Rescind the Bryan College "Clarification" to its "Statement of Belief"

As a non-Bryan student or faculty, but one who has spent eight summers in Dayton over previous years in my work with Summit, I consider Dayton and Bryan College to be a certain home for me. I am also theologically trained and have spent multiple years studying and writing on the issues related to faith and science. I love Bryan college and, even though I attended a secular university myself, I have always thought Bryan's openness to conversation a virtue which stands above and beyond many, perhaps even the majority, of Christian colleges/universities.

As an "honorary" alumnus of Bryan College, perhaps I am not eligible to petition nonetheless, I do care about the future of Bryan and preserving its commitment to "Christ Above All".

Class of 1986

Class of 2009

BA 2013. I am signing this with support and admiration for the professors that made me think through my beliefs and encouraged me to make educated and sound decisions about my beliefs.

I am signing this with love and support for the dedicated professors who will be forced to lose their jobs.

BA '10

Class of 2012: This clarification will only act as a wedge. The original Statement of Belief has been bedrock for the integrity of the institution for 84 years. The language of the original statement recognizes the absolute authority of the Word of God and postures us before God in a place of adoration, humility, and a desire for understanding the glory, power, and mysteries of the Godhead.

posting anonymously, since I don't want to lose my job at BC. Am an alum from within the last 20 years.

Class of 2010

Love Bryan College and it's fine Faculty, grateful, for my education and time spent there. I pray that board and the president rethink their position all of this makes me very sad.

Class of 2010

Rethink your position please

Class of 1975

Class of 2012

Class of 1982

While I do believe in young earth creationsism, I do not believe that this change serves any purpose as it leaves little room for the conversation that i so treasured in my classes at Bryan.

Class of 2011 - Board of Trustees, please consider rescinding this clarification! Diversity of belief within the broad spectrum of Evangelicalism is an essential part of discussion and discovery, especially at a liberal arts college that considers itself non-denominational. I, for one, became a better scholar and saint because of this diversity of belief found at Bryan. My naive and narrow view of the world was tested and widened, and my understanding of the faith is so much stronger as a result. Historical Christendom certainly allows for more than one interpretation of Genesis so I don't understand why this clarification is needed, now. I'm afraid that the school will lose several gifted, faithful faculty members as a result.

Would that we would speak where Scripture speaks, and we would remain silent when the bible is silent. I hold to a 6 24 day view. I also hold that it is dangerous to speak on behalf of the Holy Ghost on items where the scriptures are silent.

Class of 2000. I find it extremely disturbing that the board has declared that this addition “is in no way a change” to Bryan’s “Statement of Belief.” I have theological, philosophical and scientific reasons that I would have no problem affirming the sentiment of this change as my personal belief (though not the literal wording as I believe Eve was created in part from Adam who was a “previously existing life form”), but I know too many Christians (including a pastor I spoke with about this) who can’t affirm it because of the change. If the board has the legal right to change Bryan’s “Statement of Belief,” then have them go through the proper channels and a proper time-frame to do so. I would still oppose such action as I believe it would narrow the conversation too much and limit the freedom to wrestle with the details of this issue.