Notes Along the Way 4.3 Interviewing at IWU

Continued from here
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20. It's a sign of my privileged life that I immediately had access to a little money when I arrived in Brussels from Africa. I had booked the plane ticket to give me two days on the continent (three?) on my way back. Then I was supposed to meet with Bud Bence in Indiana before finally going back to Florida.

This was before cell phones. If you wanted to send an email abroad, you went to an internet cafe. AOL was riding high. Then there was this thing called writing letters.

Somehow, perhaps by actual letter, I had told David Fox and Rachel Leonard that I would be at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris at noon on something like April 2, 1997. If they could make it, great. If not, I like Paris.

So I landed in Brussels that morning. I rented a car, and tore off for Paris. By noon, I was there at the Arc de Triomphe. I had no phone to call. I had no clear path to email. I waited about an hour and figured they weren't coming. So, what should I do?

Why not drive to Tübingen? So, I got in the car and tore off west. No GPS of course. I don't think I even had a map. But I knew the general path, and there were these things called road signs. Just as it was getting dark, I had arrived. I wasn't exactly sure where Christoph Lorenz was living, but I remembered Reinhard Schmolz's house. Sure enough, he was home.

So I was able to meet up with them for an evening. That was nice. I was sure to have a Doner Kebap and a Currywurst. And I think I spent the night at Reinhard's house.

That might have been it. I may actually have had to head back the next day. Such was the 30 year old Ken. 

I decided to drive back through Luxembourg, just to be able to say I'd been there. It was a long day. At a rest park, a man asked for a ride. Since I was still in the "Ken can't say no stage of my life," I gave him a ride, despite my incredible fears of doing so.

We conversed in German for a good twenty minutes before we finally realized that neither of us was actually German. I think he was Danish. In any case, I was glad when I let him off wherever.

21. Bud Bence had contacted me before I left for Africa, and we had set up a meeting. When my plane landed from Brussels in Indy, I would drive up to Elwood and meet him at a Jim Dandy's there (it's gone now). 

There was an open New Testament position at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU). Bud was understandably cautious about me. I had studied with James Dunn. He had undergone significant trouble at Houghton College because of a Dunn student, David Meade. Under pressure from the denomination and president, he had let David Meade go. Then, when the faculty had their chance, they dispatched him.

Mind you, IWU celebrated him for his decades there, but Bud once told me that he bled Houghton, so the scar was real.

Bud later told me that it was ironic that he turned out to think more freely than I do. He actually apologized to me for his suspicions of me back at that Jim Dandy. In any case, I must have reassured him enough in Elwood for him to approve of me coming to the campus for an interview.

22. I don't think it was too much longer thereafter that I had my interview. I met Keith Drury and Steve Lennox for the first time. Jim Lo, Keith Springer, the older David Smith (not the one we know today). I don't think Wilbur Williams participated in the interview. Nor did Joe Seaborn. He was leaving the faculty to become the pastor of College Wesleyan.

I gave a classroom presentation based on Bruce Malina's Portraits of Paul, which I had recently read. There were still students around, so it must have been later that month in April. 

Ancient identity was based on gender, genealogy, and geography. I remember Bud asking what a woman did to convert to Judaism, since circumcision obviously wasn't involved. I think I said she would likely be attached to a man, so that would likely mark her transition, but that of course there were the food laws and purity rules. I don't think I knew much about Joseph and Asenath at that time.

23. My interview proper was at Hostess House. I don't think very well on the spot, so it's always a bit nerve wracking. I think best in writing. If I know I'm going to have a high pressure conversation, I rehearse it over and over out loud. Of course, in person conversations are much less predictable than the ones you have to yourself.

I can't remember if Bud asked me his classic "Robert Frost lover's quarrel with the church" question. I mainly remember the two questions Keith Drury asked. First, he more or less asked if I was gay. He said something like, "We have to ask. You're 30 years old and single." 

That was an easy one. I had only dated a little up to that point. Two serious girlfriends. I was painfully shy when it came to women, and the cuter the woman, the harder it was for me to talk to them. And I was a dreamer. I wanted a love story.

A funny story that year. A minister took me to a Hooters. I thought it was incredibly odd. What was he thinking? I thought he might have a problem. But as I thought about it a few years later, I wondered if he was looking for my reaction. People are funny.

The other question Keith asked was equally frank. He pointed out that the Religion Division at that point was entirely male. But there were many female ministry students, and the Wesleyans certainly said that they believed in women in ministry. 

Then came the question. If you have two equally qualified candidates for a department like this one, one is a guy and the other is a woman, who would you hire. I said I would hire the woman.

24. And they did. I suppose that explains what Joe Seaborn said to me from his dark office before I left. It was something like, "I'm rooting for you." But it had a sullen tone to it. I've been in enough searches since then to know this vibe. You can feel it, often accompanied by long silence.

As part of the interview, I also met with Paul Collard, the VPAA. And I met President Barnes. I only remember one question he asked. He said, "Now your father has questions about certain fundraising techniques we use?"

I smiled because I immediately knew the culprit. "That would be my Uncle Eugene," I said. I believe he was actually a Marion College alumnus. My father would never write to someone like President Barnes about something like that.

25. Well I also remember a dinner time back in Fort Lauderdale when I later got a phone call from Bud Bence. Duane Thompson, the philosophy professor, was retiring. They had a one year slot for someone to teach philosophy. No promises of anything after that. Was I interested?

Of course I was interested! I surely didn't want to substitute teach another year.

Bud's emphasis on the "only one year" betrayed his ongoing fears that I would blow something up. That whole first year, he more than once put a job opening advertisement on my chair. I imagine some might also have had questions about philosophy. Sometimes philosophy has an uneasy place at a Christian college. Might they even been thinking about removing it from the gen eds?

Nevertheless, I loved the subject, and I would love teaching philosophy. In the fall of 1997, I would begin teaching at Indiana Wesleyan University.

The Passing of David Riggs

We are deeply shocked and saddened at the unexpected passing of Dr. David Riggs of Indiana Wesleyan University today. I do not know the full details, but his trip to church Sunday morning apparently became a trip to the hospital followed by unexpected medical events. We grieve with his dear family and mourn a life that should have flourished for decades more.

David came to IWU not long after I did. The Honors College had only just started. There is no question that he made it into the national success it has become. Over the years he brought scholars of the highest quality to teach for the HC, many of them at the very beginning of what have become stellar careers. He brought a regular string of world-class scholars to speak on campus. In some respects, David should get a good deal of the credit for Indiana Wesleyan becoming a place of high scholarship. Some of the brightest alumni/ae that IWU has would not have come to IWU if it weren't for David.

I received a Facebook message from David a little over a week ago. Apparently, we had both been mentioned by a former student as "leftists" who had infiltrated the Wesleyan tradition. We had a good electronic chuckle at the absurdity. He asked me when the next meeting of the leftist Wesleyans was so that he could be sure he was sticking to the agenda. I suggested we might schedule the next meeting of the secret society on a beach somewhere.

David was extremely principled. He was a fearless warrior for orthodoxy. When I told my mother of a friend's passing, she asked if he was right with the Lord. I answered without hesitation. David was a fully and fiercely devoted follower of Jesus Christ. If at any time he was involved in controversy, rest assured everything he said and did came from a fervency for Jesus Christ and the truth.

I taught Honors New Testament for him several years before the HC created its own unique integrated curriculum. He was always a champion for me to teach Latin in the School of Theology. His doctoral work was in North African Christianity. He also did some great work with Chris Bounds on the concept of grace in early Christianity. Like Wesley, he brought organization with his enthusiasm, and it has paid off over the years for IWU.

Our differences will ever bring a smile to my face. I think he used to be surprised at them because we liked so many of the same things. I used to lead worship for a "Liturgical Service" that he often attended. It was important for him to partake of the Eucharist every week. But our investment in the service was different. I thought it was valid and should be an option. He leaned more toward it being the best option. I thought infant baptism was preferable and should be an option. I think he thought it should be the option.

I am a pragmatist. I considered him an idealist. He loved Augustine. I am more shaped by Wittgenstein. He had the flavor of the phenomenologists and the post-liberals who relied more on faith than reason. I'm more of an analytic philosopher and a critical realist. He was no fan of online education and emphasized learning in a physical community. I think online is destined to predominate, whatever we might think the ideal is.

A few weeks ago, I tweeted that we had reached a turning point where textbooks would increasingly be replaced by interactive media. He responded on Twitter: "C’mon. There’s no doubt a place for multimedia, but books remain fundamental to genuinely formative education."

I have other IWU stories about David that I'll keep to myself. Let me simply say that I am deeply grieving the loss of such a great and godly man when he had so much more to give the church and the academy. And dare I say, I grieve the loss of a dear old friend. May God give peace to his family and to generations of the Honors College community.

Philosophy for Secular University Students!

Are you a student at IU or Purdue? Ball State? Some other college?

Are you a high school student, a junior or senior looking to get some college credit before you even go to college? Are you at a Christian high school like Lakeview or Heritage Christian? Are you home schooled?

Are you a minister in training who wants to knock off an ordination requirement and actually get transcripted credit for it?

2. By the end of the Thanksgiving Break (November 28), we need to decide whether to offer an online philosophy class just for you in the spring (January 9 through April 27). So you need to act now if you are interested. In many cases, you can actually use your financial aid at your university toward this course. IWU has agreements with the other colleges of Indiana.

This is a 14 week course taught by Scott Burson, probably IWU's best online teacher on the residential campus. Most colleges require a course in philosophy. Why not take it from someone who actually believes in God?! It's a "God is NOT dead" philosophy course. Then just transfer it back into the school you're at.

To register, click on the following link: IWU Philosophy

Also, feel free to email me (ken.schenck@indwes.edu) or Scott (scott.burson@indwes.edu) for any questions. It's a steal compared to most college tuitions ($345 a credit hour) and very competitive as far as high school students ($150 a credit hour).

Philosophy is the study of topics like 1) right and wrong, 2) why is there evil and suffering, 3) arguments for God's existence, 4) do I have free will, 5) what's the best way to govern society, 6) how do I know that I know what I know, 7) what is real, and more.

Register (or at least tell us you plan to) today!

Governor Mike Pence gives IWU commencement address

Governor Mike Pence at IWU

It is an honor to have a sitting governor speak at a university graduation, whether you agree with his or her politics. Today, IWU was honored to have Governor Mike Pence speak at our commencement. It was a very worshipful and enthusiastic service, truly memorable in a number of respects.

For example, Wilbur Williams was given the (not often given) World Changing Faculty award, as he begins his 50th year of teaching in the fall. Chris Bounds was voted Professor of the Year. He was sadly out of town because of the passing of his father last Friday. We are sad that he is going to do mission work down at Asbury College next year (I give him three years before he comes back ;-).

The music was exceptionally worshipful today. I am also convinced that Gov. Pence's faith is genuine, even if there are some areas where we would live out our faith differently. As is often the case, it is harder to vilify a person you know than someone who merely represents ideas or decisions you don't like.

Those who have been listening to hecklers should know that IWU, like any university worth its mettle, is a place where some think Gov. Pence is an angel and others think he is a devil. The standing ovation he received suggests that most respect him (you can see the ceremony on CSPAN). Even those who don't like some of his politics honored him by standing.

It should be clear from today that IWU is a conservative-leaning school that nevertheless has a broad constituency and indeed everyone is welcome. In the end, it's about the pursuit of truth in the context of faith, not about indoctrination in a particular ideology.

IWU Friday Night Live Flashback tonight

Hoping to be able to go to the IWU FNL flashback tonight at 8:45 for homecoming. For a couple years, I did "Deep Christian Thoughts by Ken Schenck" fairly regularly, often with the help of Dan Steller and Dave Wingfield. I dug up a few old ones:

• As I walked through the valley of the shadow of death, I thought, better run.
• If you ever asked me who my favorite disciple was, you might think I’d say Peter. But you’d be wrong. It’s Abraham.
• Everyone knows Jacob put hair on his arms to be like Esau, but few know about the fake mustache his mother made him wear.
• Sometimes pastors are silly, like when my pastor took that hypnosis course. And all 5000 of us remind him about it every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and on the Wednesday night service when we give 30% of our income to the church.
• I think the last one I ever did was a "hip hop" translation of John 3:16....................

President Wright Looking at Year Three

In his post today, President Wright tackles the question of what he sees as his focus in his third year. Read it here: "Third Year Questions: Focus for Year Three."

President Wright Looking Back

Today Dr. Wright gave some thought on his presidential blog to this question: "You are now beginning your third year as President of IWU. How would you characterize the first two years of your presidency and what would you say will be your focus in this third year?"

See his answer here, "The Stuff Presidents Watch."

Post any questions you have on his blog!

President Wright's Third Year Questions

I had coffee with Dr. David Wright the other day. He is now beginning his third year as President of Indiana Wesleyan University. Many will know that both of his godly parents went to be with the Lord in about the space of about a month, first his mother and then his father last week. It's a reminder to us all that we have to take up the mantle of prayer and example that their generation wore so well.

I was thinking back to when Jim Barnes and Henry Smith were President, and it seemed at times like their world was sometimes far removed from the day to day life of the residential campus. In the case of David, I know he has been pioneering a trail in the South Pacific, making possible global connections for IWU as a fully international university.

The thought emerged for him to blog through some questions about the beginning of his third year. I came up with some questions Monday night and sent them to him. He's decided to take them on at his presidential blog, which you might notice shows up in my feed to the right from time to time.

Here is his first post, which includes the questions I sent him. I'm looking forward to hearing his thoughts at the start of his third year! You can also ask him questions!

Some Thoughts on Sexual Discrimination

Christian colleges and organizations are keenly aware that the situation in America on the topic of sexual discrimination is changing rapidly. Just a few weeks ago, a presidential order indicated that government contracts would not be awarded to organizations that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. President Wright and IWU's board are very carefully reflecting on what these changes might mean for the future of IWU, as we heard at today's Town Hall meeting.

I have some thoughts, which are no doubt extremely controversial on both ends of the spectrum and much to be disputed. But I want to suggest that, strictly speaking, a Christian university like Indiana Wesleyan does not currently discriminate against applicants for positions who might be homosexual in orientation. The question, from the religious point of view of a church such as The Wesleyan Church, is an issue of sexual practice, not of sexual orientation.

[It will be no doubt be objected that the two cannot be distinguished, but that is the religious point of view of IWU's parent denomination]

On the one hand, I have frankly never understood a hair dresser or a photographer that would refuse to serve a gay customer. I can't see any basis in American law to refuse such a customer, and such Christians probably don't have a very good understanding of Christian theology either. Jesus would have served them. Don't try to hide behind Christianity for these sorts of things.

And I'm not sure why a Christian university needs to have a moral clause against hiring a janitor who is a practicing gay individual. Why would a Christian university need to prohibit hiring someone in the cafeteria who was a practicing homosexual? Even Paul suggested that it was not the Christian's job to force those outside the church to conform to the church's sexual expectations (1 Cor. 5:12).

At the current time, I believe that IWU would hire a professor who was gay and celibate. I realize that many of my gay friends would still consider this approach to be discriminatory. However, it can at least be argued philosophically that the gay person him or herself is not being differentiated but a certain kind of sexual activity. Non-married heterosexual individuals are expected to be celibate as well. Married individuals are expected not to have sex with anyone but his or her spouse. You can lose your job at IWU for having an affair.

What I am saying is that a Christian university such as IWU has a set of sexual expectations for its faculty and administration that are broader than homosexual expression and should be distinguished from homosexual orientation. These are a matter of certain religious beliefs about sexual practice that can be distinguished philosophically from a person's orientation in itself.

I realize that will not be the end of the story and perhaps a compelling argument to the contrary can be made. No doubt in the days to come Christians will be forced to think through this issue from beginning to end all over again. What did these seven or eight verses mean originally? How do we apply them to today? We will be asked hermeneutical questions we may have managed to avoid up to this point.

Ready or not, these are the discussions we are going to be having in Christian higher education and in the church. And it's not just a question of whether a Democrat or Republican is in power. The Indiana legislature is as Republican as they come and, because of this very issue, has questioned whether IWU students in a certain teacher program should get government funding. There are a lot of conservative Republicans in Washington who fully support the current trajectory.

Prepare thyself.