Andrew Paquin and CCU - my own thoughts

It has been fascinating - and I admit - a bit self-indulgent to not only read the story in the Rocky Mountain News regarding my situation at Colorado Christian University, but to watch the internet chatter that it has produced. In the past 72 hours, I've gotten calls from Christianity Today, the Peter Boyles Show, and a caring Pastor in Longmont, CO. I've seen my name on both the Sojourners and Relevant Magazine web-site. My kids think I'm famous and wonder if I am by default therefore rich. My wife - she knows better. She's not impressed.

There are a few things I'd like to clear up in the chatter. First of all, I was a full-time Assistant Professor of Global Studies at CCU. Not part-time, not adjunct. I was fully a part of the faculty community at CCU. I was voted Faculty of the Year in 2005 - 2006, promoted, celebrated and marketed as a vital part of the future of CCU.

Second, I do lack a PhD in my field, which a few bloggers have enjoyed referring to. No one has been more aware of this than me. That being said, in addition to years of field experience, I do have an MA in International Development and Human Rights from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies. Check for yourself where GSIS ranks in the nation in this field. Make sure you check near the top - because that's where you'll find it, right around Harvard, Stanford and Johns Hopkins. Go DU!

Third, what has been interesting to me throughout this process is that my specialty in academia is not political economy. This is taught by others at CCU - not me. My focus and discipline is International Development. Obviously, at a small school, Professors are asked to teach a wider breadth of subjects than what they might otherwise do at a larger institution. This was certainly true with me, as over a period of two years I taught 9 different courses.

My stance on capitalism is this... it is obviously a very efficient and pragmatic economic system that has produced the largest and wealthiest country the world has ever seen. It also can be exploitative, lead to human greed, and leave vast populations behind in its wake. It can turn citizens into consumers. Adam Smith writes that the common good is served by the individual pursuit of self-interest. Excuse me if I believe that the pursuit of my own self-interest might be in contrast to the life of Christ that exemplifies the pursuit of the interest of others. This is my tension. I have a house, two kids, two cars -- the American Dream. I also work in the slums of Africa, trying desperately to generate markets and enterprise so that people do not have to be mired in stupid poverty. If and when capitalism works - I'm all for it. But the tenets of my faith are bigger than the political economy of the West.

Let me say it this way. In Christ, you and I are set free, not for the individual pursuit of happiness, but set free for the collective pursuit of holiness. We are called by God not for ourselves, but for the glory of His Kingdom, and for the service of others. We, the fortunate ones of this great country have somehow forgotten that it is impossible to serve others while at the same time believing we are better than the others we are called to serve. Selfishness, greed, gluttony - these are epidemic in our culture. These might be the real threats to our way of life, but because they stare at us in the mirror, we are reluctant to say so. Instead, we write off the prophets among us as "liberal", "radical", or even "anti-American." I can hear Amos. Can you?

I am as perplexed as any as to why the use of Jim Wallis in class was a problem. I can understand the misgivings, though, with Peter Singer. The book I used of his is entitled ONE WORLD - THE ETHICS OF GLOBALIZATION. I do not agree with everything the book has to offer. I do believe, though, that Singer offers some very interesting things to think about in the realm of ethics, responsibility, and the global community. Read it. There are things in there that might challenge us all to recognize both the fallacies of our own nationalism and the consequences of inaction (or wrong action) on the global stage. Peter Singer might have something to say to the Christian community.

These details aside, Colorado Christian was a University. But now, it is a place where students are told "what to think." This is President Armstrong's written definition of the teaching profession. Teaching is "telling students what to think." I disagree. And I am saddened, because I love CCU, my former colleagues and students, and even have respect for President Armstrong and his achievements in his life. I just believe he is wrong for dismissing me based on the grounds mentioned. I don't have a PhD - I'm young in the academic profession, but none of these were ever mentioned as reasons for my dismissal. No, it was pure political (poorly disguised by religious) ideology. I am not perfect. I have a lot to learn. I wrestle with these issues daily. But this was wrong, both in decision and process.

By the way, I will not end this without a plug for The 10/10 Project. In 4 years, we've partnered with our African friends in creating almost 300 businesses that provide income for families that were previously living on just $1 per day. Check it out - get involved - and remember that poverty and justice matter to all of us.

www.the1010project.org.

Proverbs 31:8-9