Updated: Matt Olson rehired by Northland

[KD Merrill]

With all the trial balloons floated and retrieved and pictures/videos posted then retracted, this recent turn of events is par for the course, perhaps even the culmination of this style of “leadership.”

I think James addressed this approach to leadership succinctly: “A double-minded man (group of men) is unstable in all his (their) ways.” ~ James 1:8

Doug

They sure are unstable – just 3 days ago Bixby (“My Take on Northland”) was concerned that (horrors of horrors to Bixby) that the NIU board was proposing a fndamentalist as the next president (who Bixby said was the brother of a board member).

Per Bixby, “a candidate was proposed who was deeply entrenched in the network that is fundamentalism.”

David

I think most people are commenting, one way or another, on the reversal of decision without realizing they are really reacting to the content of the decision. Of course, we would all agree that if we realized we had made a bad decision, and we were wrong, we are biblically obligated to acknowledge a mistake was made and work to correct it. The analysis of this decision seems to be based on whether we view the renewal of commitment to a new direction as a positive or negative for NIU.

David, I do not claim to know all the ins of what is going on in Dunbar, but as a member( for eleven years) of Pastor Bob Bixby’s church, I know a bit more than the average Joe. I am pleading with you all. Stop speculating, start praying for NIU, and watch God use this for His glory.

If you watch the video of the announcement, the applause and cheering was THUNDEROUS when the announcement was made that Olsen would return. That tells me that the student body was very much against the firing (on that can we all agree?). Maybe the wider constituency or graduates have some qualms about the direction of the school, but the student body was very much behind Olsen. I think there would have been a mass exodus at the school if it turned to the right sharply. This would make financial pressure all the more intense, not alleviate it.

[dlhanson]

They sure are unstable – just 3 days ago Bixby (“My Take on Northland”) was concerned that (horrors of horrors to Bixby) that the NIU board was proposing a fndamentalist as the next president (who Bixby said was the brother of a board member).

Per Bixby, “a candidate was proposed who was deeply entrenched in the network that is fundamentalism.”

David

I think you missed the pertinent phrase there - “the network that is fundamentalism.” Bixby isn’t upset that NIU hired a fundamentalist; I believe he said elsewhere that he was a fundamentalist. He was concerned that they hired one of the ‘good ol’ boys’.

A minor difference? Maybe…but there’s not a minor difference between the lightning and the lightning bug, as Ben Franklin said.

I don’t know about Dan Patz’s affiliation, but I know that BJU has had a very cordial relationship with one or two Presbyterian churches for many years (Dr. P.V. Barrett taught there at one point, and Dr. Ian Paisley has spoken there many, many times and I believe is still on the Board).

FYI, the EV Free demonation is completely different than the Free Presbyterians with whom BJU fellowships. Those Free Presb. churches have their roots in Northern Ireland, but the Evangelical Free Church originated with Swedish evangelical Lutherans in the US. Nowadays, EV Free churches are supposed to be premillennial and hold to inerrancy, but they’re allowed freedom on sub-points of eschatology (Pre, Mid, or Post-Trib), mode of baptism, Covenantalism vr. Dispensationalism, egalitarianism, etc. Many of their churches are quite baptistic, but certainly not all.

I suspect that people see this through their biases in general. If they like the Northland direction, they see this change of mind as great leadership. If not, they see it as pathetic example of leadership.

I like Northland and where they appear to be going so I see it as a positive thing in general. But on the other hand, I will admit that while this reversal is backed by the best of intentions, it does not necessarily look like the public communication has been managed in the best way. I have been a CEO for a decade and I have blown it badly sometimes and I think this was blown a bit too from a PR perspective. Again, that is not a moral issue; it is just a PR thing: how it looks to the average person.

But on the other hand, what fundamentalist institution has a history of handling PR and for that matter, management well? I will say that in the last few years, BJU seems to being doing much better but I am not sure where else I could point. I will take the Northland “flippity-floppity” way over what I have seen in fundamentalism over the years.

[Joel Tetreau]

Those of you making statements that NIU demonstrates instability by reversing a decision demonstrate you apparently are disconected with various teachings in Scripture directly and indirectly connected to decision-making.

3. Frankly the accusation of NIU’s reversing a critical decision being “beyond the pale” is in and of itself “beyond the pale.”

4. Most of you making these kind of statements reveal you are separated from the realities of leading a ministry.

#3 Actually the comment was directed to the overall lack of leadership that lead to the dire situation NIU finds itself that they themselves admit. The comment was not about just the decision reversal itself. So Yes, to describe it “beyond pale” is applicable.

#4 And you know this about those commenting here exactly how?

[Jay]

So you would have preferred that NIU ran in the red until the very end without making any changes at all? Really? Let’s face it - it wasn’t like NIU was the picture of financial health before any of this started.

Better, I suppose, that one good solid fundamental school close than we lose it to ‘them’ (whoever they are).

Of course I wouldn’t preferred they ran in the red, that was my point. My point it that strong leadership would’ve said years ago changes must be made Now so there isn’t a crisis later. If NIU wasn’t the picture of financial health before any of this started doesn’t basic 101 business sense say something needs to change sooner than later?

Well, here we are.

In Dr. Wood’s dissertation there is a memo from the Board a few years back discussing this very subject, that changes needed to be made. Those changes obviously did not happen relative to the decrease in revenue.

This is not directed at anyone specific, lest someone get their underwear in a wad…

Nor does it insinuate that Northland resembles said dead horse…

But, the principle seems to apply to the topic at hand. Take it or leave it.

[mmartin]

[Jay]

So you would have preferred that NIU ran in the red until the very end without making any changes at all? Really? Let’s face it - it wasn’t like NIU was the picture of financial health before any of this started.

Better, I suppose, that one good solid fundamental school close than we lose it to ‘them’ (whoever they are).

Of course I wouldn’t preferred they ran in the red, that was my point. My point it that strong leadership would’ve said years ago changes must be made Now so there isn’t a crisis later. If NIU wasn’t the picture of financial health before any of this started doesn’t basic 101 business sense say something needs to change sooner than later?

Well, here we are.

In Dr. Wood’s dissertation there is a memo from the Board a few years back discussing this very subject, that changes needed to be made. Those changes obviously did not happen relative to the decrease in revenue.

I think you’re missing the wider picture that schools (particularly smaller private ones) are struggling in general.

BJU has been suffering smaller and smaller classes, is dropping majors and programs every year, outsourcing programs, and letting go long-time staff etc. Really, they’re bleeding just as much as NIU was. NIU might be slightly more visible because it’s smaller to begin with, but the reality’s the same.

This is not just NIU. And frankly I don’t know that anyone else would have done that much better of a job.

And no, I don’t think a private company would have necessarily fired him as CEO. He’s a visionary CEO, and the board’s statement seems to recognize that, to extend the corporate analogy, they’d hired a great visionary CEO, but forgotten to have a great CFO alongside him.

Martin,

To say that a ministry that makes a flip like NIU is “double-minded” is beyond the pale - there is no way those that are making those accusations are in the know. I promise you there are dozens, no doubt hundreds of conversations and meetings and prayer and the list goes on and on…..behind closed doors that make the simple accusation “double-minded” far beyond simply “not fair. Martin, my ministry is not just to my congregation but I serve an international ministry where we come along side of ministries like NIU (and other kinds of para-church ministries) and help them resolve or work through exactly these kinds of issues. So bro - this is part of my job and our ministry at IBL has helped hundreds of similar ministries over 25 years of leadership ministry. So I say again - to accuse a ministry of bringing back an executive as simply being “double-minded” when you don’t know the details is frankly bizarre if not a bit irresponsible. I might even say “rude.”

Bringing Matt back was strategic, right, important and the result of a significant decision. Often times ministries will make a decision and then as they experience the “fall-out” - they pick up new information - new data that they didn’t have. Often times the kind of data you get in a deal like this - there simply was no other way to get it than to make a decision and find out afterwards that in retrospect it wasn’t the best decision. The only way you could have known is if you were God. NIU loves God - but they are not God. At times it is right to reverse even a significant decision in light of new data. One reason you wouldn’t is to protect your pride. NIU demonstrates considerable humility and a commitment to do what is best - even in light of a previous decision where perhaps they missed.

In this case they probably found out that the vast majority of the NIU family loved and supported Matt and the decisions he’s made. They probably also found out that having Matt at the helm is the most responsible thing they can do right now in light of the way the majority of the NIU family believe. They may have thought that there was a positive end result by moving Matt out ten days earlier. Well - then they discovered somehow in that time period that they were probably listening to voices that didn’t have their best interest at heart. I say again - good for them!

So - in one sense those of you/us that are part of the NIU family - students, faculty, alumni, etc……you guys have all the right in the world to complain, support, argue, etc…..the rest of us are simply neighbors. Really we have no right. This is “their house.” If I was to have a neighbor that was as nosey and troublesome as some of the NIU critics have been in this situation - I’d probably have enough evidence to have them locked away - or at least given an order of protection. Some of you need to get it - you just don’t belong in Dunbar. So go away! I mean you don’t have to go away - you can stay. But understand the board, the students, the faculty, the staff, the present supporters and the present batch of supporting churches and friends of NIU love exactly where the school is. So your welcome to stay and have a cup of coffee with us - but there is a reason we are in Dunbar and not somewhere else.

Look you guys that don’t like it - fine. Here let me make a undergrad graph for you:

From Joel’s perspective: (for the 3 of you who care!)

Just a tad more conservative - but close enough we endorse - at some level: BJ, MBBC, IBC, Faith, etc….

Really conservative: PCCC, RCU, Crown, The Van’s College (Wisc?), etc….

Really, Really More conservative (don’t let your friends go here): Hyles, West Coast, Heartland, Fairhaven, etc…..

Right were many of us are: NIU, Appalachian, Clearwater, Clark Summit, Piedmont, etc….

And a few more would even be happy with Masters, Moody, Calvary College, etc…

So - here’s the good news - there are still plenty of Institutions that will help your young person prepare for ministry. So instead of jumping up and down on the airhose of the school you don’t like - move on already!

(By the way - I am guessing that our seminaries - Virgina Beach, Calvary Lansdale, DBTS, Central, Masters, BBC, Clark Summit, etc…..are probably very close to the same position of NIU - with maybe one or two exceptions - but for sake of whatever - are being quiet)

Last time I did this - a few people were not happy - so if this helps those people - please read carefully the following disclosure - Joel speaks from only his view - in no way shape or form is anyone who has ever known or has been associated with Joel Tetreau is responsible for Joel’s views - that includes especially anyone in official capacity with SI - and is not limited to any present or former family members, ministries, institutions or people-groups that have ever been connected with Mr. Tetreau. If you really want to know what a specific ministry believe’s - ask them!

Straight Ahead!

jt

ps - forgive the occasional epistle - or don’t.

Double-minded?

OK … “Flippy floppy”

Admitting the mistake at this level (I am not necessarily agreeing that it was or was not a mistake I am making a point) is a major demonstration of some level of incompetence. Yes, it is an act of humility to some degree but that does not negate the incompetence. In the military such a fax paus in senior leaders would not be rewarded with naive applause of “look how humble they are, they must be great and capable leaders” but with further corrective actions regarding the senior leaders who made the grand error.

Does it mean the people involved in the incompetence are now, not worthy of further leadership? Time will tell.

NIU is no longer a Fundamental Baptist institution but an Evangelical one. So, on with the program. I suspect this speaks to some of the strengths of stronger ties as a denomination though even denominationalism and an exhaustive confession is no guarantee of error and heresy not creeping in to the body. Many people give lip service to creeds and confessions, even robust ones, but happily have within their denominations or associations Teachers or personalities who grossly depart from the boundaries of such confessions.

[Alex Guggenheim]

Admitting the mistake at this level (I am not necessarily agreeing that it was or was not a mistake I am making a point) is a major demonstration of some level of incompetence. Yes, it is an act of humility to some degree but that does not negate the incompetence. In the military such a fax paus in senior leaders would not be rewarded with naive applause of “look how humble they are, they must be great and capable leaders” but with further corrective actions regarding the senior leaders who made the grand error.

Uh huh, let’s use the military as a great example of leadership. There is no politics, scape-goating, or incompetence there. :)