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Christianity Today, January, 2008 |

Values Clash

Calvin College's denominational requirements make diversity a challenge.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 12/20/2007 08:20AM

Calvin College's board has denied the request of an African American professor to worship at a Baptist church. If Denise Isom continues to attend her primarily African American congregation, Messiah Missionary ...

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Anna	Posted: January 01, 2008 9:27 PM

Parents pay to send their kids to this college for a reason, it perpetuates the beliefs of the parents and kids. If a requirement of the college for hiring is that the teachers should be of the belief of the paying parents, than the lady shouldn't even had applied. Since she doesn't like the people in the churches she supposedly visited, does she like the kids she's teaching since they must obviously be like the people in the churches. There are major differences between Reformed and Baptist , that's why the Baptists separated from the Reformed churches during the Reformation and became a further deviation from Lutherism. She admits "she thought she could change it once she got in". Also, spouses of teachers are not the teachers so that could be why the other requests were given. When did it become horrific for religious colleges to enforce their beliefs in this "free" country. Whether white or black a Baptist college not a Reformed college is better for her beliefs.

Mere Christian

Posted: January 01, 2008 1:14 PM


The world is full of "Christian Colleges" that have punted their denominational affiliation for the sake of the "diversity" chimera. I'm sure that Denise Isom can find happiness and fulfillment at one of them. The snobbish diversocrats, so well represented in these comments, who have ruined so many other denominational schools will surely make her welcome.

JP	Posted: January 01, 2008 11:18 AM


Let's just stop and consider the professor's words: "I need a place of worship that is already consistent with my culture and able to grapple with issues of race in ways which make it a respite, a re-charging and growing place for me, as opposed to another location where I must 'work' and where I am 'other.'" Does anything really need to be added to that?

Christian

Posted: January 01, 2008 8:47 AM

Let the CRC have it's way. Rather than preserving Calvin College's denominational purity as a "Reformed institution" (whatever the heck that is), let their narrow-minded, legalistic, myopic "vision" for their faculty push them publicly out into the fringes of Christian community. Personally, as one who sees the modern Reformed movement as theologically divisive and disunifying, and ecclesiologically arrogant, I would applaud a decision that would, in my mind, minimize their perceived authority. Let "Reformed-ism" be seen for what it really is so, maybe, it will eventually go away. Calvin College does some good things and has some good people, but I'd rather see it "be what it is" than try to cover up its true character and beliefs with Board-level PR moves. Professor Isom simply needs to decide what kind of Christianity is more valid--theirs, or hers.

Anonymous

Posted: December 23, 2007 3:46 PM


Listen, why should we be begging white people if can serve alongside them? I say it's there loss and just move on, they'll understand everything when we get to heaven. That's why this country is in a mess now,arrogance at it's best.

Sterling

Posted: December 20, 2007 9:23 PM

Why doesn't the CRC seek to reach out to have an ecclesiastical relationship with the Baptist community? Also, how many different denominations does the CRC have an ecclesiastical relationship with, and why can't the professor find one of them to worship at? It sounds like both sides have not sought to find a middle ground, but have dug in their heels and would rather fight. It saddens me that this is even an issue.

John	Posted: December 20, 2007 3:53 PM

Putting aside the "angels dancing on the head of pin" debates like predestination vs. free will, or the dreaded "pre-mil vs. post-mil," we are all frickin' Christians!!!! Would it hurt the fragile young minds at Calvin College to be exposed to theology slightly different than that of the denomination that sponsors the College? Geez people with people like Chistopher Hitchens to confront in the real world we need to show a little more unity within the Christian community!!!!!! Ugh!

Ray	Posted: December 20, 2007 3:19 PM

Silly people. Most Baptist churches in the US are Reformed underneath their veneer of Arminianism. And most Reformed churches have a big chunk of Arminianism in them. Very few really support double-predestination, and most support the free-will choice to become a believer, while at the same time announcing God's seeking us out with His grace. A both-and combination that makes the best sense of diverse understandings of scripture. I don't think requiring anyone to be a member of a Reformed church will keep them and the college from slipping into liberalism. If exceptions have been made for others, then an exception should be made for those wanting to join another flavor of a theologically sound community. Ray

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