This is my letter to the President of NNU and the BOT. I will always #SupportTomOord
Here is a link to a Wiki page that is being updated regularly with Facts (that are verified by qualified people) and Rumors:
Tom Oord Dismissal
To Dr. David
Alexander,
President of
Northwest Nazarene University,
and to the
NNU Board of Trustees,
My name is Becca Spivey and I am
a graduate from Northwest Nazarene University. I am writing this letter to you
with a heart of love for NNU and for the School of Theology and Christian
Ministry.
I grew up in the Nazarene church
and when I was going into high school I felt the call to ministry. When time
came for me to pick a college to go to I visited NNU a couple of times and
simply by spending time on campus, and in the religion department I knew that
this is where I wanted to go and learn. I am so glad I did. I was taught, and
pushed, and encouraged in every way by our STCM department. I would not be the
woman or minister I am today without them. Specifically I would not be who I am
without Dr. Tom Oord.
My senior year I was beginning the
year with a lot of questions and doubts, I knew what many Christians believed
on the topics and why, but their answers were not good enough for me at that
time. It was once I began to talk about these things with Dr. Oord and once I
took one of his classes that I began to hear other well-known Christians and
Theologians answers and perspectives on the very things I was struggling with,
and I realized that these were the answers I had been searching for and
thinking, but did not know. Tom Oord never pushed his personal theology on his
students, and he never would. He wanted (and still wants) for us to never take
the easy route, and to question, learn, and discover using the Wesleyan
Quadrilateral who God is. Simply put, I probably would not be a Nazarene today
if not for Tom Oord, his teaching, mentoring, guidance, and for him living the
life of love that he preaches.
Dr. Tom Oord brings something
that NNU needs, that NNU had and others did not. Tom Oord brings a love for
God, creation, education, and diversity that no one else can. It is Tom’s
non-essential theological beliefs that helped create an environment that made
students of all theological perspectives feel safe in expressing them, seek
guidance and even correction. If we have an institution where every member of
staff and faculty share the same theological perspectives then we are losing
diversity, and it is guaranteed that the institution will then produce ignorant
Christians and ministers.
I, along with others, want to
know why Dr. Oord? It is well known that there are people who have tried to get
rid of him in the past. I am afraid that the University simply wants quiet and
is willing to jeopardize its student’s education and spiritual growth to do so.
I also want to know why the University has not publicized the graduate program
for ministry more? If the true reason Dr. Oord is being let go is because of a
drop in enrollment for the graduate program, why did you do nothing in the past
to push the program and make it more publicly known? And did you think of the
possibility (which I am sure you will see as a reality) that there may be a
drop in enrollment because Dr. Oord is no longer teaching there? I myself had
been looking into graduate programs and knew Dr. Oord taught many of the
classes for the grad program and was wanting to take more classes from him
through NNU, but now I cannot and will not.
I am extremely disappointed in
our University right now. I am extremely sad for our University for its loss
and for its current and future students. I truly believe this is the biggest
mistake the University has made in years. It is shining a bad light on the University
and on the denomination. It is shining a light that says “we don’t care about
academic excellence, spiritual growth, and diversity.” I had always been proud
of NNU for having Tom Oord and for standing by him while others threw stones.
Now I fear we have given in and that the University is making decisions based
on personal beliefs and agendas that do not line up with our Wesleyan Holiness
tradition.
I will conclude my letter with
another story.
My senior year we had a lunch
with just us graduating seniors and the STCM professors to talk about anything
and everything. Towards the end of our meal all of us seniors agreed that the
biggest and most valuable lesson that they had taught us and shown us was how
to truly live in a community of love. They showed us that we did not have to
agree on the non-essentials and could still be friends and love one another. Many,
if not all, of us grew up in churches where if someone disagreed with someone
else they did not talk, and went to different churches. There was no
relationship, and this seemed to be simply how it was. It was not until they
showed us that it is possible and it is how we as Christians are meant to live.
After this statement had been made one of the faculty members told us that some
churches may not accept us because we are NNU alumni, and that we may hear
people falsely accuse and hate on our professors and they simply asked that we
stand up for them since we know them and their heart for God. I myself have had
to defend a few since graduating, but I never thought I would have to defend
one of them against the very school that embraced them. I have been debating on
whether or not I want to support NNU if Tom is not rightfully reinstated, be
that with money or any other way of supporting. But I know if I do not then I
will be disappointing Dr. Oord and the other faculty members of the STCM
department. Because that is the kind of person Tom is.
“I will
continue to live a life of Love.” – Dr. Thomas Jay Oord 4/7/15
Becca Spivey
NNU
2008-2013
Here is a link to a Wiki page that is being updated regularly with Facts (that are verified by qualified people) and Rumors:
Tom Oord Dismissal
