Over the past few weeks I have been following this story in Milwaukee, WI. I find it very interesting how this story ended. What happened as this story unfolded was just as interesting.
Marquette University, a Roman Catholic school run by the Jesuits in Milwaukee, WI has been know for its theological education and scholarship in Lutheran circles (e.g. Franz Posset, and Kenneth Hagen), and nationally known for its basketball team just about every March.
For those who are not inclined to read all of the articles, I will do my best to sum up the story.
Back in April, Marquette University extends a contract to Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien to be dean of Marquette's College of Arts and Sciences.
O'Brien signs the contract and sends it back to Marquette University.
Early May, Marquette rescinds the job offer. Slight problem. O'Brien is a lesbian who has written scholarly works on gender and sexual orientation. Marquette says the reason for this is that some of O'Brien's writings "relating to Catholic mission and identity" made her an unacceptable candidate. (Doesn't anyone do their homework when hiring for a position like this?)
Students and faculty are up in arms. Students protest, faculty protest.
It is revealed that Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee might have told the president of Marquette, Fr. Wild S.J., about O'Brien's background and that this was not an acceptable person to have at the university.
The faculty issues a full page ad in the local papers in Milwaukee and in Seattle saying that this is wrong. Marquette is killing academic freedom.
Others state that the Archbishop has no right to interfere with Marquette, since the school is run by the Jesuits and not the archdiocese. Along with the academic freedom crowd, there is now also the "we are not under the control of the Roman Catholic church" crowd.
Fr. Wild says the Archbishop did not tell him what to do.
It also comes to light that back in 2001 Marquette had offered the same position to another faculty member at Seattle University, who also was an author on gender and sexuality issues. That professor declined the position.
Finally, at the beginning of June, Marquette and Professor O'Brien reach a settlement.
There's the summary.
Here's my question before I start my rant on the Concordia University System.
Was Archbishop Listecki right to step in and talk to Fr. Wild about this hiring decision?
On to my rant . . .
How does this relate to the wonderful world of Lutheranism? Think of it this way. In a Lutheran version of this tale, Marquette would be more along the lines of Valparaiso. An independent college "with historic ties to Lutheranism." The LCMS tries to intercede and have a say as to what is going on, but it never really works out. Slightly different from the Marquette version, where the Archbishop has some influence.
For decades the LCMS has wasted time and money in the hopes of trying to make Valpo more "Lutheran". It just isn't going to happen. Instead of expending that effort to make Valpo more "Lutheran", why hasn't the LCMS tried make the Concordia University System more "Lutheran"? After all, does not the LCMS like to brag that they are the owners and operators of this school system? Yet they act more like absentee landlords.
Insert your favorite Concordia horror story here.
Instead, the schools of the Concordia University System have been left on their own to do what they see fit. There is more academic and religious freedom in the Concordia University System (excluding the seminaries) than most other denominations that run colleges and universities. (Again, insert your favorite Concordia horror story here.)
I know that there is a balancing act that a religious educational institution must perform in order to give their students a viable education, (also make money), yet at the same time hold to their religious heritage (and ownership?). I just haven't seen it throughout this system. I know that the LCMS as a church body has given up financial ownership. Last figure I heard, support from the LCMS to a Concordia amounted to about 1% of that Concordia's budget. I know that the Purple Palace will always be quick to claim any success that a Concordia has, and even quicker to try to distance themselves from a public failure or scandal at a Concordia. (Remember Dr. George Heider at Concordia, River Forest?) The LCMS loses their influence when they don't help to pay the bills. That gives the Concordias less incentive to abide by what the LCMS wants doctrinally. He who has the money, gets to call the tunes.
Either the LCMS should reorganize, maybe even close some of these Concordias, to better concentrate resources on these schools, or loosen their grip and let the Concordias have more control over their destinies. What I mean by "loosen their grip" is to allow the Concordias to appoint a portion of their own regents.
I'm just thinking out loud here. What do you think?
The problems with the Concordia University System and the Catholic universities are different, and complex, but you are right in suggesting that there are analogies to be drawn.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Catholic schools, such as Marquette, the bishops, generally, do have more authority than they usually are willing to exploit. Pope John Paul II's 1989 Apostolic Constitution, Ex Corde Eclessiae,
( http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_15081990_ex-corde-ecclesiae_en.html )
makes it clear that a bishop has the authority to step into some of these trouble situations in the schools that are within his diocese, notwithstanding a school being run by a religious order. This authority, I think, is still woefully underutilized.
In my time in Fort Wayne, I recall Bishop Darcy taking a courageous stand against the "Vagina Monologues" taking place on the campus of Notre Dame. But I do wonder if he could have done even more. These bishops, at their best, tend to walk a thin line, and to be sensitive to the politics of taking the paths that will be offensive to the least number of people. I cannot put myself in thier shoes; my role, then, is to try to put the best construction on their work, and to pray for them. Too often, however, it does become more than obvious that they have chosen to disregard their office. And we, those in the Body of Christ, must call them to account.
Lutheran schools do have their own problems. What can be done, for example, about the worship in the chapel? It would greatly help, one supposes, for the school to call a man of Confessional integrity to be the campus pastor/dean of chapel. If that were to happen, however, would he survive long with a board of regents that might decide he is not good for the bottom line and admission numbers?
Ah, good Deacon, you forget that the position of campus pastor at the undergrad Concordias is more of a "job", than it is a "call." You would need to have a strong, faithful, Lutheran president of a Concordia to support such a campus pastor. Remember that the campus pastor at a Concordia reports directly to the president of that Concordia, and that position is a contract, even though they say it is a call.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, O Exiled one. This contract situation is one of the fundamental problems with the campus pastorate of the Concordia University system, and why it is easier to find better Lutheran campus pastors on the public university campuses. My thought, however, is that even if this were to change, and, say, CUW out in Mequon, or RF (pardon me, I mean Concordia "Chicago") were to give a real Divine Call to a man, I wonder if the Board of Regents would put up with him being faithful to his calling, or if, like too often happens in the parish ministry, the calling entity decides to say, "We called you, so we can uncall you." Sounds cynical, but this is our system, and mentality. It requires prayer, and much work. (Yes, I'm a Lutheran who believes in good works.)
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