Statement of the Cedarville University Board of Trustees
July 9, 2007
Cedarville University is a Christ-centered learning community equipping students for lifelong leadership and service through an education marked by excellence and grounded in biblical truth. For some time now, certain issues in the department of biblical education have distracted the attention and energies of the University from this critical purpose.
The University has sought to restore a healthy team spirit within the department while patiently and carefully following the procedures of the Faculty Handbook. All options have been exhausted, but, sadly, resolution has not been found.
To address this situation, the Cedarville University Board of Trustees and the administration have announced personnel actions resulting in the departure of two faculty members from the department of biblical education.
While issues of confidentiality and courtesy prevent the University from sharing details of any personnel decision or action, the Board of Trustees wishes to clarify several points:
- Cedarville University's commitments to the inerrancy of Scripture, to its historic doctrinal position, and to its conservative theological heritage have not changed.
- All of our faculty members have affirmed their full agreement with the University's doctrinal statement and Truth and Certainty statement, and each person wholeheartedly affirms the Bible, God's Word, as inspired, infallible, and inerrant truth.
- University community members (as professional colleagues and fellow believers) must serve together in ways that honor one another and uphold the University's clear guidelines on academic freedom and professional ethics.
- Cedarville University remains committed to allowing faculty members the freedom to hold a diversity of opinions within the unity of its doctrinal statement. The recent actions uphold the University's high expectations and clear guidelines regarding collegiality, professional ethics, and academic freedom.
The University is providing a Web site which explains further these relevant issues and includes a helpful FAQ document.
Cedarville University continues to care about the welfare and future of the individuals involved as well as their families. The University hopes that the individuals will continue to use their intellectual and pedagogical skills for the glory of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The priority of the Board of Trustees is to prayerfully refocus our time and energy on advancing the vision and mission of Cedarville University.
