On Friday, October 10th, a faculty meeting took place in which it was announced that Professor Daniel Churchwell’s contract is not being renewed at the end of the current academic year. This non-renewal of contract is based on the fact that he does not hold a PhD and the misperception that he lacks influence among the student body of MBI-Spokane.

As students of Moody Bible Institute-Spokane, we believe that Professor Churchwell is an integral member of our faculty. He has consistently enriched student’s lives by holding them to high academic standards and encouraging the integration of faith and learning among the student body. Professor Churchwell continually stimulates the MBI-Spokane community’s commitment to academic excellence, and he has played an integral role in the formation of various extra-curricular student groups that have bolstered the educational distinctives of Moody Bible Institute. Moreover, Professor Churchwell is notable for his dedication to the discipleship of a myriad of students, through which he has consistently challenged individual students to practically and directly apply the Scriptural truths they learn in the classroom to their own lives.

The students of MBI-Spokane believe that the rationale given for Professor Churchwell’s non-renewal of contract—namely his lack of a PhD and influence on the student body—is suspect and deficient. Therefore, we are protesting this decision and the questionable reasons supporting it.