In this post we discuss the delivery of the letter of pastoral concern by USPS to the CU Board of Trustees. We talk about who signed the letter and why others didn’t. We also reflect briefly on the unpleasant yet necessary role we have played in this unsavory drama.
Theological Education
A Smear Campaign against Cornerstone University or DARVO?
A recent video interview provides information that enables us to speak directly to CU president Gerson Moreno-Riaño’s self-understanding and how it has led to the tumultuous events that have hurt so many CU personnel—administrators, faculty, staff, and students alike. GMR speaks of himself as a courageous and fearless leader, just like Joshua (Joshua 1:9). There is a vicious smear campaign against him, yet he responds to his enemies like King David did in the Psalms, by praying for protection. He even goes so far as to compare himself to Jesus, who was silent before his accusers during his passion. Really? Does the CU Board of Trustees support this narrative?
Sign on to a Pastoral Letter to the Cornerstone University Board of Trustees
It’s business as usual at Cornerstone University. Fall has arrived. New students have come; old students have returned. People whizzing by campus on the East Beltline don’t notice anything different. They don’t know about the eight faculty members who were summoned to video conferences and summarily fired last summer, despite having signed contracts in their hands. They don’t know that this was only the most recent and egregious example of administrative malpractice that values pragmatic program makeovers more than people made in the image of God.
We’re told to pray for the school, and of course we should. But it’s time to do more than pray.
Cancelled by Cornerstone (and other news from the East Beltline)
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 an alumnus/a. 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.
A Stakeholder Analyzes the Closing of Clarks Summit University
This post features the detailed, candid analysis of Pastor Lee Kliewer (with his permission). CSU constituents who want to better understand what happened to their school will do well to read Kliewer’s discussion. It serves as a cautionary tale to higher education professionals, and to all who keep abreast of the current difficulties faced by evangelical institutions of higher education. “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Prov 27:6 NLT)
Cornerstone Conversations Continue
This is not going away soon. Cornerstone conversations are continuing. They focus on the administration’s culture of intimidation, politically-oriented values, and market-driven strategy. As this continues, the new CU will soon bear little resemblance to the school whose historic identity and values have been embraced by faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and stakeholders since 1941.