University Senate investigates seminary president’s abrupt departure
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The Rev. David Maldonado Jr. |
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June 30, 2004 NASHVILLE
(UMNS)—The United Methodist Church’s academic accreditation agency will
investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent departure of the
president of Iliff School of Theology in Denver. The
denomination’s University Senate announced June 30 that it would
conduct a two-pronged investigation. The first element will focus on the
resignation of the Rev. David Maldonado Jr. in cooperation with the
church’s Commission on Religion and Race. The second will
comprehensively review the institution. Maldonado,
61, is the first Hispanic to head a United Methodist seminary. He
abruptly retired May 26 after serving as president since June 2000 and
days before the 2004 graduation ceremonies. Members
of the theological school’s board of trustees requested that the
churchwide Commission on Religion and Race and the University Senate
investigate questions of racism and other issues. The
senate, established in 1882, is one of the oldest accrediting bodies in
the country. Its mission was to ensure that schools, colleges and
universities related to the church were worthy of carrying the
denomination’s name. In recent years, regional bodies have accredited
academic institutions, and the senate has focused more on how
institutions are related to the United Methodist Church. Henry
N. Tisdale, president of Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., who
also serves as president of the University Senate, released the
statement announcing the investigation. “The
University Senate of the United Methodist Church has the responsibility
to support the development of institutions whose aims are to address
and whose programs reflect significant educational, cultural, societal
and human issues in a manner reflecting the values held in common by the
institutions and the United Methodist Church. “In
light of this mandate, the University Senate will conduct an
investigation on the recent departure of the president of Iliff School
of Theology, and a comprehensive institutional review in collaboration
with the General Commission on Religion and Race. “The
purpose of this activity is to ‘clear the air,’ thus assisting Iliff
School of Theology to move forward with integrity. The University Senate
recognizes the important role that Iliff School of Theology plays in
developing leadership for the United Methodist Church, and by this
action, seeks to strengthen its capacity to do so.” Tisdale said Maldonado, a member of the University Senate, will not participate in the Senate’s investigation.
*The University Senate provided information for the above article.
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