Olson out at Northland
SI hacked?
SamH
If there was an article there, it’s gone now. Didn’t read it.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
Text of post:
Image from Google reader:Dear Friends,
It has been a great joy for me to serve at Northland for these past eleven years. On Thursday, April 25, 2013, our board of directors determined it to be in the best interest of this ministry to move forward with new leadership. I accept this as a decision from the Lord as he sovereignly works through the authorities placed in my life. I plan to finish this current academic year through to May 11, 2013, doing everything I can to help the board, faculty, staff, and students, toward a healthy transition. I have a great desire to see Northland do well. I would also like to express a very sincere thanks to the Patz family for allowing Diane and me to be a part of what God is doing here in northeast Wisconsin. We look forward to what God has in the future and our hearts continue to burn for God’s glory and the work of the great commission.
Your friend and fellow servant,Matt Olson
Romans 11:36
Yes, there was a printed announcement. I have it copied in my Evernote, but I don’t know what’s up. Was it posted prematurely? Did he jump the gun? Was it posted in error? I’m not sure if I’m at liberty to share the article if it was pulled. Very odd.
Never mind. Others have posted it.
Maybe he’ll say something publicly at 10 a.m. (CST): http://new.livestream.com/northlandu/chapel
Here’s a scan of my printout before the post was pulled.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2492524/DOC042913.pdf
Not sure what the retraction is supposed to mean.
For those who do not have DropBox access
I sincerely hope that this is just an attempt to remove a lightening rod rather than a change in course.
I know this is going to be taken harshly, but I think it needs to be said…
*
If this story is true, I hope that all the people who were antagonistic to Olson and the direction of NIU are now satisfied. Not that I expect that they will be, but they got their wish. Congrats, guys…you forced a man out of his job. Nice going!
Good luck to NIU in finding a new President; I know that I’d keep this particular example in mind if I were candidating for that role. Maybe there’s another Bob Jones type person out there that will be the right guy for the school, but I doubt it.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Matt Olson posted the link on his FB wall, so I doubt it’s a fake.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
I watched the stream of today’s chapel, and all I can is “wow.” Even in leaving Matt Olson is taking great care to direct the focus back to God. Amazing.
[Jay] If this story is true, I hope that all the people who were antagonistic to Olson and the direction of NIU are now satisfied. Not that I expect that they will be, but they got their wish. Congrats, guys…you forced a man out of his job. Nice going!
Yes, a few internet miscreants steer the ship of a whole university. If that’s the case, they have bigger problems than the ones their critics have been alleging.
[DavidO][Jay] If this story is true, I hope that all the people who were antagonistic to Olson and the direction of NIU are now satisfied. Not that I expect that they will be, but they got their wish. Congrats, guys…you forced a man out of his job. Nice going!Yes, a few internet miscreants steer the ship of a whole university. If that’s the case, they have bigger problems than the ones their critics have been alleging.
Well in 2013, that kind of thing often does happen and there is strong evidence it happened here. Unless Olson made those changes in a vacuum and did not tell the board, they have now reversed a course they approved and tried to control the fallout by getting rid of the lightening rod. If it was not the rabid bloggers that made the difference, what did make the difference? So let them pat themselves on the back for a while. They won a battle though I don’t think there is much evidence they are winning the war ;)
I feel for Olson. It appears that he tried to do too much too fast and was too far out in front. I suppose that is what usually happens to the trend-setters.
http://new.livestream.com/northlandu/chapel/videos/17625004
Truly sadden that it has come to this for Matt and Diane. Matt’s comments start about 20 minutes in to the video.
Jeff Straub
Jeff Straub
I think everyone feels for Olson, agree with him or not. Like you I suspect he thought he surely had the backing of the board to do what he was doing. Like I said, bigger (institutional) problems at play here.
EDIT: was in response to GregH above.
Discussion