Excerpts from alumni letters in Davidson trustee debate
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, April 18, 2005
Before voting in February to change the Davidson College by-laws and Statement of Purpose, the administration of the liberal arts college received letters and e-mail from dozens of alumni – on both sides of the issue. Those letters were never distributed to the trustees individually before the vote.
The Layman Online received a copy of that correspondence, ranging from little more than yes or no to multiple-page letters. The arguments by those against the change generally called for Davidson College, which was established by Presbyterians in 1837, to remain planted in its Christian tradition. On the other hand, others argued that the school needs to embrace the idea that no single faith group has a lock on truth and that diversity is the better approach.
The following are brief excerpts from some of those letters:
AGAINST NON-CHRISTIAN TRUSTEES FOR NON-CHRISTIAN TRUSTEES“… it is one thing for the college to welcome those who do not share its commitment to the Christian faith, but nonetheless want to study and work there … It is quite another for the college to adjust its convictions in order to facilitate such students.””While a church related college ought to be willing to learn about (and even from) Buddhism or Islam, such openness cannot include the possibility that those visions of the Divine might somehow be preferred to that of the Christian faith.”
A.J. McKelway, ’54
Paul B . Freeland professor of religion emeritus “I strongly support the recommendation to the Davidson Trustees to remove the requirement that all trustees be active members of a Christian church … such action by the trustees would demonstrate a commitment to theological inquiry – so critical in a world where fundamentalists of Christian, Muslim and other faiths are using an unexamined theology to justify violence and hegemony.”
Molly Graver, ’91” … The college sells its Christian birthright for a mess of diversity.”
Dr. Brown W. Dennis
Atlanta, Ga. “While I think that 80% is still too high, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Well done, well done.”
Christopher Brantley. ’01
The writer said he has lived in China since his graduation from Davidson.“You cannot be 80 percent Christian or a little bit Christian. It is like being a little bit pregnant – either you are or you are not. Either Davidson will be committed to the Christian Faith, fully and completely, or it will not.”
Dr. Louis Williams
Midlothian, Va. “”I fully support the amendment that would permit the participation of persons who do not belong to a Christian Church. … At the same time, I am appalled by the recommendation [for an endowed chair] filled by a person specfically trained in the field of Reformed Theology. Davidson College is not a seminary! As a former professor of religion myself, I cannot imagine a college department of religion having an endowed professorship with that qualification. This sounds very much like some kind of sop to those who will undoubtedly oppose the revision to the trustee requirement.”
Darby Cannon III, ’60
Haddonfield, N.J.”The Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendations appear to lead the college towards a slippery-slope. They cause me to wonder, What is next in the dismantling of the college’s unique heritage and character?”
Augustus E. Succop III, ’75
Charlotte, N.C. “I have been lobbying for the lifting of the restriction that trustees need to be active members of a Christian church since I was a student at Davidson. … Not only did I find the previous restriction unfair towards my fellow alumni who were Jewish and other non-Christian religions, but being myself not currently a member of a church, this restriction meant I would either never be able to serve as a trustees, or would be encouraged to lie about my practices.”
Carl Siegfried, ’95″By deleting the requirement that board members be Christian not only are you bowing to the idol of apparent kindness and multi-diversity, you are doing so at the price of what makes Davidson unique.”
Dr. James R.M. Young, ’75 “”From my perspective, the revision does not go far enough. I would prefer not to see any requirement of religious affiliation for membership on the trustees totally removed. As a faculty member [University of Alabama], I spend a great deal of time working for intellectual (as well as racial, ethnic, gender, etc.) diversity … I have always found it ironic that the trustees tend to lag far behind the students and faculty on such matters.”
Jennings Bryant, ’67
Tuscaloosa, Ala.”On balance, it seems that the proposal … is simply a tilt toward universalism and loosening the ties to the Reformed Tradition.”
William M. Clark, ’50 “I’m writing to say I’m in favor of anything that distances Davidson from enforced religious involvement.”
Alec Morgan. ’63″This whole thing certainly undermines my commitment to Davidson and makes me question how I could continue to support the college going forward.”
James L. Moore Jr., ’64 “World peace, unobtainable today, can become a reality when all the religions of the world have fallen in step with this enlightened march toward religious accord.”
Robert M. Gallant, ’50″Christian values and principles are being eroded in many of our institutions across our great land and it is being done through similar liberal policies of ‘political correctness’ and accommodation such as you are considering for Davidson’s future.”
Marce M. Pearson, ’63
Denton, Texas “As an educator of 46 years and a headmaster [of an Episcopal school] who has sent thirty graduates to Davidson over the years, I say, ‘Better late than never!’ This is long overdue and will make Davidson a better place.”
David E. Wood, ’54
Jackson, Miss.” … the present recommendation for changes in trustee qualifications strikes at the very heart and soul of the foundation of Davidson College. This will be the beginning of the end of another great Presbyterian and Christian institution that has elected to become a purely secular institution of agnosticism supported by worldly materialism.”
Dr. Donald L. Copeland, MD
Cornelius, N.C. “I believe that the best way to rid the By-laws of bigotry is simply to remove the Christian restriction altogether while retaining the requirements for Presbyterians. This would ensure Presbyterians 24 votes out of 45 – a majority.”
Brian Tarr
Charlotte, N.C.”I found the Ad Hoc committee’s letter … to be an extremely disingenuous ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ when it suggests in paragraph three that the proposed revision somehow arises from the religious tradition that initially shaped Davidson.”
Tim Harden, ’80 “”I am one of the alumni who was disappointed in realizing that to be a member of the Trustees required that the person be a member of a Christian Church. … I am glad Davidson is addressing the issue. It is something that, generically, I have put much thought into over the last 10 years or so – so much so that I have just had a book published, The Reconciliation of Christ and Nietzsche.“
Charles T. Rowe, MD, ’64″”I am sick and tired of the way that Davidson’s administration and faculty seek to slavishly emulate the politically correct, anti-religious and trendiness of northeast liberal arts colleges.”
Thomas W. Grant. ’91 “Although several decades overdue, this is nonetheless a welcome change. My average financial support for Davidson will be increased if this revision is fully and successfully implemented.”
Robert Henry Moore, ’62
Vienna, Va.”There may well be many valid places in the world and on our campus for ‘inclusiveness,’ multi-culturalism, pluralism and political correctedness, but I do not believe this creeping liberalism should apply to the religious standards of our Trustees.”
G. Alex Bernhardt Sr., ’65 “Wonderful news, and certainly a step, albeit a rather small one, in the right direction, a change that spares us the embarrassment of being likened to Bob Jones University. (Fortunately, the national press, even after the college became one of the country’s top ten, never focused on the discriminatory policy.”
Dr. Joel Conarroe, ’56″In the years since my graduation I have watched with sadness and dismay while Davidson College has sold its birthright for a watery bowl of lintel soup … As Davidson has changed I have come to have a greater respect for Grove City College and Hillsdale and Hampden Sydney … They dare to live by their convictions. I am not sure Davidson has any conviction.”
George M. Walker, ’53″In the revised Purpose, I particularly like the phrase … “a God bound by no church or creed.” I believe that today there are too many people calling themselves Christian who believe they are seized of the only truth, and giving the rest of us a bad name. I am also pleased to see the emphasis on diversity, not that I had any doubts before.”
James E. Yarbrough Jr., ’59″Given my belief of the Bible having the corner on Truth, I disagree with the proposed revisions and do not support the implied directional shift of the College. Furthermore, if this shift occurs my sporadic giving will become very consistent in the form of more prayer for my beloved College and no money.”
Fess Crocket, ’81 “As an active Presbyterian, I agree that we will grow and strength our College by being open to those of all faiths, or no faith. I think the Christian church, as a whole, would be better served by adopting the same philosophy.”
Thomas M. Moore, MD, ’88