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Friday, Feb. 14, 2003
From staff reports
The faculty and staff at Mars Hill College will not have to sign the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) or any other such statement, the school trustees decided.
The Mars Hill trustees voted unanimously Jan. 31 that "no statement of faith is, or will be, required of staff, faculty, or students," according to a statement released by Fred W. Pittillo, chairman of the board of trustees.
George Peery, professor of political science and chair of the faculty, welcomed the news. "Given the climate that has prevailed on this campus in the last several years, I count this resolution very significant, essential for the continued academic integrity of this college," Peery said in an e-mail to the faculty. "This is truly good news.''
As a qualifier, the school's trustees said they require strict adherence to the college's mission statement.
"The values and mission of Mars Hill College must be upheld," Pittillo said.
He said the mission statement "is inclusive of all people and excludes no one from the benefits of participation in a community founded on Christian beliefs."
The school's mission statement says, "Mars Hill College, an academic community rooted in the Christian faith, challenges and equips students to pursue intellectual, spiritual and personal growth that is:
Pittillo said that "in view of the major transition currently under way at Mars Hill College, the board of trustees reaffirms this inclusive mission statement and affirms its understanding and belief that Mars Hill College is not a church, but an academic community based on Christian values and affiliated with the North Carolina Baptist Convention."
The trustees' decision comes as the college seeks a new president. The search firm, RPA of Pennsylvania, reportedly told the trustees that several candidates for the position wanted to know if Mars Hill had any statement of faith like the BF&M that it required its faculty, staff, and/or students to sign. Whether the candidates were in favor of or opposed to such statements was not made clear. The trustees decided to clarify their position by voting unanimously to not require the signing of such a document.
The BF&M's revision in 2000 drew criticism from some who said it de-emphasized Jesus and over-emphasized the Bible, infringed on local church autonomy and made it difficult for women to answer the call to ministry. Supporters say the changes made the statement more biblical and more closely aligned with Southern Baptist beliefs.
The employees of most Southern Baptist institutions and agencies have to agree with the statement. Critics say this effectively makes the confessional statement a creed.
(EDITOR'S NOTE - Derek Hodges contributed to this report. Hodges is editor of The Hilltop, the student newspaper at Mars Hill.)
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