WBIR.com in Knoxville published an article describing some of the challenges that newly-elected Tennessee Baptist Convention President, Ron Stewart faces. Regarding the Carson-Newman situation, the article includes this:"I have a great deal of confidence in the president Dr. Netherton, I think he is a Godly man, I think he is trying to do what he believes is best, Stewart said.I am hoping Ron's statement regarding "faculty teaching" isn't intended as an insult to the many Bible believing faculty at Carson-Newman. And, I hope that Ron is not so naive to belive that the college's 5-year slide in enrollment, the $20 Million in deferred maintenance, the failure to bring numerous staff salary levels above a food-stamp-qualifying level, and an obviously missing game plan from Dr. Netherton's micro-managing administration is truly a result of "faculty teaching in contradiction to what the Bible states".
Stewart says the conflict comes from faculty teaching in contradiction to what the Bible states and what Baptists believe."
I fear that Ron's "great deal of confidence" is short on substance even if he thinks Dr. Netherton is a Godly man. Dr. Netherton may be the man to pull Carson-Newman out of their current funk, but 5 year's worth of declining enrollment during his leadership isn't a confidence builder.
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I attended one of the "listening sessions" for alumni of C-N to air their complaints and vent their anger toward Dr. Netherton. I am not a big supporter of Netherton, but the speakers were oblivious to the real problems at C-N. Indeed, many prospective students and their parents are choosing to avoid C-N because of the aberrant teaching of many of the faculty, especially in the biology, religion, and philosophy departments. They are not opting out of C-N just because of the president's management style!
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