A Letter to the Simpson University Board of Trustees

I am praying that God will move in our campus starting with this letter! Thank you everyone who is participating and leading this!

My experience at Tozer was invaluable. God used the faculty, students, and education to shape my life and my ministry. God blessed me in many ways through my experience at Tozer seminary. I wish I could enthusiastically influence others to receive the same experience at Simpson and/or Tozer. I wish that I could say with pride that I receive my degree from Tozer. Instead, I am embarrassed. The actions of the board have blemished my experience. It seems as though the board believes that the laws of this land supersede obedience and alignment with God's ways. It is disappointing to watch the lack of courage of the board to respond. While I understand their cautions, there are more important things at stake than a lawsuit. So I ask the board, what is more important to you? Your mission or your success?

Fall of 2012 was my first semester at Tozer and I happened to be present at the Lunch/Meeting with Dr. Robin Dummer and Dr. Betty Dean. Although I had no idea of the entire chronicle with Dr. Sarah Sumner, I must say, I felt that there was no truth in the way Dr. Dummer and Dr. Dean responded to the students that day. I also attest that they expressed that Simpson University is a business with education as its product. I was totally surprised by that. Well, it's totally against the propaganda the University makes to recruit students. I too have a problem with the situation here. I would like to ask, why Simpson University asserts the exempt of the first amendment when they admitted to us that they are a business? If what they appeal to the court is true and they are a religious organization, why then did they not deal with Dr. Sumner Christianly? according to the SU guidelines? That in itself is a red flag for the injustice taking place and lack of truth. It is clearly an act of no accountability. It is so sad that the voice of an employee is being supressed, throwing justice over the fence. Rachel Pilli.

I hit enter too soon without the link. Here it is. https://www.dropbox.com/s/mxackvw3fg96c5t/TozerGrievanceLetter.pdf?dl=0

I began writing letters like this in 2012. While I am very proud to be a graduate of A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary, I am ambivalent at best, ashamed at worst, to have the name "Simpson University" on my diploma. Because we, the Tozer students, never received a satisfactory response to our own concerns, I will just link to a doc written to the Chair of the Simpson Board in 2012.

I am appalled at the way that the leadership has led the school. The former president and board chair both sat in front of a large group of us Tozer Seminary students and lied to our faces about their treatment of Dr. Sarah Sumner. Honestly the leadership of Simpson University has been abysmal at least as far back as 1999, my freshman year as an undergrad student. Despite having incredible instructors and peers my whole time at Simpson, I carry no pride as a Simpson Graduate (B.A. and M. Div.) because of the blatant abuse of power that has been ongoing.

Philosophical dualism may be debatable; practical duplicity is not. Integrity in the church through a culture of repentance: if not here and now, when and where, if ever?

Greetings you in the name of Jesus(the Simpson board of trustees), I don’t clearly understand what happened but one thing I do know is that we being human, are constantly under attack by the enemy. Things in this world will always go from being good to bad like clothes look worse after wear. This analogy is good with our spiritual life as well as with our physical lives in this world. One thing I know clearly, is that there is an issue. I believe this issue is Spiritual. Satan goes around like a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour, I’m sure you know this verse well. Even the SU school board of trustees is in a danger of being devoured. I ask that you as well as everyone involved with Simpson to find humility enough to come before God, even if you aren’t doing any wrong. I personally, keep myself true to Christ by doing that. If we all do that, how will we ever stumble? I love you all for being with me in my personal journey to do our Lord’s will. His purposes are the only reason we live. There is no point to exist, except to follow Him. Love in Jesus Christ, Matthew Kelly

Justice. Mercy. Humility.

budone

May we all, SU included, seek to live lives above reproach as we imbody the love of our Savior to the world around us! Amen!

I stand by the words of this letter as well as those expressed by Leigh Williams. Simpson's stated values of community, integrity, accountability, excellence and service are sorely missing. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Dear Board of Trustees,

Simpson calls itself a University yet we are not being offered the well rounded education that we deserve. We should be trusted with many theories and perspectives without being told which is "right" or "wrong". Simpson is no longer a Bible College; therefore, our students should be treated as intelligent individuals who can handle logically struggling to reconcile theories and perspectives with their own worldview without feeling that they must comply with the C&MA's world view. As an institution deemed as a university, Simpson should not be afraid of true education.

My experience at Simpson was positive because of one reason: the faculty. When the university becomes such an environment that the professors feel they must leave to protect themselves (which some have already done and more will do in the future), then Simpson will lose it's greatest appeal and will simply close. To me, the greatest grievance on this list is concerning the Title IX exemption which is simply an abhorrence and an affront to God. Change this one thing and let the student and faculty body know you are interested in keeping the university alive.

This school is slowly dying and we love it too much to not say anything. May God help guide us all and give us direction in these future changes. I sign this for CAB, for my friends who have been burned by the "redemptive" discipline system, for those who feel pushed out of our community, for those who go unnoticed and unheard at this university.

Dear Board of Trustees,

Thank you for writing this petition, it os much needed.

Full effort is full victory.

Dear Board of Trustees..I have voiced my concerns to you numerous times over the past several years. Please TRUST GOD MORE THAN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES and hear the cries of His people. There are many issues here to be addressed and I'm confident we can wrestle through them together and create a sacred place that honors God. As with the recent Slate article, my question remains...If Simpson truly followed it's own values, handbooks & contracts with Dr. Sumner, then why did they need to apply the "Ministerial Exception" in the 'due process lawsuit? Dr. Dummer..to say "...because religious institutions have that right." (Slate, 4.1.15 pg. 6) doesn't seem to line up with that stated values. In my opinion, it leaves more questions than answers. Why not just prove you offered due process? OR rectify the wrong.