On Feb. 26, five Wheaton College professors of biblical and theological (BITH) studies hosted a town hall for students, where they responded to recent criticism from alumni on the department’s teachings.
The participating professors said they wanted to create an opportunity for concerned students to raise questions and seek the truth.
“It’s really important that students are able to trust their faculty,” Keith Johnson, professor of theology and department chair, said.
The event followed almost three weeks after Wheaton College posted and subsequently removed a congratulatory social media message to Russell Vought ’98 for his appointment as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Both decisions incited backlash from alumni, donors and community members, inspiring two open letters, social media posts and opinion articles criticizing Wheaton.
One of the letters, “For Wheaton,” accuses the college of bowing to progressive culture in ideology and teachings on campus, including in the BITH department.
Since some of the controversy implicated BITH faculty members, Johnson and several professors decided to host a town hall to address the accusations directly. In addition to Johnson, the panelists included George Kalantzis, professor of theology; Amy Peeler, professor of New Testament; Vincent Bacote, professor of theology; and Esau McCaulley, professor of New Testament and theology.
The panel lasted from 3:45-5 p.m. and attracted over 100 students, faculty and college staff.
President Ryken addressed the recent criticisms with faculty and staff in a Feb. 24 email, but the BITH town hall was the first formal event regarding the controversy to involve students.
The first student to raise his hand, senior BITH major Rome Williams, asked about the accusations the faculty had received. Johnson, Kalantzis and Peeler responded.
Johnson, who was criticized in a First Things opinion article by Daniel Davis ‘14 for assigning feminist and liberation theology readings, said he was “guilty as charged.” He explained that he models discussion of challenging texts in class so that students can learn to think critically about different theological perspectives.
In the same First Things essay, Davis wrote that Kalantzis “touts universal salvation as a valid viewpoint.” Kalantzis refuted the claim, describing it as a misinterpretation of his lectures on ancient theologians such as Origen and St. Athanasius.
Peeler, whose expertise is in New Testament theology of gender, also rejected claims about department teachings. Although not mentioning any professors by name, the “For Wheaton” letter stated that faculty advocated for calling God “Mother.”
“That is the precise opposite of what I say,” Peeler said. “My work focuses on God as Father; I think that is the most inclusive way of speaking of our God, because naming God as Father recalls the Incarnation and the place that God made for salvation to happen through the body and the care of a woman.”
The professors emphasized the rigorous screening process they passed before teaching at Wheaton. All BITH faculty candidates must endure multiple rounds of theological essays and interviews about their specific beliefs, including on controversial issues, they said. In addition, they must reaffirm the college’s Statement of Faith annually.
David Lauber, dean of humanities and biblical studies, was unable to attend the event but expressed support for the involved faculty in an interview with the Record.
“People who are criticized — either directly or by implication — are real people,” he said. “If you were to talk to them, you might still walk away with disagreements about various things, but their Christian commitment would be so evident to you.”
Several questions addressed academic freedom in BITH classes. One student asked whether the panelists see a political or theological bias in the department, and another asked about the denominational variety among faculty.
In response, the panelists again referred to the recruitment process for new faculty. Rather than asking about candidates’ church denomination or political party, hiring committees focus on the strength and quality of their scholarship, character and other qualifications. “It’s not really the ethos of our department to police what people’s political positions are,” Bacote said.
Hannah Lape, a senior political science major, described receiving criticism for her complementarian position on gender roles in the church. She asked “ what the BITH Department’s commitment is to making sure complementarian students, and specifically complementarian women, are valued in theological discussions.”
Peeler responded by saying that God has given all people agency to make decisions about their beliefs. She stated her commitment to honoring that agency and encouraging students to work toward their own conclusions.
The panelists expressed their desire for students to experience their classrooms as safe places to learn and think deeply about complex topics. “We’re not perfect for sure, nor do we pretend to be, but I do think seeking to be faithful Christians who are good to be with and to study with,” Johnson said.
Throughout much of the event, the professors gave lighthearted and relatable responses. But the tone grew more somber at the end after Addison Ream, a senior BITH major and Johnson’s research assistant, asked how the controversy has affected faculty personally.
“In the department, what I’ve sensed is deep sadness,” Johnson, tearing up, told the audience. “It’s really hard to feel like you’ve been unfairly represented … we love our students; we love this place, and we are genuinely trying to live faithfully.”
Karlie Anderson, a sophomore nursing major who knew little about the controversy before attending, felt most impacted by their vulnerability. “Listening to how hard it is to be a professor in such a public space was really eye-opening and humbling,” she said after attending the event. “I’m encouraged that the professors’ response was to talk to us about what was going on.”
In parting, the professors charged students to consider how they would respond to criticism as potential future leaders in challenging times. “If you’re going to be a leader, get ready. It’s not the only thing about being a leader, but it comes with the territory,” Bacote said.
Following the event, Johnson shared his hopes that the controversy would ultimately cause the Wheaton community to grow stronger in unity.
“Communities are always imperfect,” Johnson said. “People often have misunderstandings, or they see things in different ways, and part of the Christian life is learning to live together through these moments — and to not let them break you apart.”
