BJU faulted for response to GRACE report

These are trying times for the University, and a what I believe will be defining moments for the University. With declining enrollment and many other Christian universities closing or transforming, it will be interesting to see how BJU handles this. I hope they do survive, but they may have to do it by being totally different in their approach to their challenges.

Honestly, who among you did not foresee this reaction to BJU’s response? Unless BJU capitulates to the point where it will no longer stand on scripture, it will always be subject to reactions like this.

Let’s say for the sake of argument that BJU no longer kept Berg and Jones on staff, removed any of their counseling materials, and outsourced their counseling to another Christian organization that would be in line with their mission, do you really think that would cause the negative reactions here to cease?

And no matter how conciliatory or thoughtful, what can Steve Pettit say to those who have been hurt by things the university has said or done in the past that will change anything, or actually make their hurts better? Only God can do that.

It sounds to me as if what is desired and didn’t happen is very large reparation payments and punitive damages that will cause the university to close. Only then will the detractors be happy, because they will then have succeeded in their mission to close BJU.

From what I can see in my visits to the university and now conversations with those trying to change the university to stay in line with scripture but act with the grace they should always have had, they are doing everything in their power to try to navigate those waters. The real objection is that they still exist and want to do what’s right, not just what people demand.

They may close because of loss of students interested in what they have to offer and trying to stand in a culture that increasingly wants nothing to do with Christianity. If that happens, then so be it. What would really be sad would be to see them change to the point they are no longer trying to stand on God’s word and end up as other universities have that have tried to change their mission. They could end up just becoming irrelevant and sold off, or maybe worse, grow into something lasting but that has no relation to true Christianity whatsoever.

BJU still has over 2000 students. It is smaller than it was at its peak, but then so are a lot of other ministries as well. This is only Steve Pettit’s first year. I believe it will be a couple of years before we see if he can help the school grow any. Meanwhile, they are getting rid of some things (sold University Place this month) and downsizing accordingly.

As for this latest news article, nothing is new. The media is on board with the haters and is doing whatever they can to destroy the University. That is evident whenever anything remotely related to BJU comes up down here. I believe the hatred is because these people are really haters of God and His truth. Praying is our most powerful weapon against God’s enemies.

Michelle

[Michelle Shuman]

BJU still has over 2000 students. It is smaller than it was at its peak, but then so are a lot of other ministries as well. This is only Steve Pettit’s first year. I believe it will be a couple of years before we see if he can help the school grow any. Meanwhile, they are getting rid of some things (sold University Place this month) and downsizing accordingly.

As for this latest news article, nothing is new. The media is on board with the haters and is doing whatever they can to destroy the University. That is evident whenever anything remotely related to BJU comes up down here. I believe the hatred is because these people are really haters of God and His truth. Praying is our most powerful weapon against God’s enemies.

Michelle

The facts are that enrollment in Christian Universities is rapidly declining. BJU has a lot of costs, and at some point the tuition will not be able to support the costs needed to run the place. I think there can be a compelling story for a Christian liberal arts college, but the university has to tell that story. At this point, whether you call them haters or not, a different story is being told and that story is “louder” than any other story. This is PR 101. BJ is going to have to craft a new story for a new age and for a new audience on why this is a compelling solution for a Christian young person. There are more than just 2,000 children of fundamentalist in this world, but why are only 2,000 people going to the school. There is, for whatever reason, a more compelling alternative for most Christian parents. This is what BJ is going to have to get to the root of. Right now they continue to be behind the 8-ball, and are in reaction mode to everything. They are not only loosing the message, but they are loosing the overall story. This is my alma matter so I hope they do survive. I am rooting for them. But it is going to have to take some very strong leadership, way beyond the past ability of leading an evangelical team or being a pastor. I hope Dr. Petit can rise to the occasion and steer the university through these difficult times.

[Michelle Shuman]

BJU still has over 2000 students. It is smaller than it was at its peak, but then so are a lot of other ministries as well. This is only Steve Pettit’s first year. I believe it will be a couple of years before we see if he can help the school grow any. Meanwhile, they are getting rid of some things (sold University Place this month) and downsizing accordingly.

Michelle

I was just at a presentation given by Pettit and 6 others (VPs and other heads of departments) two weekends ago, and they allowed a lot of frank questions and did their best to answer them. They gave hard numbers — the good news is that the campus is entirely paid for, and they are still running with a 1% surplus. On the downside, that’s not much for upgrades, PR, etc., and it wouldn’t take much to lose even that thin margin, but they are attempting to do what they can with what they have. At least they are not losing money yet.

What David said is true — they are going to have to get their message out there, and they are going to have to convince students that BJU is a value proposition, and that what is gained will be more than worth the expense. There are a lot of smaller private colleges dealing with the current changes in culture and economy, not just BJU, and not just Christian colleges. Because of expenses and other reasons, parents and children, even conservative and fundamental Christians, are choosing other options for their students. The whole educational landscape is going through a sea change, and BJU not only has to deal with that, they are having to deal with criticisms from their past, both legitimate and non-legitimate. It’s going to be a difficult job to rise above all that, but they are going to have to do that, and in my mind at least, without compromising to the culture, if they want BJU to be around long term and still be what it was envisioned to be.

I personally think that from what I have seen so far, and from my limited perspective on the outside, Steve is going a great job. However, it’s still very early in his presidency, and he has taken on a very large and difficult job. I’m praying that God will use him to accomplish great things. However, just as we were asked to promise when I graduated in the 80’s, I’d rather see BJU close than turn into an institution that succeeds by changing from the very core of their mission. I think they are making mostly the right changes, and I hope that will continue, but even if they were accomplishing their mission perfectly, the culture shift might make it impossible for a biblical Christian university to succeed for long and still stay true to its stand for Christianity.

…..from my own teen children about why Christian colleges are going to have trouble attracting students are:

• Lack of accreditation—your degree means little or nothing outside the Christian ghetto (e.g. Pensacola)
• Lack of programs—not much for you if you do not want to be a pastor, pastor’s wife, or missionary
• Lack of academic standards—even by the poor standards of secular schools
• Rules, rules, rules, leading to the impression of legalism (whether that is fair or not)

Now to be fair, it’s obvious BJU and many other schools are working to remedy these situations, and BJU’s been better than average among Christian schools for a while. But that said, the competition for BJU isn’t Maranatha or Faith, but rather the big state universities, the network of private universities and liberal arts colleges, and the like.

I would concur with Dave B. The thing is that if there was any Christian University that had the foundation to succeed, it would be BJ. They have the most resources and capability to survive this storm. So to me, it will be a shame if they are not able to navigate through this. They do have an art gallery that would be able to float them for years if needed.

I would not mind change at all, as long as they don’t sacrifice on the fundamentals. I would be fine if they gave up things like counseling for certain scenarios, certain dress code items, certain rules, get into online teaching and college degrees….. I think change is needed, both because culture has changed and the very concept around education has changed. Accreditation is going to be key, key, key for them. If they don’t get that, it may be too great to overcome.

The world is simply changing. Information is cheaper, and cannot be held in monopoly anymore. When I attended, the library had books that I could not get online. The classroom had men that could answer questions that I could not get online. Now, I can take the Great Courses. If I have a question, the answer may be on CARM, Bible Gateway, or even YouTube. If I want more than one perspective, I can watch White debate Ehrman. This is the age of the autodidact.

Bob Jones University’s unique product is knowledge. Sure, they have fellowship, accountability, ministry opportunities, etc. But these other assets can be found in our families and local churches. BJU’s unique product is becoming less unique. Therefore, its value is declining.

…if the Greenville news had actually linked to the letter that they sent.
I think that there is room here for both sides. Judging from what I have read in the GRACE report, BJU is to completely to blame for how they handled cases of reported sexual abuse and rape by victims. Some of the advice (I hesitate to give it the description of it as ‘counseling’) that was given was foolish, unhelpful, and irreparably damaging to people (usually women) who were seeking spiritual help and counsel from spiritual authorities that should have known better. It may have been well meaning, but that’s cold comfort to a woman who was molested and then asked “if she enjoyed it”. That kind of thing makes my blood boil in rage.

Furthermore, it’s well past time that some of us who have defended BJU admit that they screwed up in how they handled this counseling. Are we really surprised that some of these people are so angry at the school, judging from what the school has said?

That being said, some of the groups, IMO, have been hijacked by people with an agenda to attack and destroy Christianity, usually because of past hypocrisy or an antagonism rooted in their atheism, sexual orientation, or whatever. A cursory review of the DRBJU group(s) makes that obvious.

I am thankful for BJU and for the training that I received there. But if a victim of the kinds of counsel they gave came to me and said, “We are deeply grieved by your response…”, it would get my attention.

I think that a big part of this problem is that BJU is very…insular…in how they manage their organization, and I am hopeful that President Pettit can and will change that. I have serious doubts as to how BJU is handling this because I am legitimately concerned that they aren’t looking at this as “we screwed up” as much as “let’s see if there’s any truth to this.” There’s a difference between going along with an reported offense to placate critics and actually owning a transgression that was committed.
I was concerned with their theology department when I was there in Seminary because they did not have anyone teaching who had come from outside of the Bob Jones Academy / University / Seminary ecosystem. I will continue to fault them for it until that is remedied. But I say those things because there needs to be an influx of fresh blood in order for the school to continue to prosper, not as someone who wants the school shut down today because of sins from thirty years ago.

Probably a topic for another thread, but I was thinking that whenever the world changes, it creates opportunities. If my sons were to train for the ministry, I would probably want them to do so under the leadership of myself and my church. I wouldn’t necessarily send them 2000 miles away to instructors that I do not know (and pay tens of thousands for the privilege). But there are topics that I would not have good answers for. It would be great to have excellent online courses that could be purchased for such purposes. Think of it as the fundamentalist answer to the Great Courses.

Right now, I would love to purchase a detailed course on the history of the Canon. When I peruse the BJU catalog, I notice a couple of graduate courses that include the topic, but no courses dedicated to the history of the Canon. I would also like to see courses on World History, the Cell, Economics, etc. BJU has the resources to do a great job on these. If they did it right, it seems that it would increase their revenue stream and increase the knowledge of God’s people.

[Sean Fericks]

Probably a topic for another thread, but I was thinking that whenever the world changes, it creates opportunities. If my sons were to train for the ministry, I would probably want them to do so under the leadership of myself and my church. I wouldn’t necessarily send them 2000 miles away to instructors that I do not know (and pay tens of thousands for the privilege). But there are topics that I would not have good answers for. It would be great to have excellent online courses that could be purchased for such purposes. Think of it as the fundamentalist answer to the Great Courses.

Right now, I would love to purchase a detailed course on the history of the Canon. When I peruse the BJU catalog, I notice a couple of graduate courses that include the topic, but no courses dedicated to the history of the Canon. I would also like to see courses on World History, the Cell, Economics, etc. BJU has the resources to do a great job on these. If they did it right, it seems that it would increase their revenue stream and increase the knowledge of God’s people.

I’d much rather go through BJU for some stuff than Liberty, and it does seem like a really obvious opening. How many hundreds / thousands of BJU alumni would sign up for something like that through the school they’ve already matriculated from?
Let’s face it, there are a lot of people who go to Liberty because it’s the default and others who avoid Liberty because of it’s perception as ‘liberal’ (whatever that means).

As for Berg - I’m really conflicted on him. I’ve been through his courses on counseling, and the training I got was light years removed from what GRACE reports. But as long as he is there, he’s going to be a lightning rod for the school and those who see him, right or wrong, as a problem.

Most Christians that I know at this point in time is that they are very comfortable in sending their kids to a Christian University that is accredited, like Grove City College in PA, or to a local state/community college for their education (where they can be nearby, live at home and participate in their local church). This is not how it was when I was a college kid, but this is the first time that I have not known anyone who is looking at a Christian college like Bob Jones for their education. It is like everything quickly shifted overnight.

I agree with the thoughts above saying BJU is to be faulted in the past … and the present for their insularity, their glacial pace to admit faults (35 years anyone?), their supporters enabling them, and the reasonable basis for people to be so frustrated with them.

As Jay said above, as long as Berg is still at BJU he will continue to be a lightning rod. BJU stated in their response that they have reviewed Berg’s materials, found them to be Biblical, and would continue to sell Berg’s materials. However, this issue is not whether or not his materials are Biblical or not. Rather, the issue is that Berg was called out by name and was basically the major focus in the entire GRACE report. Biblical or not, whether we like it or not, Berg is now toxic to BJU. That may sound harsh, but it is true. The same goes for BJIII.

This latest open letter and media demonstrates this point. BJIII and Berg were substantial focus of the GRACE report. By not doing anything with these men it appears as if BJU hasn’t changed or still doesn’t listen. It looks like they are protecting their good ‘ol boys.

Regarding the source of this open letter to BJU, the article from the Greenville News seemed to indicate it was from members of the task force that provided recommendations to how BJU should respond to the GRACE report. It didn’t come from those DoRight or Truth?Seeking crazies. The source of this entire issue, GRACE, is not apart of of the DR or TSG crowd. They were brought in by BJU themselves.

When for decades BJU has acted as they have - insular, clumsy & reckless “counseling” methods, BJIII repeatedly making over-the-top comments in the national media, proclaiming themselves as the World’s Most Unusual university, etc., they will get serious media attention. They have been for years, they are getting it now. That media attention won’t go away. As I’ve said before, this media spotlight is something they have brought upon themselves. (Gays should be stoned anyone??)

Which is Exactly why BJU needed to show serious commitment to following through with the GRACE recommendations, especially regarding BJIII and Berg.

The GRACE report is out there for the entire world to see. Everybody was watching to see how BJU would respond. I believe BJU started out well with Pettit’s apology but then they whiffed on their response.

Again, this isn’t about whether or not Berg’s materials are Biblical or not. I also believe this isn’t about people trying to destroy BJU. (GRACE was brought in by BJU and the source of this letter was from their own task force.) To me, this isn’t about the media being onboard with the haters.

BJIII and Berg need to excuse themselves or BJU needs to follow through on GRACE’s recommendations.

As a graduate of BJU, I want it to survive and thrive. I think Pettit is the right man, but I think right now he is dealing with serious legacy, political, and personality issues.