BJU Papers: number 05

“There is so much to be thankful for over the years that Dr. Pettit has been at the helm. I consider that we are personal friends, and by many important measurements, the University is doing very, very well. However, over the last year, some embarrassing, antithetical things, historically uncharacteristic things, which would have never happened in the past, have occurred.” -Dr. Bob Jones III

Sanctification isn’t tidy. Parenting can be embarrassing. Discipleship is usually messy.

Do we want those whom we have the opportunity to disciple (our children, students, church members, etc.) to always behave properly in public so that we are considered excellent disciplers or parents? Do we view them as our trophies? In that case, we have surely forgotten how Jesus moved towards his disciples even in those moments when they “embarrassed” Him. Are we mostly concerned with discipleship or our public image and reputation?

A series of four embarrassing events, particularly to members of the BJU Board of Trustees, occurred towards the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The BJU Classic Players presented Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on November 16-18, 2021. A Midsummer Night’s Dream was last performed at BJU in 2004.

“We cordially invite the community to see this fresh take on a classic play. Every member of the family will enjoy this updated production of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a hilarious mix of romance, farce, and fantasy.”

The cast for the play was primarily comprised of students, including 20 BJU Theatre majors, three faculty members, and one staff member. Brand new sets and costumes were designed specifically for this production.

Members of the Board of Trustees were not pleased with certain elements of the play. They voiced their displeasure about this presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, saying that there were (1) inappropriate pictures published on social media, (2) dueling electric guitars, (3) swing music using the words “gee whiz,” and (3) sensual costuming.

Dr. Kevin Schaal, the President of the FBFI, called the November 16-18, 2021 production, “The Midsummer Night’s Dream debacle.”

A Fashion Show

Bob Jones University is the only Christian university on the East Coast that has a fashion design department. In March 2021, students from three different departments came together to participate in BJU’s first fashion show.

When one fashion designer was considering how he would approach his capstone project that would be held in December 2021, he said, “I…wanted my collection to impact the culture at BJU…So, I chose to illustrate the gospel...I wanted people to see the beauty and scandal of a Holy God becoming His creation in order to redeem it." The student’s designs were inspired by Romantic and Baroque era paintings for Paradise Lost. The models walked down the runway to Tchaikovsky’s Hymn of the Cherubim. The models wore garments that were made to tell, reflect, and symbolize the gospel. The crown of thorns was not part of the approved "look." The student had his mom create the crown without the fashion committee's knowledge. The crown was placed on the model's head as he was about to walk the runway. While the student never meant to be blasphemous or sacrilegious, he had struggled to listen and to follow through with the advice of his instructors, especially with the design and process procedures. Behind closed doors, President Pettit was very gracious and loving toward all of those involved and never shamed or guilted them about what happened. There was tension with some of the colleagues, including Jared Stanley, who warned his father (Tim Stanley, who was the vice-chairman of the BJU BOT) of the student's collection before the runway show even happened.

This model's walk down the catwalk hit social media swiftly. On January 12, 2022, Dr. Steve Pettit and the BJU Board of Trustees released this statement:

STATEMENT FROM DR. STEVE PETTIT AND THE BJU BOARD OF TRUSTEES

In December 2021, BJU Fashion + Design majors held their annual Senior Fashion Design Show. The show is the capstone project in which seniors design garments based on a theme of their choosing and within the framework of a biblical worldview. They displayed their garments to a select audience who had a printed program explaining each designer’s intent.

Throughout the design and development process of this project, our leadership failed to address various philosophical issues with the clothing designs, and there was a breakdown in the policies and processes that are normally required for students in this major.  

One student attempted to tell the big picture of the biblical narrative: creation, fall, judgment, redemption, etc. When the young man displayed the scarlet coat representing Christ, it was clearly sacrilegious and blasphemous. No wonder so many cried out against what they saw on social media. Worst of all, this dishonored the Lord Jesus Christ. For these actions, we are grieved as leaders and humbly confess this offense to the Lord and you. 

In response to this egregious event, the executive leadership and Board of Trustees acted immediately. Our administrative and academic leadership, along with our art + design faculty, have taken full responsibility to correct these problems and are making significant changes within the program itself. Furthermore, we are establishing clear policies and procedures to prevent a similar instance in the future. In the end, we want to ensure BJU family and friends that this will not happen again.

On February 15, 2022, Dr. Mike Harding, a member of the Executive Board of the BJU Board of Trustees and a member of the Executive Board of the FBFI, said to the other 20+ FBFI Board members while they were discussing the fashion show:

"The model for the fashion show was dressed like a homosexual..The art department at Bob Jones has become the book of Judges...The Dean of Fine Arts should be fired and the fashion department eliminated."

The FBFI (Foundations Baptist Fellowship International) sends a letter to the BJU BOT

On February 15, 2022, the executive board of the FBFI met in Phoenix, AZ. The result of that meeting was to send a letter of concern to the BJU Board of Trustees at Bob Jones University. HERE IS THE LETTER.

41 men are listed as signers on the letter. Eight of the 41 names listed represented five different schools (International Baptist College of Ministry, Maranatha Baptist University, Faith Baptist Bible College, Baptist College of Ministry, and even Bob Jones University). It is particularly disturbing to see the names of Dr. Bob Jones III, BJU Chancellor, and Dr. Mike Harding, EC Member of the BJU Board of Trustees. This letter represents the fourth and final negative interaction with Dr. Steve Pettit by the FBFI, following the Charlotte meeting, the Denver FBFI Q&A, and the invitation to FBFI leaders to come to BJU to discuss concerns. The FBFI Letter was the culmination of all of these interactions, as well as collating all of the major issues that the FBFI Board and the BJU BOT had with Dr. Steve Pettit.

"There are things mentioned today that, if they aren’t changed, it may be that the FBFI would part company with the University in the future. I feel bad that the University has placed you in a position where you have to make a decision about a make-or-break with BJU."-Dr. Bob Jones III, to the other executive board members on Feb. 15, 2022

Trevor Lawrence is Cancelled

On March 1, 2022, BJU announced former Clemson great and Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence would keynote the Bruins Athletic Club's 10th anniversary gala at BJU in the FMA on March 28, 2022. Under the leadership of Neal Ring, the sports program had set a goal to raise $500K to improve their facilities and the brand of the BJU athletic department.

The administration had vetted Trevor's faith and testimony thoroughly through their advancement and athletic departments. Trevor agreed and was excited to come. Hosting Trevor Lawrence was consistent with the BJU association's philosophy document and with BJU's historical approach to having different speakers for different functions on campus.

When the event was announced, there was a negative reaction almost immediately by some about having Trevor, primarily because of some of his wife's pictures on social media.

On March 3, 2022, the BJU BOT Chairman called for a meeting with Dr. Steve Pettit, Athletic Director Neal Ring and Vice President John Matthews and rebuked them for booking Trevor and not seeing the issues with his wife's dress. The conclusion following the meeting was to cancel the event and fulfill the contract with Trevor.

The administration worked through the contract with Trevor's agent and BJU's attorney. Trevor's agent was understandably concerned about damaging his reputation in the upstate. BJU and Trevor's agent finally came to an agreement with the Upstate FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) to allow them to run an event where Trevor spoke at the Hyatt Regency in Greenville on the same date.

The school lost over $100,000 in promotion, booking fees, and the expected $500,000 or more that would have been raised through the event for Bruins' athletics. But, BJU lost more than money. They lost credibility with donors, demoralized their Athletic Director, Neal Ring, discouraged many student athletes, and insulted alumni in the greater Greenville area who had re-engaged and who were ready to sponsor the anniversary gala.

“After being the premier Fundamentalist academic institution for eighty-seven years, BJU elected Dr. Steve Pettit in 2014 as the president who steered the University out of separatist Fundamentalism into the inclusive, Broad Evangelical Movement.” -Dr. David Beale, Christian Fundamentalism in America (p.179, 530)

Next BJU Papers: Who authored the FBFI Letter? Was there a conflict of interest? Did that letter represent "undue influence?"