James Emery White No Longer Pres of My Alma Mater

May 16th, 2007 by admin

Wow, I just read this on Justin Taylor’s blog:

On July 1, 2006, James Emery White, succeeded Walter Kaiser to become the fourth president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Today, less than one year later, Gordon-Conwell issues the official announcement that Dr. White has resigned.

Effective June 30, 2007, Dr. White will resign “due to family considerations which resulted in his unanticipated inability to relocate as planned from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Dr. White will continue to teach as Professor of Theology and Culture at the Charlotte Campus.”

In his place “The Board of Trustees of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has appointed Dr. Haddon W. Robinson as Interim President, effective July 1, 2007.”

The press release says, “The Board of Trustees also announced that they have formed a Presidential Search Committee to seek a permanent president.”

When I first heard news of Dr. White being appointed President of GCTS, I was always wondering how long that would last. From the press release, it sounds like that his resignation was due to anything other than personal reasons. However, someone like Dr. White who has no academic experience and was in the mega-church circles, would always raise some red-flags on a campus like Gordon. I must have taken three or four classes where the Willow Creek model and the megachurch experience were heavily criticized (and in many ways, with legitimate concerns being raised). But this certainly is unexpected.

Ah, the days of the stability of Dr. Robert E. Cooley…

Posted in Personal Thoughts | 14 Comments

14 Responses to “James Emery White No Longer Pres of My Alma Mater”

on 17 May 2007 at 6:57 pm1Joseon_Illin

Wow, I never knew GCTS was known for not favoring the mega church model.

Any thoughts on who the next permanent president may be?
on 17 May 2007 at 9:43 pm2admin

I think it’s going to be a raging debate…

When I was at GCTS, I took a class called Biblical Theological Ministry co-taught by David Wells, Doug Stuart, David Gordon, Sam Schutz. Boy they came down really hard on Willow Creek and the mega church model. And I think there were many valid points to their critique, personally speaking.
on 20 May 2007 at 5:02 pm3Bookworm

First round of rumors attributes the departure to a desire to removed the language requirement. As I said it is a rumor, however, it fits within the megachurch model. Like admin I was on the “holy hill” during the tenure of Wells, Stuart, Gordon & Shutz. As for the stability of Cooley, well that is one way of looking at things. From my perspective, Kaiser did wonders for the school in many ways.
on 21 May 2007 at 8:05 am4admin

Bookworm, what year were you? I agree with you about Cooley. It was said tongue and cheek. I just wish I was there to be a part of all of the good changes that Walt brought in. When I was there he just started as a prof in OT.
on 23 May 2007 at 8:02 am5GorCon

Jim White’s presidency was a complete distaster. Thanks to him, Gordon-Conwell’s enrollment is down, giving is down, morale is down, and the school’s reputation is down. He is a megalomaniac megachurch pastor from the South with no real interest in a New England seminary. His forced resignation is a huge relief.
on 23 May 2007 at 8:16 am6admin

Wow GorCon, is that really true?
on 30 May 2007 at 7:48 pm7Bookworm

I graduated in ‘93. As for GorCon’s statement @ the year being a complete disaster, it is simply not true . . . White did manage to bring Starbucks to the campus. What seminary education is complete without Starbucks? White’s resignation was not forced. It was voluntary, however, he was smart enough to see the handwriting on the wall. Besides, C.T. reports that he never resigned from his church. So much for committment.

As for the next President, hard to say. Joseon_Illn, you comment that you did not know the school was against the megachurch. Perhaps you should read David Wells on the subject. His last book, “Above All Earthly Pow’rs” has a section on “Wal-Mart Churches.” Os Guinness said it best . . . “we have replaced truth with relationships.”

The megachurch movement has sputtered. It is on life support. It looks great from the outside but it has nothing to offer for the future.
on 31 May 2007 at 10:29 pm8admin

Hmmm…I graduated 95. I must have been there when you were there Bookworm. Which dorm did you live in? I lived in Main Dorm mostly.

Wow, he brought in Starbucks? What a different world. Where is it located?

I think Gordon is a place where you will have both camps of many different theological issues (like egalitarian vs. complementarian or reformed vs. arminian) being discussed. But definitely, David Wells carries big a big stick at GCTS. I think James White leaving is probably better for Gordon in the long haul.

I’m finally going back after 10 years. Both my wife and I are alumni. We tried to get guest housing but they don’t have any more available. It’s so sad. Oh well.
on 02 Jun 2007 at 11:07 am9Bookworm

Admin,

I lived on C-Level. Of course, there is no more C-Level.

Yes, David Wells does carry a big stick . . . well deserved I might add. However, I too am glad that there are a diversity of opinions represented on the faculty and student body.

The Starbucks is now in the “No Purpose Room” which has been turned into a student lounge. Sorry to hear @ the limited availablity of guest housing. Affordable housing is quite limited on the North Shore.

What degrees did you and your wife receive? What profs challenged you the most? Were you ever a participant in the “Great Moses War”? He showed up at commencement and at Haddon Robinson’s installation.

Like you, I feel the school will be better for White’s return to his church. Everything I heard was that he never quite fit into the culture of the school.
on 04 Jun 2007 at 11:31 am10admin

Bookworm, I had friends on C-level prob when you were there.

I agree with you, that DWells does deserve that position.

Amazing, Starbucks in the No Purpose room? That really is startling. I used to play ping-pong there and then go to the Prayer Chapel to spend some time with the Lord. But that’s about all that was there.

I actually can’t wait to visit. We’re so excited. We’re going to stay at the Homewood Suites in Peabody.

My wife and I both got MDivs. The Profs for me were SHaffeman, GBeale, DWells, and DStuart. Honestly speaking, I wish I could be at Gordon with what I know now. I think I would have really appreciated my time there much more. I also wasn’t as free in my own sense of identity in Christ. So sometimes I had trouble relating to non-Asians. Amazingly, the Gospel has been so freeing in that way.

I wonder if we’ve connected Bookworm on any level at GCTS. Any way, who do you think will be the next Pres? HRob?
on 05 Jun 2007 at 12:08 pm11Tim Ridolfi (Bookworm)

Admin,

There is a good chance we did meet. My degree program was M.A.R. The profs that excited me were G. Bekker, R. Booth, G. Rosell and R. Lints. Lints’ class in Critiques of Christianity was exciting. Bekker’s Adult C.E. was formative as well as his class in Anthropology. Rosell in American Church History was insightful. Perhaps my favorite prof was Larry Wolfe who was director of food service. A man committed to the students as well as the school. As for fellow C-Levelians, I am in touch with Lorne Bean and Kenn Bongorno. I also stay in touch with Scott Gibson. Scott and I met when he lived on C-Level (prior to becoming prof).

As for president, no clue. My instinct says it will be someone from the outside with strong academic standing. I understand that was a point of concern with White.

Are you in the pastoral ministry? If so, what denomination? While in seminary, I was in the PCUSA Fellowship. Presently I am a member of an Episcopal church. Where do you live?

I hope we have met in the past and can renew acquaintance now.
on 05 Jun 2007 at 3:59 pm12admin

Hi Tim, do you remember a guy named Peter Hwang. My name is Sam Shin and I’m a friend of his. You probbably wouldn’t remember me but I was pretty non-descript then. That’s a pretty funny line about Larry. He really was a great prof. I remember you working there actually.

I’m serving at a church called Wellspring in the SF Bay Area, and its currently non-denominational although we’re going to possibly be adopted by a small church association called Sovereign Grace Ministries.

So which church are you at and are you in pastoral ministry as well?

You really think the next pres will come from outside?
on 05 Jun 2007 at 5:30 pm13Bookworm

Sam,

Yes, I do remember you. As for Peter, he is unforgettable. I also remember Fuji Kim and Ben (Teddy Bear) Kong.

I am familiar with Soverign Grace. As for pastoral ministry, no, the church is better without me as a staff member.

I am presently working in a Christian bookstore. It is in a university/inner-city setting. Unfortunately, the students do not come to the store. I meet many Christians who are married to the health/wealth movement.

Did you know that Larry went to be with the Lord almost 2 years ago? I stay in touch with his widow. He did a lot for me and many others.

If you wish, contact me directly. tjridolfi@yahoo.com. We will have to catch up. By the way, where is Peter these days? Last I heard, he was engaged and preparing for graduation (’94).
on 07 Jun 2007 at 11:13 am14admin

Tim,

Larry passed away. I can’t believe it. He really was a fixture at GCTS.

Which Xtian bookstore do you work at. No wonder you have your nickname.

I’ll email you separately. Really great to connect with you, even on the web.