Comments on: Harding and Christianity Today

By: alex

alex — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:55:44 +0000

Excellent point PuxicoMo and Brett. What a travesty that the tax revenue from millions of GLBT individuals is directed towards schools such as Harding that would never admit homosexuals. If the school wants to continue its policy of discrimination then it certainly has a right to do so, but it should do so on its own dime (ie, without any federal funding).

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:07:03 +0000

PuxicoMo’s comment brings to mind a bit of Harding lore…one of the buildings on campus, I can only remember it as the Bible building (in it I took the class “The Christian Home” with Dr. Allan Isom), has a Bible verse in relief on the front of the building. Someone once told me that they had to refuse federal funds for the building of that edifice, just so that they could have the verse on the front of the building. True???

By: Louis

Louis — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:40:11 +0000

Looks like Harding has put out the advertising blitz. Their ad was also in a recent issue of World Magazine. I was excited to see it because there are always several ads for Christian universities, but I’ve never seen any from the CoC schools until now. I was suprised (and excited) to see HU’s ad because I thought I would see an ACU or Pepperdine ad in there first. I’m an ACU grad and would love to see them advertise in World, a weekly news magazine with a Christian view - a great alternative to the other well-known weekly news magazines.

By: Brett Keller

Brett Keller — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:06:09 +0000

PuxicoMo,
I don’t think that’s it. As ses said, nothing has really changed on that one in recent times. Also, Harding reserves the right to discriminate in hiring (on religion, gender for the bible department, sexual orientation, etc.) and probably wouldn’t offer equal admissions to an open homosexual, or any other group that violates its conduct code. So the idea that Harding has had to switch to federal standards on discrimination because of funding is probably not the right story.

By: ses

ses — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:24:26 +0000

PuxicoMo - Nothing new there, at least since 1963.

By: PuxicoMo

PuxicoMo — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:22:36 +0000

Could it very well be that Harding has accepted federal funding for programs or projects, which requires that it not discriminate in any way–i.e., open to all students regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, or handicapped status? Or that students who apply for and receive financial aid from the government are admitted regardless of their religious background/beliefs? Just wondering.

By: Steve Jr.

Steve Jr. — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:34:46 +0000

So true, Joel.

By: Joel Maners

Joel Maners — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 06:31:14 +0000

What’s going to be interesting in the next several years is to see where this broader base of students leads schools like Harding. As you accept more and more students with non-COC backgrounds, they obviously make up a larger portion of the student population. As theygraduate, they are targeted by development offices for donations. As they donate more and more money to these COC institutions, they will want a greater voice in leadership positions. You see where this is going. Belmont University is dealing with this issue now with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. I wonder if the COC admonistrators are really willing to follow this strategy to where it eventually leads. In other words are we really ready to live out the reality of “Christians only but not the only Christians”?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 03:43:56 +0000

There is an ad in CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) magazine -def not a cappella, haha- and some others that present similar ideas.

I’m glad!

By: julie

julie — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 13:54:11 +0000

Leland, 1983…man, that bow thing lasted a long time.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:10:20 +0000

Michael C., I loved reading your comment up there. Our church is entering an interim time of searching for a new preacher. Jim Woodroof is set to come to Tennessee in that RV of his and set up residence here for awhile. I can’t wait to hear from him.

As Jim met with our leaders a few weeks ago he told us he plans to preach Christ and love: “What more could you need?” I know he will bring wisdom and experience to help us navigate the changes as well.

I’m glad to hear your transition time was blessed and that you have a new preacher in place. And an ACU MDiv-er at that!

By: Leland

Leland — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:24:45 +0000

Julie,

Graduated in 1990.

By: reJoyce

reJoyce — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 16:27:36 +0000

I too was at ACU during the “hair bow” days. Thankfully, they weren’t on my head.

By: Steve Sr.

Steve Sr. — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 16:21:25 +0000

Terry Smith ties several threads of this blog together. I was a student at Memphis State in the early 70s when Terry was the campus minister at the Christian Student Center. Before I met Terry, I was a raging alcoholic with morals…well, let’s say, few morals. Over several monthis, Terry and I met together to talk about, what else, Jesus. In February ‘73, God’s Spirit was poured out on me when I was baptized by Terry. I have grown in love with Jesus more and more every day since.

Terry had an amazing way with students then and still draws the best out of evereyone who has the blessing of encountering him (wonder where he learned that?).

I have often taken a mental count of students who were influenced by Terry through the CSC in the 70s. Many went on to become missionaries (me included), Chrisitan counselors, etc; others moved on the secular vocations where they saw their job only as a means to an end…the end being to serve fellow man and point them to the Savior. Note that this influencing was done on a non-Christian (in the fullest sense of the phrase) campus. IMHO it’s the not the venue (Christian campus versus secular), but the people students encounter along the way that spells the difference. Having said that, I am very grateful that our two sons attend(ed) ACU, where they encountered men and women like Terry and Charlotte Smith who loved them and directed their hearts and minds toward God and his Son. With the right influences, that could have happened any where.

By: julie

julie — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 16:15:04 +0000

Leland, when were you at ACU? I was also there during the big bow days. I didn’t wear them…I was more the overalls and t-shirt girl but my Siggie sisters were famous for their big bows. Such a funny memory.