Harrison?

[Charles Austin]

As I noted upstream, somebody needs to pay some kind of attention to the impact this matter will have on the school’s ability to attract and keep students, retain faculty members, attract faculty that meets your standards, have good morale on campus and deal with the larger education accrediting system.
And is the “original mission” of a Concordia still its mission? Or….

[peter_speckhard]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

[Michael Slusser]

The letter presented to us as from President Harrison holds up as a model to CUWAA the Christian college in Western Pennsylvania, Grove City College.

Consider the example of Grove City College in Grove City, Penn., formerly affiliated with the
Presbyterian church, now a self-described conservative Christian college with a Christ-centered mission.
When concerns about the infiltration of Critical Race Theory into the mission and instruction of the
college became public last year, the college owned up to ways in which it had drifted from its mission,
appointed a committee to investigate concerns, and developed a plan to move back to its institutional
Christo-centricity.

I had not known that Grove City College had disaffiliated from its sponsoring church.
Grove City's website often mentions faith, and it has a chapel.
Grove City also has on its website a Statement on Diversity https://www.gcc.edu/Portals/0/Statement_on_Diversity_1013.pdf and it calls attention to its Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives https://www.gcc.edu/Utility/Offices/Office-of-Multicultural-Education-Initiatives. It proclaims that

Six percent of our undergraduates are multi-ethnic students, and the majority of students are actively involved in our 150+ clubs and organizations. Many groups sponsor activities, services, projects, and mission trips that foster diversity including cultural festivals, film events, and discussion series. Students can take on a leadership role and expand their social network by participating in organizations such as:

Association for Women Students
Steel City Ministries
S.E.A.D. (Students for Ethnic Awareness and Diversity)
Project Okello

In the context of what we have heard about the presidential search at CUWAA, Grove City College is an interesting model for President Harrison to employ.

Peace,
Michael

* Only two of Grove City's nine presidents appear to have been ordained clergy and have a theological training.

[peter_speckhard]

The letter presented to us as from President Harrison holds up as a model to CUWAA the Christian college in Western Pennsylvania, Grove City College.

Consider the example of Grove City College in Grove City, Penn., formerly affiliated with the
Presbyterian church, now a self-described conservative Christian college with a Christ-centered mission.
When concerns about the infiltration of Critical Race Theory into the mission and instruction of the
college became public last year, the college owned up to ways in which it had drifted from its mission,
appointed a committee to investigate concerns, and developed a plan to move back to its institutional
Christo-centricity.

I had not known that Grove City College had disaffiliated from its sponsoring church.
Grove City's website often mentions faith, and it has a chapel.
Grove City also has on its website a Statement on Diversity https://www.gcc.edu/Portals/0/Statement_on_Diversity_1013.pdf and it calls attention to its Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives https://www.gcc.edu/Utility/Offices/Office-of-Multicultural-Education-Initiatives. It proclaims that

Six percent of our undergraduates are multi-ethnic students, and the majority of students are actively involved in our 150+ clubs and organizations. Many groups sponsor activities, services, projects, and mission trips that foster diversity including cultural festivals, film events, and discussion series. Students can take on a leadership role and expand their social network by participating in organizations such as:

Association for Women Students
Steel City Ministries
S.E.A.D. (Students for Ethnic Awareness and Diversity)
Project Okello

In the context of what we have heard about the presidential search at CUWAA, Grove City College is an interesting model for President Harrison to employ.

Peace,
Michael

* Only two of Grove City's nine presidents appear to have been ordained clergy and have a theological training.

That is the disconnect between what diversity means on the surface and what it carries as a loaded term. Someone absolutely opposed to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office can still exhibit and be all for diversity, just as someone can think that all black lives matter while rejecting Black Lives Matter. Yet if they do the latter they'll almost certainly be called a racist.

[Michael Slusser]

The letter presented to us as from President Harrison holds up as a model to CUWAA the Christian college in Western Pennsylvania, Grove City College.

Consider the example of Grove City College in Grove City, Penn., formerly affiliated with the
Presbyterian church, now a self-described conservative Christian college with a Christ-centered mission.
When concerns about the infiltration of Critical Race Theory into the mission and instruction of the
college became public last year, the college owned up to ways in which it had drifted from its mission,
appointed a committee to investigate concerns, and developed a plan to move back to its institutional
Christo-centricity.

I had not known that Grove City College had disaffiliated from its sponsoring church.
Grove City's website often mentions faith, and it has a chapel.
Grove City also has on its website a Statement on Diversity https://www.gcc.edu/Portals/0/Statement_on_Diversity_1013.pdf and it calls attention to its Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives https://www.gcc.edu/Utility/Offices/Office-of-Multicultural-Education-Initiatives. It proclaims that

Six percent of our undergraduates are multi-ethnic students, and the majority of students are actively involved in our 150+ clubs and organizations. Many groups sponsor activities, services, projects, and mission trips that foster diversity including cultural festivals, film events, and discussion series. Students can take on a leadership role and expand their social network by participating in organizations such as:

Association for Women Students
Steel City Ministries
S.E.A.D. (Students for Ethnic Awareness and Diversity)
Project Okello

In the context of what we have heard about the presidential search at CUWAA, Grove City College is an interesting model for President Harrison to employ.

* Only two of Grove City's nine presidents appear to have been ordained clergy and have a theological training.

That is the disconnect between what diversity means on the surface and what it carries as a loaded term. Someone absolutely opposed to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office can still exhibit and be all for diversity, just as someone can think that all black lives matter while rejecting Black Lives Matter. Yet if they do the latter they'll almost certainly be called a racist.

It could as easily be the difference between placing the best interpretation on people's language and placing the worst interpretation on the same language. Could it not?

Peace,
Michael

[Dan Fienen]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

[Steven W Bohler]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

The letter is addressed only to members of the BOR and it doesn't list any copies to others.  So, would one of the regents have leaked it?  It would be interesting to know who furnished it to BJS and how the leaker "encouraged" them to publicize it....

[Harry Edmon]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

That is an interesting question. I struggled with whether or not to post the letter at ALPB, and that is why I "indirectly" did by pointing to the Steadfast Lutheran site instead of the letter itself to give context for where it is coming from. They have posted their article on Facebook and Twitter, so this is already quite public.

[Dave Benke]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

Yes, it is a leaked letter.  And yes, it's an embarrassment in terms of calling out three people by name, two regents who are asked to resign after extensive references to them both, and one former employee.  That's provocative and unproductive at the maximum level.  The weasel words in the leak are "was encouraged to share it."  So what? Reading the letter, why participate in that provocation of CUWAA?  The letter was "leaked" to this site by Harry Edmon, the father of a member of the St. Louis Seminary Board of Regents, who has responded to his own struggle with posting it here.  My wish, Harry, is that you had not done so.

Dave Benke

[peter_speckhard]

The letter presented to us as from President Harrison holds up as a model to CUWAA the Christian college in Western Pennsylvania, Grove City College.

Consider the example of Grove City College in Grove City, Penn., formerly affiliated with the
Presbyterian church, now a self-described conservative Christian college with a Christ-centered mission.
When concerns about the infiltration of Critical Race Theory into the mission and instruction of the
college became public last year, the college owned up to ways in which it had drifted from its mission,
appointed a committee to investigate concerns, and developed a plan to move back to its institutional
Christo-centricity.

I had not known that Grove City College had disaffiliated from its sponsoring church.
Grove City's website often mentions faith, and it has a chapel.
Grove City also has on its website a Statement on Diversity https://www.gcc.edu/Portals/0/Statement_on_Diversity_1013.pdf and it calls attention to its Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives https://www.gcc.edu/Utility/Offices/Office-of-Multicultural-Education-Initiatives. It proclaims that

Six percent of our undergraduates are multi-ethnic students, and the majority of students are actively involved in our 150+ clubs and organizations. Many groups sponsor activities, services, projects, and mission trips that foster diversity including cultural festivals, film events, and discussion series. Students can take on a leadership role and expand their social network by participating in organizations such as:

Association for Women Students
Steel City Ministries
S.E.A.D. (Students for Ethnic Awareness and Diversity)
Project Okello

In the context of what we have heard about the presidential search at CUWAA, Grove City College is an interesting model for President Harrison to employ.

* Only two of Grove City's nine presidents appear to have been ordained clergy and have a theological training.

That is the disconnect between what diversity means on the surface and what it carries as a loaded term. Someone absolutely opposed to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office can still exhibit and be all for diversity, just as someone can think that all black lives matter while rejecting Black Lives Matter. Yet if they do the latter they'll almost certainly be called a racist.

It could as easily be the difference between placing the best interpretation on people's language and placing the worst interpretation on the same language. Could it not?

Peace,
Michael

I don't think so. The first issue is truth. The Ministry of Truth was not about truth, though, and it would not be an act of Christian charity to take them at their word when you know it to be false. If you read the title of nearly any congressional bill and take it face value, you'd vote for all of them. Once you know, though, that the "Restore Peace, Health, and Prosperity for all Americans!" bill really just contains billion dollar, no-bid contracts for various corporations with ties to federal officials, it stops being an act of charity to support it on the grounds that they said it was all about restoring everyone to peace, health, and prosperity and starts to become an act of charity to know the difference between the label and the freight. It is not charity to pretend you don't know what people mean by the words they say, especially when what you make of their words affects everyone else. 

[Harry Edmon]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

Yes, it is a leaked letter.  And yes, it's an embarrassment in terms of calling out three people by name, two regents who are asked to resign after extensive references to them both, and one former employee.  That's provocative and unproductive at the maximum level.  The weasel words in the leak are "was encouraged to share it."  So what? Reading the letter, why participate in that provocation of CUWAA?  The letter was "leaked" to this site by Harry Edmon, the father of a member of the St. Louis Seminary Board of Regents, who has responded to his own struggle with posting it here.  My wish, Harry, is that you had not done so.

Dave Benke

I take the words of a pastor and former DP seriously, so I will take your words to heart. If a copy of the letter had been sent to me directly I would not have posted it. The only reason I did is this had already become public. Maybe that was not a good enough reason.

[Rev. Edward Engelbrecht]

I find the diversity discussion somewhat humorous because of my location. We are lining up eight more Baptisms at Emmanuel right now. Half are "white," half are not. Diversity is a given here. We hardly think about it.

[Dave Benke]

More and more people are coming to the conclusion that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" is a Trojan Horse carrying a lot more than advertised. What people think about that assertion probably determines the degree to which they think CUWAA has gone "woke."

But I agree that I can't imagine anyone encouraged anyone to share that letter publicly online. In it, the synodical president calls out two people by name and recommends removing them from the Board of Regents. Normally, that kind of thing would be shared verbally at a personal meeting and the text would not come out unless anyone publicly denied or misrepresented the substance of it. That would allow face-saving measures all around and a "re-start". It seems to me that making it public cements people into their positions. Much like the Russia-Ukraine thing, nobody was given a "golden bridge" on which to retreat.

Is this a leaked letter? Perhaps similar motivations on a more parochial level as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion.

Yes, it is a leaked letter.  And yes, it's an embarrassment in terms of calling out three people by name, two regents who are asked to resign after extensive references to them both, and one former employee.  That's provocative and unproductive at the maximum level.  The weasel words in the leak are "was encouraged to share it."  So what? Reading the letter, why participate in that provocation of CUWAA?  The letter was "leaked" to this site by Harry Edmon, the father of a member of the St. Louis Seminary Board of Regents, who has responded to his own struggle with posting it here.  My wish, Harry, is that you had not done so.

Dave Benke

I take the words of a pastor and former DP seriously, so I will take your words to heart. If a copy of the letter had been sent to me directly I would not have posted it. The only reason I did is this had already become public. Maybe that was not a good enough reason.

Thanks, Mr. Edmon. 

Dave Benke