FAQ: Recent Personnel Actions

Updated April 4, 2008

Q: What has happened?

The Cedarville University Board of Trustees and administration announced personnel actions in July 2007 resulting in the departure of two faculty members from the Cedarville University Department of Biblical Education. That decision was upheld in April 2008 after the completion of a lengthy grievance process. As a family of professional colleagues and fellow believers, we seek to protect one another's privacy and honor each other's reputations. These issues of confidentiality and courtesy prevent Cedarville University from sharing details of any personnel decision or action.

Q: What reasons were given to the two Bible professors for these personnel actions?

The Faculty Handbook requires that the University provide the faculty members with 30 days advance notice of their severance for cause. The notice letters must provide a summary of the evidence constituting cause for the severance. Although we cannot share the specific reasons provided to the faculty members, there were clear violations of the Faculty Handbook. The University carefully complied with all policies and procedures within the Handbook while working through this difficult process.

Q: Are these personnel actions related to theological issues?

No. These actions were the result of clear violations of the University’s Faculty Handbook. Sadly, some have tried to link these difficult personnel decisions to theological issues. In fact, the University’s commitments to the inerrancy of Scripture, to its historic doctrinal statement, and to its conservative theological heritage have not changed.

While the evangelical church and our post-modern culture wrestle with issues related to truth, Cedarville University has taken a clear stand. The University has carefully considered what is at stake and last year issued a position statement affirming the University’s stance on truth and its ability to be known. The University affirms that:

Objective truth exists whether or not humans recognize it.
The Bible, God's Word, is truth – inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
Believers can know the meaning of the Bible with sufficient understanding to be assured of their salvation, live by faith in obedience to God, and affirm the conclusions essential to the Christian faith, which we hold as non-negotiable and upon which we unswervingly base our hope.

Every faculty member must affirm this statement (as well as our doctrinal statement) in order to teach at Cedarville University. Biblical truth has, is, and always will be the heart of Cedarville University.

As an academic leader, Cedarville University is engaging the critical theological issues of our day. This is the beauty of a Christ-centered institution that stands firmly for Truth while at the same time encourages academic inquiry within an atmosphere of Christian love, trust, and dialogue.

Q: Did these faculty members have an opportunity for an appeal?

Yes. The Faculty Handbook includes a very specific grievance process for faculty members receiving notice of severance for cause. Dr. David Hoffeditz made use of the grievance process outlined within the Faculty Handbook. His grievance was reviewed by a Grievance Investigative Panel (GIP), made up of five faculty members. The panel’s recommendation was then sent to the President for his consideration. Per the Handbook, the President then relayed his own recommendation, along with that of the GIP, to the Academic Committee of the Board of Trustees. The final decision to uphold the termination of Dr. Hoffeditz was made by the Board of Trustees.

Q: Since the faculty members had already received contracts for the 2007-08 academic year, were those contracts honored?

The University offered contracts to both Dr. David Hoffeditz and Dr. David Mappes in good faith and with full intent to fulfill them. The University has honored each and every faculty contract issued for the 2007-2008 academic year and has continued to pay the stated salary and benefits pursuant to those contracts, including those of Dr. Hoffeditz and Dr. Mappes.

Q: What type of severance arrangements were provided to these faculty members?

Cedarville University's longstanding practice has been to generously care for the financial needs of departing faculty. Although the specific details regarding severance arrangements are confidential, you can be assured that the University cares deeply for the welfare of the individuals involved, as well as their families, and that the severance arrangements, once finalized, will be gracious and appropriate.

Q: Do these current events suggest Cedarville is moving towards a liberal theological position?

No. The personnel actions are unrelated to any theological issues.

There are no theological "liberals" at Cedarville University. By definition, liberals are those who deny the fundamentals of the faith – those doctrines that are essential to Christianity and without which the gospel is irreparably harmed. These include the Trinity; the deity of Christ; the personality of the Holy Spirit; the authority of Scripture as well as its inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy; Christ's atoning work on the cross; the resurrection of Christ; the sinfulness of all humanity; and salvation by grace through faith apart from any human merit.

Every Cedarville University faculty member is theologically "conservative." The University's commitments to the inerrancy of Scripture, to our historic doctrinal statement, and to our conservative theological heritage have not changed. This is the beauty of a Christ-centered institution that stands firmly for Truth while at the same time encourages academic inquiry within an atmosphere of Christian love, trust, and dialogue.

Q: Does this indicate a new philosophical direction for Cedarville (Postmodernity, emerging church, etc.)?

No, these personnel actions are unrelated to any theological issues. There has been no change in the University's mission, doctrinal position, or passion for ministry.

Cedarville University's doctrinal statement has not changed. Our commitment to God's Word as inspired, infallible, and inerrant is unwavering. Required daily chapels, a Bible minor for all students, far-reaching Christian ministries, and a commitment to discipleship remain integral to the Cedarville experience.

Dr. Bill Brown, Cedarville University's president, has spent his life combating the negative and destructive influences of liberalism and Postmodernism and will continue to do so. He emphasizes that the doctrinal and practical deficiencies of the emergent church are rejected by Cedarville University. He is absolutely committed to making sure Cedarville University maintains its biblical foundation and theological moorings.

A Cedarville University education is grounded in biblical truth. But we live in a skeptical culture where the notion of biblical truth or objective truth in general is mocked, questioned, or at the very least diluted by individual interpretation. Culturally, this uncertainty has risen to such a level that it cannot be ignored.

As a University, we have carefully considered what is at stake and have issued a clear position statement that affirms our stance on truth and its ability to be known. We affirm that:

Objective truth exists whether or not humans recognize it.
The Bible, God's Word, is truth – inspired, infallible, and inerrant.
Believers can know the meaning of the Bible with sufficient understanding to be assured of their salvation, live by faith in obedience to God, and affirm the conclusions essential to the Christian faith, which we hold as non-negotiable and upon which we unswervingly base our hope.

Q: Will these personnel actions discourage academic freedom in the future?

Cedarville University is committed to allowing faculty members the freedom to hold a diversity of opinions within the unity of the doctrinal statement. The personnel actions in fact uphold the University's high expectations and clear guidelines regarding collegiality and academic freedom.

Q: Is Cedarville reducing its commitment to the Bible?

These personnel actions are unrelated to any theological issues. You can be assured that Cedarville University's commitment to the Bible is unchanged and unwavering.

All faculty, staff, and trustees annually affirm the University's doctrinal statement.
All new faculty are carefully reviewed regarding their theological training and their alignment with the biblical commitments and values of Cedarville University.
All faculty must annually affirm the Truth and Certainty statement found in the Faculty Handbook.
All Cedarville University students graduate with a minor in Bible.
Required daily chapels feature biblical teaching, encourage vibrant worship, and build authentic community.
The University's ministry and missions opportunities are actively supported as the practical outworking of biblical training and discipleship.
The University is committed to biblical integration in every academic discipline.

In addition, making a very clear statement about our focus on the Bible, the University is constructing a Center for Theological and Biblical Studies that will be a visual, physical reminder of our commitment to biblical and theological studies, evangelism, youth ministry, missions, and discipleship.

Cedarville University