Harding University has held a special place in my heart for some time now. Yes, they aren’t exactly on the cutting edge of the progressive movement within the Churches of Christ, but two of my sons and one of my daughters-in-law graduated from there.
And I’ve had occasion to spend some time in conversation with their leadership, including recently named president Bruce McLarty. And I’ve been well impressed with the university.
I even spoke at their lectureship once (on law) (although I doubt that it will happen again).
I have my complaints, mind you, but you really have to look at the big picture. And in evaluating an institution, that means you have to consider what’s most important. After all, no institution is going to get everything right.
Now, there’s been some considerable controversy lately about the direction of Harding. A series of articles was published at Rich Little’s blog, Imago Dei, regarding Harding’s selection of Bruce McLarty as its new president.
- My Harding Story and Personal Pledge November 9, 2012
- Sara Barton – A Harding Reflection November 9, 2012
- Sky Vanderburg – A Recent Harding Alumnus Reflects November 8, 2012
- Mary Beth Picker – A Personal Harding Story November 8, 2012
- Dusty Rush on Harding’s Presidential Transition November 8, 2012
- Darren Irby on Harding’s Presidential Transition November 7, 2012
- Jonathan Storment on Harding’s Presidential Transition November 7, 2012
- Don McLaughlin on Harding’s Presidential Transition November 6, 2012
- Mark Moore on Harding’s Presidential Transition November 4, 2012
- Harding’s President McLarty November 2, 2012
- The Next President Harding Needs October 18, 2012
Matthew Morine, who often writes for the Gospel Advocate, summarizes these articles as follows:
All the voices are saying that this was a step in the wrong direction, and is not represented of the churches of Christ. Mostly it comes off as a sadness over the conservative direction of the school.
Other blogs have taken on the topic:
- Frank McCown
- Harding Presidential Search blog and here.
- From Justin, a response. (I don’t know who Justin is, but it’s a thought-provoking article indeed.)
Meanwhile, the Christian Chronicle has published an interview with Dr. McLarty, partly in response to some of the criticisms of his appointment. A similar interview is at the Harding paper The Bison.
It’s surely no coincidence that the Gospel Advocate‘s latest issue includes an article by Dr. McLarty arguing against instrumental music in the church’s worship. Although the Advocate does not normally post articles on the internet, they’ve posted this one. The article repeats the familiar arguments based on church history and the absence of express authority in the New Testament. (I’m resisting the temptation to point out the theological, historical, and logical flaws of the article. And there are many.)
Now, I’m a fan of Rich Little (the preacher, although I also am a fan of the impressionist). Rich has spoken at my congregation, and I’ve been very impressed with him. He’s a thoughtful man of God, and I appreciate the direction that he’d like to see the Churches move. Nonetheless, I’m not upset with the appointment of Dr. McLarty as president. Maybe time will prove me wrong, but for now, I give him the benefit of the doubt.
In one of my meetings with Harding’s administration, I learned that Harding’s philosophy has long been to stay apart from the disputes that have divided the Churches of Christ. Thus, in the 1950s, they stayed out of the fight over institutionalism. As a result, they continue to have students enroll from non-institutional congregations.
I’m sure that they’re trying to stay apart from the current conservative/progressive dispute. It’s no easy thing to do … impossible for a Church-affiliated institution, really. There are, of course, good and bad ways to attempt to take such a course. But knowing several of the people there, and knowing what I know about the University’s history, I have no complaint with the direction I understand them to be taking.
You see, I have no interest in the debate over the lack of transparency in the presidential selection process. And I’m not particularly interested in Dr. McLarty’s views on instrumental music. I find the choice to publish that article at this juncture rather puzzling and disappointing, but I’m far more interested in his views on grace and fellowship than his views on the piano.
You see, to me, the big questions are: Will a student attending Harding be taught the God of grace? Will he be taught that those who worship with an instrument are damned? I don’t mind if a fellow Christian disagrees with me about the instrument. Such issues will always be with us. What’s truly important, to my way of thinking, is whether such issues will be occasions for division. And I believe Harding to be squarely opposed to division over such issues. Amen.
The Gospel Advocate article notwithstanding, it’s really all about what is taught in the classrooms. And my children and daughter-in-law had good experiences at Harding. And the many other young adults I’ve seen come out of Harding in recent years are great examples of Christianity well-understood and well-lived. That is, if you judge the university by the character of its graduates, it’s hard to find much to complain about.
And if, as both sides agree, Dr. McLarty will continue the policies of the previous administration, then, again, there’s little to criticize in terms of the quality of student the university produces.
Do I agree with everything that Harding says and does? No. Are there changes I’d like to see that I don’t expect to happen? Indeed. Do I have a problem with the caliber of their graduates? None. And that’s what matters the most — that and a refusal to make instrumental music and such tests of fellowship.
As much as I disagree with Dr. McLarty’s article on instrumental music, that’s not the central question in the progressive/conservative divide. The real question is whether we should break fellowship over such issues, and I believe Harding to be on the right side of that most-important issue.
Therefore, while I doubt that I’ll find myself at any more of their lectureships any time soon, I’d have no complaints if children from my family or my home congregation should choose to attend Harding.
