GS 2007 art 130

GS 2007 Article 130 – Board of Governors re a fifth professor

  • The advisory committee presented its second proposal. It was moved and seconded to replace in Consideration 4.3 the words:
    • It is even questionable if it is the task of a professor to publish and this should therefore not be an argument to appoint a fifth professor.
  • with:
    • It is even questionable if it is the task of a professor to publish and this should be substantiated first before basing a proposal on it. The amendment was defeated.
  • It was moved and seconded to delete in Consideration 4.3 the words:
    • It is even questionable if it is the task of a professor to publish and this should therefore not be an argument to appoint a fifth professor. The amendment was defeated.
  • It was moved and seconded to delete Consideration 4.3:
    • The report gives no clear indication that there will be a mechanism in place to supervise, let alone implement, the promotion of writing by the professors. This recommendation has the appearance of reinforcing the need for a fifth professor but in effect provides no benefit from that appointment.
    • It is even questionable if it is the task of a professor to publish and this should therefore not be an argument to appoint a fifth professor.
  • This amendment carried.
  • The brothers Nederveen, Nordeman, Schouten and VanWoudenberg abstained from voting because they are Governors of the Theological College.
  • The amended proposal was adopted as follows:

1.      Material

  • 1.1     Board of Governors’ Report re a fifth professor at the Theological College
  • 1.2-14  Letters from the following thirteen churches:
  • Hamilton, Smithers, Carman West, Chilliwack, Attercliffe, Carman East, Fergus Maranatha, Orangeville, Fergus North, Flamborough, Winnipeg Redeemer, Burlington-Waterdown, Burlington-South

2.      Admissibility

  • 2.1     Synod decides to declare this proposal admissible.
  • 2.2     Although synod acknowledges with the church at Fergus North that this proposal was not submitted six months prior to the convening of synod, the reaction of so many churches to this proposal shows that it was possible to interact with this proposal.

3.      Observations

  • 3.1     The Board of Governors recommends in its report regarding a fifth professor at the Theological College:
    • 3.1.1    To approve the establishment of a fifth professorate. This professor will function as a professor of Biblical and Theological Studies.
    • 3.1.2    Charge the Board to submit a recommendation for an appointment to Synod 2010.
    • 3.1.3    Mandate the Board to investigate the feasibility of starting a Master of Theology program.
    • 3.1.4    Require the Board to include in its triennial report the current status of publications and writings by the professors.
  • 3.2     Hamilton endorses the recommendation to appoint a fifth professor and asks synod to have the Board of Governors clarify the research and publication expectations for the faculty members.
  • 3.3     Smithers endorses the recommendation to establish a fifth professor for the Theological College, on the condition that the professors will publish books and writings in their particular field of expertise on a regular basis. Smithers considers it desirable to begin a course on Apologetics.
  • 3.4     Carman West is glad to see a proposal to increase the number of professors at the Theological College and would like the churches to receive more details regarding for instance what other seminaries expect of their professors in regard to matters as ecclesiastical responsibilities, research and publications next to their teaching load.
  • 3.5     Chilliwack is in favour of hiring a fifth professor and suggests that it be financed by increasing the tuition fees. In that way the fees would be more consistent with other Theological Colleges.
  • 3.6     Attercliffe would like to see more opportunity for input from the churches in the case of the appointment of a new professor.
  • 3.7     Carman East finds the reason for a fifth professor quite weak. The professors were all appointed with the current workload in mind. Carman East finds a more meaningful argument in encouraging the professors to “research, write, and produce publications that will serve both the present and future generations.”
  • 3.8     Fergus Maranatha is not opposed to the proposal if the workload of the professors makes it necessary, but the church has difficulties with the information given by the Board of Governors. This information does not give clear evidence that the workload needs the appointment of a fifth professor.
  • 3.9     Orangeville is not averse to proceeding in the direction of a fifth professor, but draws the attention of synod to the fact that our College seems to be unique in that it has a four-year program for the Master of Divinity degree. Orangeville suggests that synod consider to reevaluate the program to see if matters could be streamlined.
  • 3.10   Fergus North believes that synod should declare this report inadmissible, because it was not submitted six months before the convening of synod.
  • 3.11   Flamborough requests synod not to adopt the recommendations of the Board of Governors regarding the establishment and future appointment of a fifth professor. The grounds of Flamborough for this are, that the churches did not have enough time to study this proposal within the wider context of the place and role of the Theological College in the future, and it would be premature to make far reaching decisions with implications for the future of the College, as long as it is not clear what the decisions of both the CanRC synod and the URCNA synod are going to be concerning Theological Education.
  • 3.12   Winnipeg Redeemer asks synod to deny the request of the Board of Governors to add a fifth professor to the staff of the Theological College at this time. Winnipeg explains that there are no signs that the overall workload has increased or that the students do not receive proper training. Neither does the proposal mention any requests from the churches. The addition of a fifth professor also results in the loss of an active minister.
  • 3.13   Burlington-Waterdown gives concerns and positives for a fifth professor and is in favour of this proposal. Concerns are the increase of vacancy rate, the possible redundancy of this position in case of unity with the URCNA, the question how the professor/student ratio compares to other colleges of comparable size and the question after how long a fifth professor would be offered tenure. The positive is that this would move towards the fulfilling of the opportunity to offer a Master of Theology program by the college.
  • 3.14   Burlington-South expresses its preference to maintain the current complement of full time faculty and supplement this with lecturers as required. This, given the relatively small student body and the ongoing discussion with the URCNA.

4.      Considerations

  • 4.1     It would be better if the justification for an appointment were not recommended from within a department or school but from an external assessment. The recommendations from the Board of Governors do not have the required distance to give the sense of an objective recommendation.
  • 4.2     The recommendation to investigate a possible M.Th. program is weak insofar as it seems to justify the recommendation for a fifth professor, but may not result in any real action or benefit for the churches.
  • 4.3     The point raised by some churches that the appointment of a fifth professor would mean an increase of the number of vacancies for ministers is also something that should be taken into account.
  • 4.4     Attercliffe raises a valid point when it requests synod to consider input from the federation of churches when appointing a new professor.
  • 4.5     Synod Smithers 2007 appreciates the work done by the professors.

5.      Recommendation

Synod decide:

  • 5.1     Not to agree with the recommendation of the Board of Governors to add a fifth professor as suggested in their proposal.
  • 5.2     To mandate the Board of Governors, for the future well being and benefit of the Theological College, to take note of the observations and considerations as listed above.
  • 5.3     To mandate the Board of Governors to initiate a full and independent review that considers all aspects related to the work of the College and that this review and its recommendations be presented to General Synod 2010.
  • 5.4     To mandate the Board of Governors to consider alternate options for the delivery of programs (for example appointment of part time lecturers) if the need arises.
  • 5.5     To mandate the Board of Governors to initiate a full review of the expectations of faculty. This includes teaching assignments, service to the churches, and programs of research.
  • 5.6     To mandate the Board of Governors to review the appointment procedure for faculty members to insure transparency within the generally accepted academic appointment process. This review should include the possibility of appointing an academic search committee and a short list of candidates to be presented to the churches.

ADOPTED

The brothers Nederveen, Nordeman, Schouten and VanWoudenberg abstained from voting because they are Governors of the Theological College.