Continuing the Hendrix debate
Saturday, May 31, 2008
I received a copy of an open letter by the clergy members of the Hendrix Board of Trustees that will appear in the upcoming issue of the Arkansas United Methodist. It is written specifically in response to the op-ed article I published in mid-May. The letter was e-mailed out to an Arkansas young adult clergy e-mail list that I had contacted about the proposed charter revisions.
I am serious about wanting open debate on this issue, so I am going to offer the letter without comment for now. You can download it here:
Letter_from_Hendrix_Clergy_Trustees_5-29-08.doc
I do intend to respond, because I think that the points that the clergy trustees raise call for further conversation. But I will wait until the letter appears in the next issue of the AUM.
Let me say something else as well. A friend and former professor of mine at Hendrix raised the issue of some of the language I used in my Wednesday blog post. What I had intended as tongue-in-cheek, wry, or witty comments were received by some as mean-spirited and cynical. I deeply regret that.
I do believe that the blogosphere is a democratic, free-wheeling arena of public discourse where we bloggers often mix in humor of various kinds to spice up our commentary on issues. However, through targeted e-mails, I invited a diverse crowd into this blog to read my argument on the Hendrix issue. This included a lot of people associated with Hendrix College or the Arkansas Conference who are not regular readers of this blog. Because of that, I should have moderated my writing more closely and recognized how sensitive an issue this is for many people. I apologize for my carelessness, and I apologize to anyone I may have offended through my comments. I have gone back and edited the post significantly, hopefully removing any language that might be construed as base.
I am serious about wanting open debate on this issue, so I am going to offer the letter without comment for now. You can download it here:
Letter_from_Hendrix_Clergy_Trustees_5-29-08.doc
I do intend to respond, because I think that the points that the clergy trustees raise call for further conversation. But I will wait until the letter appears in the next issue of the AUM.
Let me say something else as well. A friend and former professor of mine at Hendrix raised the issue of some of the language I used in my Wednesday blog post. What I had intended as tongue-in-cheek, wry, or witty comments were received by some as mean-spirited and cynical. I deeply regret that.
I do believe that the blogosphere is a democratic, free-wheeling arena of public discourse where we bloggers often mix in humor of various kinds to spice up our commentary on issues. However, through targeted e-mails, I invited a diverse crowd into this blog to read my argument on the Hendrix issue. This included a lot of people associated with Hendrix College or the Arkansas Conference who are not regular readers of this blog. Because of that, I should have moderated my writing more closely and recognized how sensitive an issue this is for many people. I apologize for my carelessness, and I apologize to anyone I may have offended through my comments. I have gone back and edited the post significantly, hopefully removing any language that might be construed as base.
posted by Andrew C. Thompson at 2:26 PM
2 Comments:
I appreciate the letter by the clergy that currently serve on the Board of Hendrix. My question is simple why does a broadening national profile mean that Hendrix should have less representation by Arkansas Clergy persons. There are currently 42 Trustees of the intitution. Why not simply designate that five other United Methodist lay or clergy people from around the country serve on the board of Hendrix and not take away spots from the Arkansas conference. That way the school gains from national UM leaders experience as well as the leadership of clergy within the conference.
Will the Annual Conferences represented by the 5 clergy from outside the Arkansas Annual Conference support Hendrix in such a way that the AAC might proportionally reduce its financial support ?
I know the answer to that question but I can guarantee that the financial support of the college will come into question if the Annual Conference votes to reduce the number of Arkansas clergy on the Trustees. There will be some who will vote for the reduction and then turn around and propose that we reduce our financial obligation to the college. I'll even write their names on a piece of paper, seal it in an envelope, and let you open it after it's done so you can shower me with praise and call me a prophet :-)
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