No confidence vote to occur over weekend
Faculty take unprecedented step to pressure board into removing Statement on Human Sexuality
April 16, 2021
Multiple sources have confirmed to the Falcon that the Seattle Pacific faculty will hold a vote of no confidence over the weekend, attempting to pressure the Board of Trustees into getting rid of the Statement on Human Sexuality.
This has never happened in SPU’s history and while its passing would not represent any direct legislative consequences, the action would represent an unprecedented repudiation of the Board of Trustees.
About half of the 236 eligible faculty members already cast their electronically delivered ballots by midday on Friday.
Dr. Sara Koenig confirmed to the Falcon on Tuesday that in a faculty poll taken this winter, 75% of faculty declared that they believe the statement on human sexuality should be removed.
The official announcement from the board came on Monday in an employee forum. On Wednesday, University leadership disclosed to faculty that upper administration knew about the decision to maintain the statement on human sexuality as early as two weeks before that announcement.
According to SPU Director of Public Information, Tracy Norlan waiting to announce decisions like this is a common practice.
“The administration regularly gets information from the Board of Trustees, which they share with the campus community in various ways. In this case, once the board had a decision to communicate, senior leaders identified the already scheduled Employee Forum as a good opportunity for Board Chair Cedric Davis to share the news in person with a large number of employees,” Norlan said.
Results on the vote of no confidence are expected to come on Monday.
Laura S • Apr 19, 2021 at 9:20 pm
90% turn out
72% voted no confidence
22% did not agree with the vote
6% abstained
22% not all of them unaffirming, still mixed, didn’t like specifically the wording of “vote of no confidence”
R hoefer • Apr 17, 2021 at 11:51 am
We support the boards decision to hold to the biblically based standards. The SPU community does need the people to step up, in support for Biblical standards. The LGBTQ community and their followers do not represent the whole and majority of the SPU community.
As for unfounded statements about the Bof T making this decision predicated upon funding matters, I would suggest each student who feels this represents the truth should consider who is paying for their education… it is many folks who never had the college privilege themselves yet have given from meager resources to help students, get a Christian education. We are alums, 3 in our family attended and currently have 2 grandkids there.
As for the instructor who initiated much of this, I would question as to why he chose SPU at all. As an instructor he knew the schools stand on his issue, just as I did as an instructor at SPU and Bellevue College. So he personally chose to disrupt his students and the school for his personal pride and benefit… not exactly the example Jesus gave to us. Thank you for the box. R Hoefer.
Judy Hoefer • Apr 16, 2021 at 9:36 pm
As an alum of SPU, parent of several alumna & grandparent of 2 current students, I totally support the Board of Trustees as they take a stand regarding their current hiring policy. I pray the Board will be strong as they trust in God’s leading, power & grace & not compromise the biblical truths upon which the university was founded. Judy Hoefer