Calvin University, which is associated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA), has been on a colossal fall into apostasy in recent years as it has embraced the social justice heresy and has been pushing “woke church” ideology. In 2009, Calvin University teachers voted against a policy that would forbid them from supporting homosexuality or gay marriage, however, apparently, the policy was still in place.
According to documents posted online by Calvin Provost Noah Toly, the school learned that Joseph Kuilema, a social work professor at Calvin who also served as an elder at Sherman Street Church, had officiated a gay wedding in late 2021 after the provost had received pictures of the event.
As a result of Kuilema’s actions, Calvin’s Professional Status Committee opted not to renew the professor’s tenure unless he could prove that he did not act out of line in accordance with the school’s policy.
According to the dossier posted online, Kuilema’s bid for tenure “was supported by his department, his dean, the PSC, and the Academic Affairs committee of the Board of trustees, but was ultimately denied by the full Board of Trustees, who cited concerns around his tone and strategy with regard to controversial theological topics and LGBTQ+ advocacy in particular.”
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The dossier also stated that Board Chair Craig Lubben noted that while the professor has the “freedom to disagree with a position of the CRC,” the board retains the right to control how these disagreements are expressed. In other words, Calvin University has no problem hiring someone who disagrees with the school’s position on homosexuality, but the faculty members are limited in how they are allowed to function within their beliefs.
“I know this is not the outcome you were hoping for, Joe,” Toly wrote in a letter published in the school’s student paper according to RNS. Kuilema plans to appeal the decision, RNS noted, quoting Kuilema as stating that he was “not surprised by the decision” by the board not to reinstate him as a faculty member.
“I was deeply disappointed by the committee’s decision,” he said, according to RNS. “I love Calvin University. I love working here. I love our mission. And I think it’s important to say that I did what I did, because of that mission.”
The dossier quotes Kuilema’s supporters as stating that he “committed” to Reformed theology and teaching. It is rather absurd to suggest, however, that anyone who finds themselves officiating a “gay wedding” has any commitment whatsoever to Reformed theology or the Scriptures at all.
