Need a Mennonite name?
by Rich Preheim, Elkhart, Ind.
Religious beliefs are an essential criterion in evaluating any candidate for leadership in a church institution. But I am disturbed by the insinuations of Karla Morton's letter (August) lamenting that the announcement of Bethel College's new president did not include any description of his church involvements. Religious resumés have not been standard in news reports of new college presidents—and that apparently has never generated concerns such as Morton's. So why is Perry White suspect?
Is his faith open to question because he doesn't have a 'Mennonite" last name? If so, that is an extraordinarily offensive reason. The church has been
greatly blessed by people named Guyton, Hinojosa, Risingsun, Teng, even Morton, as well as others who are not of some idealized and idolized ethnicity. Furthermore, even having a "Mennonite" last name doesn't necessarily mean having Mennonite beliefs.
Is it because White's academic career has been in schools that are not Mennonite-affiliated? There are countless Mennonites working in colleges and universities of other denominations. There are also countless people in other denominations who may not be members of a Mennonite congregation but have beliefs fully compatible with ours.
Does Morton believe the Bethel board ignored White's faith in selecting him as president? I'm an undeniable and unrepentant "glass half-empty" person, and even I'm not so cynical to think that the school would pick a leader whose beliefs are inappropriate for a Mennonite college. Assuming White's religious beliefs fit with Bethel, I'm
delighted that the board was courageous enough to look beyond church membership for the candidate with the best qualifications to meet the specific challenges facing the school.
Associated Article: News alert: Perry D. White is Bethel College's new president
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