And . . . He's Gone - Steve Pettit Resigns at BJU

[illinoisguy]

Bob Jones University president Steve Pettit resigns just months after new contract

Bob Jones University President Steve Pettit has resigned. The resignation is effective at the end of the current academic year.

www.postandcourier.com

Comments from Sharper Iron:

Bob Jones University president Steve Pettit resigns | SHARPER IRON

sharperiron.org

I don't know what this is all about - is it about some people wanting to go back to the restrictive dress codes?

"I know of two board members who would rather see it close down than continue to see it move forward. The letter from the FBFI was a key driver of trying to seek a fairly substantial change in direction. Anyone with much sense would know that a substantial change of direction this late in the game would most likely collapse the school. Trying to enforce a dress code with dresses and hoses is not the answer. But with 80+ year old board members spearheading what they hear as a need for substantial change probably is not the most successful course of action to handle the future direction of the University."

"The school has been scraping every year to stay alive as it was. This will end it, but sad to say, that is ok with some on the board. As an alumn, a past and current parent of students, a recruiter of its business students, and a donor, I am disheartened how a small number of folks in Michigan and Wisconsin can effectively end the ministry."

"Live by the Freshmen .... die by the Freshman. Children and parents are deciding this Spring where they will be going in the Fall. This Fall will be absolutely critical for BJU ... the Board better right this ship quickly!"

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

Bob Jones University president Steve Pettit resigns just months after new contract

Bob Jones University President Steve Pettit has resigned. The resignation is effective at the end of the current academic year.

www.postandcourier.com

Comments from Sharper Iron:

Bob Jones University president Steve Pettit resigns | SHARPER IRON

sharperiron.org

I don't know what this is all about - is it about some people wanting to go back to the restrictive dress codes?

"I know of two board members who would rather see it close down than continue to see it move forward. The letter from the FBFI was a key driver of trying to seek a fairly substantial change in direction. Anyone with much sense would know that a substantial change of direction this late in the game would most likely collapse the school. Trying to enforce a dress code with dresses and hoses is not the answer. But with 80+ year old board members spearheading what they hear as a need for substantial change probably is not the most successful course of action to handle the future direction of the University."

"The school has been scraping every year to stay alive as it was. This will end it, but sad to say, that is ok with some on the board. As an alumn, a past and current parent of students, a recruiter of its business students, and a donor, I am disheartened how a small number of folks in Michigan and Wisconsin can effectively end the ministry."

"Live by the Freshmen .... die by the Freshman. Children and parents are deciding this Spring where they will be going in the Fall. This Fall will be absolutely critical for BJU ... the Board better right this ship quickly!"

My parents graduated from BJU, and I can say with 100% certainty that they’d rather see the university campus shut and sold than for it to exist with “standard” they find objectionable. Yes, they’re from the old days and want to see it stuck in the 70s.

 

[illinoisguy]

Here is the text of a letter of support for Pettit dated November 4, 2022:

Unauthorized Access

My guess is that there must be some people in positions of control and influence at BJU who disagree with such statements as these:

"• The dress code in use now still requires modesty and neatness but makes an appropriate adjustment to a business culture that is less formal than it once was. While we agree that it is important to consistently apply the standards which are in place, this is a challenge for every institution in every era. . . . There are certainly portions of the BJU constituency who regret the changes listed above. You have undoubtedly heard from some of them. . . .

"The genius of BJU has never been dress codes, demerits, or musical styles. The genius of BJU and of fundamentalism has always been the absolute authority and sufficiency of Scripture. We 'earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints' (Jude 3)—not for versions, skirts, or songs. We believe that BJU is as unapologetically orthodox today as it was in 1927. In fact, we would argue that the University is actually more conscientious in applying the totality of Scripture today than in the past, when it was sometimes schismatic and racially insensitive."

 

[illinoisguy]

Some background on what may be going on behind the scenes at BJU:

"Reading between the lines, though, including the university’s increasingly precarious financial situation, it appears that the 'old guard' had figured out how to bite down on the suicide pill after all. I stand by this (what I wrote in this article): Bob Jones III and his buddies would rather see BJU close than see it move from its racist, unbiblical founding and history.)

"If those on board who want Pettit out have their way (assuming all this is correct, and, again, I believe the reports to be trustworthy), the return to the bygone 'glory' days of Bob Jones University spells doom for the institution. BJU-styled moderate fundamentalism barely exists anymore. Where will they draw their student body from? . . .

"If the board moves BJU back in time to some desired halcyon days, their current 'customer' base will disappear. And unless the board is willing to adopt positions that Bob Jones Jr. would be livid over, the university will never placate the larger group of self-called fundamentalists. The student pipeline will quickly dry up. Current students will transfer en masse."

The (Possible) Slow, Strange Suicide of Bob Jones University

by John Ellis (Edit on 3/30/23: Me: “Why are so many people clicking on a months old article that is really no longer relevant?” Friends later text me about the news that Steve Pettit h…

practicallyknowntheology.com

Longtime BJU opponent Lou Martuneac has wasted no time going online to gloat about Pettit's departure and to express his hope that BJU will go back in time to the "good old days."

<i>Steve Pettit Resigns BJU Presidency</i>

T oday Steve Pettit announced his resignation of the presidency of Bob Jones University. He intends to address the student body on the morni...

indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com

 

[illinoisguy]

According to this source, the main reason for the BJU coup was opposition to allowing women to wear pants (4 minute audio):

Bob Jones University President Resigns Amid 'Dysfunction,’ Scandal - FITSNews

Steve Pettit accuses board chairman of blocking investigation into controversial 'boobs and butts' PowerPoint presentation ...

www.fitsnews.com

Julie Roys concurs - this whole fuss appears to be, in part, about women's apparel:

"According to some alumni, the opposition to Pettit had nothing to do with doctrine, but with 'preferences of Christian practice.' It concerned things like the style of worship music played at student chapel services, 'immodest clothing' worn by female athletes, musical selections from the fine arts program, and even Pettit’s participation in a bluegrass music
band. . . .

"Lewis thwarted a Title IX investigation concerning a trustee’s public comments about whether female students’ clothing and female student athletes’ uniforms accentuate their ‘boobs and butts,’ Pettit claimed. For example, when asked by BJU’s Title IX coordinator to produce relevant excerpts of board meetings, Lewis reportedly responded by providing one set of minutes that 'were almost entirely redacted.' Lewis also sent a letter to the Title IX coordinator, asking the coordinator 'to suspend and postpone the inquiry' and falsely accusing Pettit of trying to stage a coup d’etat, Pettit alleged."

Bob Jones U Prez Resigns After Months of Conflict with Board Chair

Bob Jones University President Steve Pettit has announced he’s resigning, following months of conflict with BJU Board Chairman John Lewis.

julieroys.com

 

[Ransom]

Well, we can't have any reminders that women have a pleasing shape.

Henceforth the BJU female dress code shall consist of a canvas potato sack, with holes cut for the arms and legs, and filled with Styrofoam packing peanuts.

 

[illinoisguy]

So is this what the fuss is all about? [BJA = Bob Jones Academy] Any man who has a lust problem with this needs to get saved!

 

[Ransom]

So is this what the fuss is all about? [BJA = Bob Jones Academy] Any man who has a lust problem with this needs to get saved!

Dunno. I think the coach second from the right kinda likes me.

 

[Gringo]

The thing I remember about that school was their art gallery and Vespers. Do they still have those things, I wonder.

 

[illinoisguy]

I am trying to figure out where the BJU board wants to take the school, now that Pettit has gone. Some comments I have picked up from various places on the Internet:

"BJU has always had a reputation of being legalistic. I fear with DR Petit leaving as president, it will soon become the old BJU of the 50s,60s,70s,80s,and 90s. If that happens kiss the school good by. Young people of this generation will never attend a university like that any longer."

“These are not normal times at BJU. The board leadership needs to decide this week which direction it will take: continue on the positive path that Steve Pettit and his team have taken (with board approval) or persist in their plans to revert to a more ‘conservative’ style of standards and discipline.”

"The cultural fundamentalists are willing to kill BJU to keep BJU true to its cultural fundamentalist roots. The question remains: Can these cultural fundamentalists summon enough like-minded parents / students to BJU to keep the school afloat when the non-cultural fundamentalist parents / students go elsewhere?"

"Many of the members on the BJU board are just too old and out of touch with 'today.' This is actually a critical element of a healthy board. . . . The BJU board has way too many people over 70 and some entering in their 80's and mid-80's."

"If I was still on the Board I would be deeply concerned about my role as a fiduciary. The letter alleges unethical and illegal conduct. If those things are true, every Board member should concern themselves with not only the ethics of the alleged misconduct, but the fiduciary responsibility to act. This isn’t the same as a local church political turf fight. This is an educational institution with accreditation issues, Title IX issues, and the confidence of thousands of fee-paying students and families that rely on the validity of a degree. I trust God. I really do. But trusting God and doing right go hand in hand. The BJU Board stands at a critical crossroad. The survival of the University is at stake. Based on my experience as a former BJU Board member and my experience as an attorney, I recommend each member of the EC resign and the remaining Board beg Dr. Pettit to retract his resignation. It is the best path forward."

"Next year (predictions) (2023-2024): BJ III either President or Interim, Tighter (more restrictive) dress-code standards, More restrictive church approved list (no SBC), More rollbacks of Steve Pettit changes."

At this point, no one really knows what direction the BJU board wants to go. If they reinstate the old restrictive rules and regulations and dress codes, including the ban on women's slacks, does anyone seriously believe that they will attract more students than they drive away? And if the enrollment declines, can the school survive?

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

I think Dr. Bob will be put back in the saddle on an interim basis for a year. I don’t think they can put him back in on a full-time basis. The guy’s going to be 84 years old when the next school year starts. Then again, maybe Biden is inspiring all of the old codgers out there.

Oh…and one final prediction: Bob Jones University will be closed by 2030.

 

[Baptist Renegade]

"The genius of BJU has never been dress codes, demerits, or musical styles. The genius of BJU and of fundamentalism has always been the absolute authority and sufficiency of Scripture. We 'earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints' (Jude 3)—not for versions, skirts, or songs. We believe that BJU is as unapologetically orthodox today as it was in 1927. In fact, we would argue that the University is actually more conscientious in applying the totality of Scripture today than in the past, when it was sometimes schismatic and racially insensitive."

If they simply kept things to this, they would have my support 1000%! If they truly stuck to the authority and sufficiency of scripture, nothing else would be an issue!

I guess if they are intent upon returning to the looneyland Funny-Mental-ism where STAAAAAAAANDEEEEEERDS (and not scripture) are the final authority, then I guess this institution needs to die.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I think this is heat another sad commentary on ‘fundamentalism’.
The reason many would rather see the school closed than to compromise their ‘konvictions’ is because those are ultimately the only 2 options for those in ‘fundamentalism’ who refuse to biblically consider change.

And we anecdotally see that being played out all across what once was a thriving IFB-dom.

 

[4everfsu]

When I was a freshman in 1971 we male students could not watch the girls play basketball, something along the lines it would raise our male hormones. Actual fact!

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

When I was a freshman in 1971 we male students could not watch the girls play basketball, something along the lines it would raise our male hormones. Actual fact!

And here I thought you went to FSU.

 

[voicecrying]

And here I thought you went to FSU.

You never know - back in '71, FSU might have had that rule too.

 

[illinoisguy]

Latest rumor, posted on Sharper Iron, is that the BJU Board may be considering dropping the accreditation of the school. This bears watching - if there is any truth to this, or if BJU students believe that there may be some truth to it, this may result in a mad scramble of students to transfer out of BJU to an accredited school. (I don't know who Gary Weier is, or what he said in response to the rumor).

"I know that student commitments for Fall of 2023 have been dropping or withdrawn as a result of concern around Board actions. This was shared with the Board. The school has been inundated with calls and potential drops for Fall of 2023 around accreditation. There is concern from faculty that the board is seeking to drop accreditation. It required Gary Weier to address the students yesterday and send an email to parents. It gave some assurance, but also left some uncertainty to the future."

Bob Jones University president Steve Pettit resigns | SHARPER IRON

sharperiron.org

 

[Ransom]

I wonder whether any of the geriatrics in charge long for the "good old days" when interracial dating wasn't allowed.

 

[Dr. Huk-N-Duck]

From what I’ve heard about BJU, enrollment is already down as is. Honestly, I think they should just close the doors and sell the school. They’re not going to survive in the 2020s by trying to return to the 1980s, and the old codgers would rather see it closed than “compromised.”

 

[Gringo]

In the past, Bob Jones had the common larger culture to rely on: in the old days, even non christian ladies wore dresses. There was no such a thing as divorced pastors with big churches, successful christian singing stars with sexual affairs in their past, sex in some form on every television channel, porn stores that any child can access in their bedrooms, etc.

Today, Bob Jones has a different type of society and professing "christian" to contend with.

If their goal is to be financially in the black, to be solvent and to be successful as a regular school, perhaps they should change their name and go after a different market in the christian community, rather than the niche market they are known for.

On the other hand, if they really are concerned about providing "clean linen" for the "supper" table, then perhaps they ought not throw out the rag with the dishwater, and accept the fact that their school will never be the large one that it once was. They should remember what happened to Tennessee Temple when it turned on its base. They are no longer in existence.

If they really want to remain a fundamentalist school with "standards", providing a place for those with like minds to study and prepare for the ministry, perhaps they ought to consider selling the property (impossibility of maintaining such a place on such dwindling numbers) with the provision that the new owners not use the name Bob Jones University

And perhaps they should consider moving to a new, smaller place like the founder did when he moved the school from Cleveland, Tn.

I think it would be a shame for the school to just shut down completely when there are people that would want to attend such a school.