It’s been about three months since my last post about Cornerstone University. Guess it’s time for another CU update. Joy.
I have well-meaning Christian friends from outside the Cornerstone orbit who advise me to get off this negative topic. I’m inclined to take their advice, but then I meet a Cornerstone person at a church event, or at the grocery store, or I get an email from one of them. It’s uncanny how they all say the same thing, “Keep on writing about the school, someone has to tell the sad story.” So here I go again.
Classes are back in session at the school; this weekend is homecoming. I can’t find any stats on fall enrollment, let alone news about any reverberations from last June when seven tenured faculty members and the dean of the seminary were abruptly fired after signing their contracts for this year. The school—students, faculty, staff, administration—needs our prayers.
If you need to get up to speed on the speed on the situation, go here. If not, here’s the latest on the Cornerstone cancel culture . . .
Finishing well
Nadya Williams recently wrote a provocative piece about Christian colleges closing and downsizing. Her angle is unique—she’s not just bemoaning the situation, she’s challenging Christians schools to do it well! Socioeconomic realities may lead to to schools making very tough decisions, but such decisions must be made in an ethical, God-honoring manner. Sadly, as we all know by now, in many cases they’re not. Williams contrasts Wheaton College’s giving 1 1/2 years notice to tenured faculty it felt compelled to let go with what has happened at Clarks Summit University and Cornerstone University. This article makes a fine point well.
ContraryU
Two tenured professors forced out by CU, Matt Bonzo and Michael Stephens, have begun ContraryU. Apparently playing off the false charge of “contrarianism” by the CU administration and board chair, ContraryU expresses its commitment to education, Scripture, and community in these words:
What is ContraryU?
In an age when higher education has been reduced more to technical proficiencies answering the clarion call of market-efficiency, ContraryU stands in constructive opposition, offering instead a communal, slowed down, intentional approach to learning, with the flourishing of the whole person as the root motive and final aim. All communities have boundaries. All communities pursue some vision of the good life. ContraryU is a community that is attempting to answer the need in our current social order for deep connections with one another and with the truth.
We wish Matt and Michael well. Check out their site and consider learning from them!
CU Rewriting History
Back in July, Current.com posted a piece that showed how CU had gone back to previous posts on the website and erased the names of terminated faculty members. In one case a picture was cropped to cancel one of them. It’s as if these folks had never been associated with the university. I didn’t think that much about it at the time, but it turns out the Current.com article was a harbinger of things to come, things we highlight below. Mind you, the folks whose names have been expunged from the CU record are not accused of anything disgraceful or unsavory. They’re faithful followers of Jesus, tenured CU professors of long standing. We can be thankful that our heavenly Father remembers the faithful service of his children even when they are cancelled by unjust human pique.
Voice of CU Bullied by CU
Voice of CU’s ongoing pleas for dialogue with CU administration has been met with legal sophistry. If you heard on over to Voice of CU, you’ll find that the site has been bullied by CU VP Heidi Cece for using a few CU images in its posts. Purportedly, CU is concerned that readers of Voice of CU will confuse the site with official CU publications. Really? It’s clear what they are really concerned about.
Voice of CU believes their use of Cornerstone University’s copyrighted material and intellectual property qualifies as “fair use” according to section 107 of the US copyright law. Under this law, criticism, commentary, education, and news reporting are protected speech. Voice of CU does not make any money from its content, and its content clearly could not be confused with the agenda-driven public relations of CU. This is plain and simple coercion by CU, and frivolous use of copyright law.
In a recent Facebook post, Voice of CU noted that CU “would rather use tuition dollars and donor money to hire an attorney than have an “amicable dialogue” with me (a young alumnus!) and the rest of those raising concerns about the mistreatment and neglect of their faculty and staff.” CU is represented by one of the largest law firms in Grand Rapids—Voice of CU is represented by the truth.
Voice of CU is currently reflecting on how to respond to frivolous legal action and and a campus atmosphere where responsible dissent is squashed by fears of expulsion or termination.
I’ve been cancelled by Cornerstone.
About two months ago a CU/GRTS alum asked me If I knew that my name had been removed from the seminary faculty list on the CU website. Since then several others have let me know of this, and a it’s being discussed on social media.
CU has a policy similar to that of many other schools to honor retiring long-term professors with emeritus status. If you scan the CU faculty page, you’ll see several emeritus and emerita prof’s. You don’t get emeritus recognition without the board of trustees approving the administration’s recommendation. I received emeritus status in fall 2019 after teaching at the school for 32 years. I don’t know whether the board took official action to revoke my emeritus status—I’ve not heard a word from the school about it. I’m guessing my name was erased the website after an administrative temper tantrum.
I’m not surprised, just saddened at everything that’s happened over the last few years. Actually, I count it an honor to be linked with colleagues who have been unjustly cancelled by Cornerstone. My emeritus status and their tenure were dishonored simply because we had opinions that differed from the only opinion that is permitted at CU, the one emanating from behind the bullet-proof glass in the Welch Administrative building.
Realpolitik
The term Realpolitik was apparently coined in 1853 by Ludwig Von Rochau in a book about politics in Germany. Historians of ideas tie Von Rochau’s thinking back to Machiavelli’s The Prince (1532) and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War (5th century BCE). Realpolitik has come to refer to conducting political affairs in a manner governed only by what works to accomplish one’s goals, without ethical restraint—”might makes right.” The oppposite of Realpolitik might be called Idealpolitik.
Right now at CU it’s all about the exercise of administrative power to enforce an agenda that’s half educational pragmatism and the other half right-wing politics. The CU Board of Trustees is now governing the school by Realpolitik, not by the teachings of Holy Scripture about interpersonal relations in the body of Christ. As Walt Kelly’s comic character Pogo once said, “we have met the enemy and he is us.”
Jesus taught us in Matthew 18:5, 10 that there’s judgment ahead for those who mistreat his followers. We’re not supposed to treat people as pawns in a Realpolitik chess match of personal and institutional aggrandizement. That’s the world we live in, but that’s not how it’s supposed to be among Christians. Jesus not only taught us against Realpolitik, he showed us the better way of self-sacrificing service (Matt 20:20-28). One thing’s for sure, Realpolitik in any form will be smashed like the the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision (Dan 2) on that day when Jesus Christ comes to judge us all and set things right.
Jesus will usher in an altogether different sort of Politik, one that will last forever.
I welcome your constructive comments below.
• • • • • • •
By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you . . . For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (Saint Paul, 2 Corinthians 10:1, 3-5 NIV)
My exit from CU after 15 years of teaching was due my own brokenness, so it’s an entirely different situation than the one you describe. I was, however, shocked at how fast every mention of me, my work, my years at the school disappeared from the university’s website. Within 24 hours of the accusations, months before any legal conclusions (I think they used to call it due process), it was as if I’d never existed.
As I wrote in my book about my misadventures, I take seriously playwright David Mamot’s observation (about theatre companies but fits all organizations) “it is the artist’s job to create; it is the institution’s job to … continue.” Institutions will do anything (ANYTHING) required to eliminate risk and ensure survival–an understandable and even healthy instinct… unless (as you say) the motive and method are realpolitik. Then survival becomes an end in itself.
Nothing stands in contradiction to the Kingdom as well as Christ’s own actions as to demand survival at ANY cost. The martyrs knew better. Endings matter.
Thanks Jeremy. I was pondering how the devil must have thought his cosmic realpolitik won at the crucifixion, but God’s politik began it’s ultimate win at the resurrection.
This left me speechless, I am so sorry the scholarly side of the church is treating you this way. This behavior leaves me to pause as to whether or not educational systems who claim to be Christians are actually Christians or do they only care about the agenda they want to showcase to the world?
Which cup will a professed believer drink: one cup which bears the agenda of false truths leading to death or the cup that shows the world a Savior leading to life? The Bride of Christ whom Paul called The Body of Christ ~ THE CHURCH ~
CU who claims to be Christian is a poor reflection of who God is and how He works in this world. You were one of my theology professors. I was quiet in class yet I still enjoyed the discussions.
Thanks Kris. It’s good to hear from you. Don’t worry about me; I’m fine. I’m honored to be cancelled for telling the truth. Pray for those who lost their jobs so unjustly four months ago.
Hi Kris,
I would respectfully disagree that the harmful actors in this situation are anything close to “scholarly”. True scholarship is curious, generous, and open to adapting existing theories based on new information. Right-wing evangelical political activism masquerades as being intellectually rigorous and ideologically serious, but is seldom anything but a bad-faith (and inadequate) smokescreen for fear-mongering partisan rhetoric and self-serving agendas that have no place in the subversive, anti-imperialist Kingdom of Heaven.
Cornerstone’s current administration is a great example of this: one need only to look at the woefully poorly-written copy editing in CU’s official emails, interviews and social media content (most of it being embarrassing attempts at damage control and narrative spin) over the last few years). Looking a layer deeper in the wake of the administration’s massive hemorrhaging of staff/faculty reveals that CU’s core leadership is limping along, made up of under-qualified, under-experienced, and under-educated “yes men” who are promoted for the singular virtue that they will offer no serious dissent to the president’s regime.
Kris can speak for herself, but, I think she was just referring to the academy as opposed to the church.
I agree with your description of scholarship and its abuse by identity-based politically-motivated activists on the left wing as well as the right.
I find all sorts of typo’s and grammatical errors, not to mention stylistic infelicities, all over the internet these days. In fact, I corrected several of them in your comment before I posted it. I know there’s at least one error, a verb/subject number disagreement in my post above. I spotted it but by the time I could edit it, I couldn’t find it again.
There’s no question that any sort of dissent, however respectful and plausible it may be, is not tolerated at CU these days. There is no honest discussion leading to intellectual consensus . Proverbs 11:14; 24:6.
Btw love the screen name. There must be a couple hundred formerstoners over the last 3 years. I think Voice of CU has a list.
CU is reflecting the zeitgeist of this country.
Leslie, nice job linking Realpolitik to Zeitgeist! Love those compound German words.
So disappointing to hear what is happening at Cornerstone.
One would reasonably hope a Christian institution would display more Christ-like behaviors.
Realpolitik in action. The end justifies the means. But it doesn’t.
So sad.
I looked and so many of my professors have been removed.
Hello Michael, some were removed and some went to better gigs that don’t have toxic campus cultures.
SAD
Thank you, David, for continuing to shed light on the CU debacle in your characteristically winsome manner! I’m sorry to hear that you have now been “cornerstoned” by the removal of your name from the faculty website. But I’m not surprised. I grieve over the unconscionable actions that continue to hurt former colleagues and friends of mine since my protest resignation 2-1/2 years ago.
The words of your blog are more diplomatic than what would have been used by the Old Testament prophets . . . they would simply have called out the prevailing ideology of the CU administration as idolatry.
It’s great to hear from you John.
Me getting cornerstoned ain’t no big deal. Mr Dylan said everybody must get stoned. The big deal is the havoc wreaked upon those who didn’t leave voluntarily like we did, and on the students.
You’re right, Realpolitik is idolatry.
I appreciate you continuing to keep us updated on Cornerstone.
Do we know if CU ended up hiring new full-time faculty or did they proceed with the plan to use all adjuncts for humanities courses?
I keep seeing social media posts of the new students arriving for fall classes and they make it look like everything is fantastic.
Thanks 80s. I doubt very much that CU has hired any new full-time humanities faculty for this year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they began to hire full-time replacements very gradually over the next several years. I’ve seen that happen before, and not just at CU.
I worked at Eastern Nazarene College for her final two years. The current president and board have operated in the same manner as CU\’s administration, and it has felt that more bad news came every single week about how someone was being treated poorly. At this point, it seems that everyone here has been “cornerstoned” (thanks Dr. Hilber for the term!). Nadya Williams’ article was spot-on.
All that to say, I am grateful for the thoughtful subversive work you are doing that brings dignity to those who have been crushed by institution.
Please keep up this prophetic work.
P.S. If you have any interest in hearing or even writing about the ENC situation, I have many facts and anecdotes that I’m happy to pass along.
Thanks for the info on ENC Jacob. That school has been off my radar. I am sorry to hear of its demise, especially since it was handled so poorly. This is made clear in Nadya Williams’ CT online article cited in my piece.
I’m not clear on your comparison of ENC to CU. CU has run a large budget surplus nearly every year for some time now. It’s not in danger of suddenly closing. But if you’re speaking only of administrative malfeasance, I get your point.
I do have to clarify one matter. I used the term “cornerstoned” first a few blogs back. My friend and former GRTS colleague John Hilber got it from me. So, I get the credit or blame for coining the term, and now I’ve experienced it.
David,
Your witness and advocacy for the bruised and beaten are commendable, charitable, and ultimately profoundly Christian. I grieve over what has been done through power, manipulation, and deceit to the students, to so many faculty, and to all who have expressed dismay and disagreement. In the end, the administration and the Board of Trustees will stand before God on these decisions.
Scot McKnight
Thanks, and amen.
An update for those interested. Desmond Ikegwuonu (music) found a full-time teaching job in Georgia. Jason Stevens, Michael Stevens, Martin Spence and Matt Bonzo are piecing together adjunct positions at places like GRCC, Calvin, and Kuyper. None have replaced their previous salaries or healthcare.
Interestingly, Calvin, which was just rated the best teaching university in the region, has hired (adjunct and full-time) at least 6 former Cornerstone profs. 2 other humanities profs who left a year ago have been hired at Hope. Cynthia Beach continues to work on her next novel. I am not sure if Kenneth Reid (seminary) is teaching anywhere. Nicole MacDonald is a visiting professor at GVSU.
Meanwhile, Dave Veneklase who is Cornerstone’s Vice President for Finance, People Development and CFO continues to be on the school board of West Catholic High School. There is a nice youtube video of him speaking highly of a Catholic education.
Seems Wilbur Welch’s vision for a university, extolled by board chair Rick Koole, is more inclusive than we thought.
Hello Anonymous, I posted your comment with some hesitation because you purport to be in the know but don’t back up what you say with your identity. So, readers beware.
Thanks for reminding us of the names of those whose contracts were revoked this summer. These folks are experiencing financial duress—”piecing together adjunct positions” that total a full-time teaching load might bring in 25K$ with no health insurance or retirement benefits.
I’m not sure where you’re going with the comment about Mr. Veneklase’s Roman Catholic affiliations. He is a well known figure in higher education in Grand Rapids, having previously served as an administrator at GVSU and Davenport. He’s also been active on the board of Gilda’s club. Are you saying that having an extremely well-qualified CFO who is a Roman Catholic (apparently) is inconsistent with the current CU administration’s arch-conservative protestant posturing?
I’m not the original poster, but all CU employees are required by the Employee Handbook to attend “an evangelical and biblical church whose core beliefs and practices are consistent with Cornerstone’s confession and core commitments.”
You could argue that this statement does not exclude attending a Catholic church (since the Catholic church would certainly argue that it is evangelical and biblical!) but by custom Cornerstone has never accepted that a Catholic church would fulfill the definition of “evangelical and biblical” nor has CU ever agreed that Catholicism is “consistent with Cornerstone’s confession and core commitments.” I believe CU has never been willing to hire a Catholic faculty member or senior staff member. And I suspect if you asked any CU Board Member whether Catholics fit the definition in the handbook, they’d still say no.
Perhaps he attends Mass on a Saturday and attends an Evangelical Bible church on a Sunday. The statement doesn’t say you have to renounce Catholicism or even join a Protestant church. It just says you have to attend one. So I guess he could be within in “the letter of the law.”
Even so, it is still a little odd that Veneklase is a well-known Catholic responsible for people and culture at an institution that requires that its people and culture be evangelical protestant.
It also seems somewhat hypocritical, particularly as Veneklase was an enforcer of the President’s drive for “stopping the drift” away from biblical orthodoxy, and told faculty they needed to fall in line or get out. I believe he told Prof Bonzo that he no longer fit at Cornerstone. And as a member of the Executive Cabinet, and with oversight of HR, he would have agreed to fire a group of evangelical faculty while he retained a senior position (which was invented by the current President – there was no “VP of People and Culture” under President Stowell), while not actually being an evangelical Protestant himself.
By the way I’m fine with Catholics and Protestants working in the same institution – but Cornerstone never has been until this case: so what gives? The issue is not that Veneklase is a Catholic, but that Cornerstone is inconsistent. It seems a Catholic has been allowed to have a job because he is loyal to the President while faithful evangelical Protestant faculty have been fired because they questioned the President. It’s just another sign that fidelity to the president, not to evangelical doctrine, is the new test of orthodoxy at Cornerstone.
Here we go again. Hello Anonymous2. I posted your comment with some hesitation because you purport to be in the know but don’t back up what you say with your identity. So, again, readers beware.
I agree with much of what you said here. I have no desire to besmirch Mr. Veneklase, whose character, family, and career seem to be exemplary and admirable. I don’t know if he is the first Roman Catholic who has served in the Cornerstone administration. The CU requirement for its personnel to attend an “evangelical and biblical” church is as ambiguous as it is redundant.
I don’t know if Mr. Veneklase was the point man who carried out the president’s decision to fire Prof Bonzo and eight others last summer. Even if that’s true, it’s only tangential to the real issue at the school.
I do disagree with your point on orthodoxy. The current issue at Cornerstone has nothing to do with orthodoxy, even though the president and the chair of the board of trustees have implied that is the case. As I’ve said in the post above, this is about an educational/political Realpolitik that is playing out in broad daylight with the approval of the board of trustees.
Troublemaker of Israel 😉
Dan, I hope folks who read your comment notice the winking emoji.
In the same spirit, I upbraid you for adding to Scripture. The expression is “troubler of Israel” in both 1 Kings 18:17 and 1 Chronicles 2:7 in the only authorized version, KJV 1611, as well as in many other unauthorized versions.
David, sorry your name was taken off the emeritus professor list. If I remember correctly Victor Matthews, Paul Beals, and maybe Carl Hoch was on the list, also. Now their names are gone.
Don’t worry about me Mark. Pray for those who were unjustly fired.
You mentioned some choice servants of God Mark. I don’t know if any of them were ever named emeritus.
I came to GRBS when Victor Matthews retired in 1986. He later fell out of favor for associating with charismatics now and then.
Carl Hoch passed into the presence of the Lord in the middle of the spring semester in 1999. I don’t think emeritus appointments are made posthumously.
Paul Beals was unethically terminated from his tenured position to save money (sound familiar?) around 1994 but graciously continued to teach on an adjunct basis until a stroke led to his retirement. Even then he still attended commencement and other functions in a wheelchair.
CU also has a Faculty Hall of Honor. I hope Matthews, Beals, and Hoch are all ensconced there.