An Unbearable Yoke Revisited
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Duer [SMTP:wahoo6@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 8:39 PM
To: estorie@royal.net
Subject: NWC Column
Thank you for your time and great thoughts that gave a reason for this
article. I hope it inspired students to find out the reason for
their lifestyle. I have already had one fellow student borrow the treatise
from me to use as a basis for discussion in his class, so your work lives
on. :)
Well, it's been printed and here's a copy. Let me know if you didn't get
it.
Thanks, enjoy your studies and your family.
Deborah Duer
_________________________________________________________________
Deborah Duer
Staff Writer
"For the sake of clarity, I do not wish to be misunderstood as judgmental
or labeled arrogantly rebellious because of the propositions made in this
critique. I am not attempting to slander the school or vent a grudge. I am
not calling for anarchy, but serious reform. I claim well meaning,
discerning Christian motives with a desire to see NWC operate in orthopraxy
as a Christ-reflexive community. This critique is written as the voice of
one within the circle of the NWC community who is hopeful of achieving
unity and right thinking about this issue." - James Roland, An Unbearable
Yoke
In August 1998, senior James Roland wrote a treatise "An Unbearable Yoke"
and on March 30, 1999 he nailed it to the Nazareth chapel doors as a
"poetic gesture of presentation to Northwestern and as closure for
himself."
Monica Groves, dean of student development, said, "It looked at a lot of
fundamentalism, at having practices that are not outlined specifically in
scripture and how those would be part of the community."
The treatise reviewed changes made in the handbook since the school's be
ginning, examined scripture verses, discussed spirituality and suggested
some changes to be made.
Roland said, "I wanted to see the school do a better job at what its
ambition was, to train young men and women to serve in Christian
ministries." He wanted to "challenge the current social restriction of
Northwestern College and to call for discourse at all levels" within the
college.
Because Roland's treatise was not a proposal, Groves said that no changes
were "specifically tied into Jim's piece that he wrote to reflect his
concern. I'd say it's a practice of revisiting policies that has been
ongoing anyway."
The treatise stated, "This treatise has been written under the congenial
expectation that it will be met with a serious and scholarly response from
its critics." The hoped for response was made by Harold Miller, vice
president of academic affairs. "He read it three times, made all kinds of
notes and we talked about it for an hour, said Roland. "He told me where I
was weak and where I was right on."
Groves connected last year's discussion group on the dancing issue to
Roland's essay. She said, "There was a group of students and faculty that
met throughout last year and looked at standards specifically related to
dancing, making sure that our practice was consistent with what was in
writing. The adjustment was made in the spring of last year." Roland said
that he wanted the college to think about the scriptures behind the
lifestyle statement. Groves feels this group was in accordance with his
treatise.
Regarding the current lifestyle statement, Interim President David Erickson
said, "We're considered to be conservative. That's what most students want.
They want a college with standards." Erickson attended four universities
and also worked at four other Christian universities before Northwestern.
"The school has always promoted modesty. That's why I chose to come
here."
Like Roland 's treatise on "Christian liberties," both Erickson and Groves
encouraged students to think about their beliefs. Erickson said, "Every
community decides its own beliefs" and if the lifestyle at Northwestern
"becomes an issue, we want to help them find a community suitable for
them."
Students can either talk to Erickson, whose office is on fourth floor in
Nazareth, or to their NWSA class representatives.
For new students who have not read this document, Roland said, "I want to
encourage new students to take this issue further, to go beyond what I had
done, not more liberally, but more sophisticated spiritually."
The treatise and his letter of intent can be found on his personal Web site
at http://geocities.com/estorie_royal/yoke.html.
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