You are here
SEWANEE: Practicing Muslim on Chaplain Search Committee
On May 27, 2005 Vice Chancellor Cunningham released the membership of the "Advisory Search Committee for the position of University Chaplain."
There are only two college students on the committee, both of whom are Sacristan's working for the Chaplain's office.
Either the administration didn't want to try too hard to get a varied student body sampling or they don't care about student input. Of greater concern is the selection of Professor Yasmeen Mohiuddin, a practicing Muslim.
Although many members of the University community are eager to welcome a diversity of opinions, the decision to place Mohiuddin on the committee seems to have dubious motives.
While it is true that the committee occupies only an advisory role and that the Trustees will have the final say, the exact nature of Professor Mohiuddin's ability to advise the Trustees remains to be seen. This says nothing of the issue of over-rep resentation of one minority group when other groups, namely Catholics and other Protestant denominations, receive absolutely no representation on the committee.
The following require responses to the following questions:
1. Is the committee operating under the requirement that the Chaplain be a Christian? Episcopalian?
2. If so, is a Muslim able to tell the difference between a "good" Christian chaplain or a "bad" one?
3. If not, what are they doing on the committee?
4. Is it fair that one religious minority group of the University Community and student body is represented on the committee while others (Catholic and other Protestants) are not?
Committee Membership:
Linda Bright Lankewicz, Provost,
Co-Chair The Very Rev. William Stafford, Dean of the School of Theology,
Co-Chair The Rev. Christopher Bryan, Professor of New Testament Catherine Ford, Trustee, Headmaster of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, Florida
The Very Rev. Samuel Lloyd, Regent, Dean of the National Cathedral Julie Lorch, College Class of 2006
Jon Meacham, Regent, Managing Editor of Newsweek
Jennifer Michael, Associate Professor of English Yasmeen Mohiuddin, Owen Professor of Economics Seth Olson, College Class of 2007
Robert Pearigen, Dean of Students
Wyatt Prunty, Trustee, Carlton Professor of English
Houston Roberson, Associate Professor of History
The Rev. Gene Smitherman, Trustee, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg, Trustee, Regent, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
Patty Willett, Trustee, School of Theology Class of 2006
END
