Who Is the Master at Master’s University and Seminary?

If MacArthur’s comments to the seminarians in August are any indication, the institution has a long way to go. The university and seminary are required by the accreditor to give notice if placed on probation. But MacArthur told students that the university’s accreditation struggles were, essentially, none of their business.

“I’m gonna be real honest with you,” he said. “You didn’t have any right to find out about anything. That’s not your responsibility.”

In his remarks he referred to a Bible passage from the Book of Proverbs.

“There are things that God hates, right?” MacArthur said. “One of them is the one who stirs up strife,” he said, urging students to keep their complaints within the university and seminary.

“Keep your mouth shut,” he said. “Don’t stir up strife. You don’t know the whole story.”

I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn a situation where very few on this site have personal knowledge of the current situation at TMS. Secondhand info from friends and other sources is often unreliable and biased. Part of the problem with social media is the assumption of omniscience from those who actually have little accurate information or knowledge. If TMS has legitimate problems, they will be dealt with. They don’t need our help.

You are absolutely correct!

[WallyMorris]

I wouldn’t be so quick to condemn a situation where very few on this site have personal knowledge of the current situation at TMS. Secondhand info from friends and other sources is often unreliable and biased. Part of the problem with social media is the assumption of omniscience from those who actually have little accurate information or knowledge. If TMS has legitimate problems, they will be dealt with. They don’t need our help.

Yeah, but how will we fuel social media outrage without hastily formed and mostly uninformed opinions to spew?

My son attends Wheaton College and the costs for tuition and room and board is approximately the same ($48,000). If one of the region’s leading accrediting agencies put Wheaton on probation, and its president was circling the wagons and placing blame on outsiders rather than owning up to some of their mistakes, I’d have several red flags too and I would strongly encourage my son to find another place to spend his and our money for college, especially if the president was saying that its none of their/our business. Maybe he was trying to deal with gossip (which is understandable). But it comes across as someone who doesn’t value accountability.

For the past 15 years, I’ve been the executive director of a non-profit organization (Urban Transformation Ministries) and served on two different non-profit boards) and have spent a considerable amount of time understanding and distinguishing best practices of a non-profit board from questionable ethical practices. Some of the things that were report on Masters College and Seminary (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5022278-TMUS-Team-Report-by-WAS…) are pretty straight forward questionable ethical practices (Nepotism and Conflict of Interests) that need corrected-which I believe they are in the process of doing, although begrudgingly.

[Joel Shaffer]

If MacArthur’s comments to the seminarians in August are any indication, the institution has a long way to go. The university and seminary are required by the accreditor to give notice if placed on probation. But MacArthur told students that the university’s accreditation struggles were, essentially, none of their business.

“I’m gonna be real honest with you,” he said. “You didn’t have any right to find out about anything. That’s not your responsibility.”

In his remarks he referred to a Bible passage from the Book of Proverbs.

“There are things that God hates, right?” MacArthur said. “One of them is the one who stirs up strife,” he said, urging students to keep their complaints within the university and seminary.

“Keep your mouth shut,” he said. “Don’t stir up strife. You don’t know the whole story.”

Joel, I agree about the red flags. Dr. MacArthur’s chapel talk is disturbing on many levels, and was concerning to at least some in attendance. But on a positive note, insiders at TMU have told me this whole mess has led to very good discussions among faculty and leadership. There has been genuine repentance expressed by some who have been a part of the problems (which are very real).

Praying for the best for two biblically faithful institutions. It’s an important time.

Joel, I agree about the red flags. Dr. MacArthur’s chapel talk is disturbing on many levels, and was concerning to at least some in attendance. But on a positive note, insiders at TMU have told me this whole mess has led to very good discussions among faculty and leadership. There has been genuine repentance expressed by some who have been a part of the problems (which are very real).

Praying for the best for two biblically faithful institutions. It’s an important time.

Great to Hear. Too bad the article wasn’t able to express that side of the story as well.

Nonsense. Listen to the recording. Now I don’t have the hour to spend on it, but those who claim it’s “just social media furor” are wrong here. If you like, listen for yourself and ask yourself whether MacArthur said it or not. It’s either true or false, in context or out of context. And either those comments reflect an institution whose leadership is humbly dealing with the accreditation report, or they do not. Moreover, either those comments reflect a leader who values the best interests of the students’ right to an accredited degree, or they do not.

Big, big red flags on all sides here, because accreditation, and its importance, affects everyone from the CEO down to the janitor. MacArthur had no business blaming the devil for acts that TMC either did or did not do, and he had no business telling students it was none of their business. As Joel noted, it is their business to the tune of $48,000 per year and the value of their degrees, and at least one person who was there demonstrated that reality by recording MacArthur’s comments.

Which is probably the biggest red flag of all, really.

As Joel noted, it is their business to the tune of $48,000 per year and the value of their degrees, and at least one person who was there demonstrated that reality by recording MacArthur’s comments.

Which is probably the biggest red flag of all, really.

Yeah, when things are so far gone that you feel like you have to record what is said (either as proof that they actually said something or as proof that you’re telling the truth), things have gone seriously awry.

It’s typical for most nonprofits to founder once the original founder steps away - it’s called Founders’ Syndrome, and I think something like 80% of NPOs go through it - but this seems to be more than that, which is a shame. I wonder, as well, if this is a similar situation with most Fundamentalist institutions losing their constituency after the end of CDS movement. Either way, it’s a reason to pray.

[Joel Shaffer]

For the past 15 years, I’ve been the executive director of a non-profit organization (Urban Transformation Ministries) and served on two different non-profit boards) and have spent a considerable amount of time understanding and distinguishing best practices of a non-profit board from questionable ethical practices. Some of the things that were report on Masters College and Seminary (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5022278-TMUS-Team-Report-by-WASC…) are pretty straight forward questionable ethical practices (Nepotism and Conflict of Interests) that need corrected-which I believe they are in the process of doing, although begrudgingly.

I read part of the document Joel provided a link to. I went to the section titled “Findings, Commendations, and Recommendations.” Based on this document, which was prepared by a committee of non-TMU personnel, I would have to say that TMU is not in a good position. This report references nepotism, hostile behavior towards those that speak-up, multiple instances of conflict of interest at the senior management level, and a general toxic work environment. The list of recommendations starting on page 42 are appalling.

On page 40 there is this quote. “When one leader explained to the review team that if individuals are committed to an institution’s values, salary increases become less important, it was disturbing,” While I do not know this situation that sounds to me as the mindset of a leader and organization that is out-of-touch and obtuse.

I know very, very little about TMU or John MacAurthur. But, when I read this document prepared by a third-party entity, to me this speaks of an organization that has a toxic work culture and a lack of true leadership. I would not want to work there.

Reading this document, I am reminded of working for three years at a ministry that had the most bizarre and toxic culture and leadership personality I’ve ever encountered. While I am grateful for what I learned there (as in, to be a good leader, do the opposite of this guy), I still shudder inside about working at that place and for that man.

Lastly, I don’t know if this IS the case at TMU, but this document seems to describe your typical, old, fundamentalist-ish organization founded around a “Big Man” who has been in leadership for decades, where people are expected to know their place without question, where senior leaders are paid well enough - but not so much for folks down the line, isolated from and resistant to general business best-practices, and management by fear and bullying.

…is one of the biggest reasons that a lot of companies require their vendors to be ISO certified, and why smart young people ought to require a college to be accredited. They know that they can deal with the founder now, but they know that as the founder gets “set in his ways”, or worse yet gets hit by a bus or a winning lottery ticket, there will be a leadership transition. And in that way, smart companies insist their vendors get their business practices in writing. Then the new leader simply starts working with the new documents instead of trying to create things from scratch.

Obviously, headstrong business leaders often try to “trick” the ISO certification process into allowing them huge latitude in action, so you’ve got to take certification seriously for it to work. Part of the genius of a good auditor, therefore, is to know where to look to find the “hidden factory” that exists contrary to the ISO systems.

In this case, there are troubling signs that Master’s may have a heavy dose of this. Hopefully this is either incorrect, or resolveable.

My understanding is that MacArthur is leaving the presidency relatively soon. I think they’ll address the issues raised by the accrediting organization and move forward in a constructive direction. I’m not worried. We may send our oldest son there for undergrad in three years.

Tyler, read the link Jay provides—the key issue for getting things accredited properly (as opposed to accreditation for marketing purposes only) is to come to grips with the reality of personalities and separate corporate operation from undue influence by them. If MacArthur steps down, THEN they start fixing their procedures, you’ve really got the worst of all worlds—a lack of leadership, the culture a flawed leader created, and huge changes in procedures.

One of the most powerful things with accreditation is the Christian doctrine of repentance, actually. Conversely, you generally do not solve problems raised by accreditors by firing people unless that is the last resort. The whole point is to drive repentance and cultural change, and firings simply eliminate the people who know and understand the problems best.

No ill will to anyone here, but you won’t see more red flags except at May Day parades, sad to say.

Apparently no one is immune to the all-knowing opinions and advice regularly offered by individuals in forums such as SI. Strange how one week a Christian is lauded and praised and the next week that same Christian is thoroughly condemned.