Monday, July 28, 2008
As It Should Be?
Personal note: We are home safe and sound after a wonderful trip!
MMI points to a Chicago Tribune article on a college professor at Wheaton that has been forced to resign due to divorce. I decried here before the ease with which divorce is accepted in Christian circles these days, so I thought this one was a no brainer. But in this case the University had procedures for him to keep his job that he refused to participate in. Key graphs:
First of all, any institution has the right an capability to set standards for itself and its employees. An institution that sets itself up as A Christian institution most certainly should. And yes, I think a non-church, yet decidedly Christian institution retains much of the church's authority. My reasoning is straightforward, such an institution is indeed a ministry of the holy catholic church, to borrow some creedal language, if not a specific denomination. Such an institution is charged, in its area to be the people of Christ in that area. That is a church function and so church authority remains.
As to the second question - the way the gentleman phrased his objections, he has placed secular authority over church authority - something to be done in extraordinary circumstances and only with careful thought and consideration. And in this case I see no justification for his decision save as cover. If the church cannot hold us accountable to personal behavioral standards then no one can. Worse, it defeats the purpose of the church.
Now certainly in this circumstance the church has an obligation to confidentiality, prudence and to act justly, something the church often fails at - but to refuse to participate int he process because of the failures of the church, is simply to stop trying.
The church is no mere employer, it never can be. One does not make a contractual obligation ot ministry - one makes a life commitment.
I applaud Wheaton in this case and I hope it stands firm. It is nice to see the church act like the church.
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MMI points to a Chicago Tribune article on a college professor at Wheaton that has been forced to resign due to divorce. I decried here before the ease with which divorce is accepted in Christian circles these days, so I thought this one was a no brainer. But in this case the University had procedures for him to keep his job that he refused to participate in. Key graphs:
Though the college has sometimes hired or retained staff employees whose marriages have ended, officials say those employees must talk with a staff member to determine whether the divorce meets Biblical standards. Gramm told administrators about his divorce but declined to discuss the details.Given this circumstance, this really breaks down into two questions/issues: Can we consider a university or other, non-church, institution to have the oversight authority of the church? Can a church ever be considered a mere employer?
"I think it's wrong to have to discuss your personal life with your employer," he said, "and I also don't want to be in a position of accusing my spouse, so I declined to appeal or discuss the matter in any way with my employer."
First of all, any institution has the right an capability to set standards for itself and its employees. An institution that sets itself up as A Christian institution most certainly should. And yes, I think a non-church, yet decidedly Christian institution retains much of the church's authority. My reasoning is straightforward, such an institution is indeed a ministry of the holy catholic church, to borrow some creedal language, if not a specific denomination. Such an institution is charged, in its area to be the people of Christ in that area. That is a church function and so church authority remains.
As to the second question - the way the gentleman phrased his objections, he has placed secular authority over church authority - something to be done in extraordinary circumstances and only with careful thought and consideration. And in this case I see no justification for his decision save as cover. If the church cannot hold us accountable to personal behavioral standards then no one can. Worse, it defeats the purpose of the church.
Now certainly in this circumstance the church has an obligation to confidentiality, prudence and to act justly, something the church often fails at - but to refuse to participate int he process because of the failures of the church, is simply to stop trying.
The church is no mere employer, it never can be. One does not make a contractual obligation ot ministry - one makes a life commitment.
I applaud Wheaton in this case and I hope it stands firm. It is nice to see the church act like the church.
Technorati Tags:college, divorce, church, authority
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