wfn.org | Trustees OK Iliff's Plan for Diversity

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (184
notes).

Note 184 by UMNS on June 26, 1997 at 16:42 Eastern (2760 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

Contact:  Joretta Purdue                          372(10-71B){184}
          Washington, D.C.  (202) 546-8722           June 26, 1997

EDITORS NOTE: This is an update of story #355 {167} dated June 19.

Iliff trustees approve creation
of commission on diversity, other measures

                 by United Methodist News Service

     Trustees of Iliff School of Theology in Denver, one of 13
United Methodist-related seminaries, approved the creation of a
commission on diversity at a board meeting June 24.
     A proposal for such a group was brought to the trustees by
students and administrators. It grew out of conversations between
a group of student protestors and Seminary President Donald E.
Messer, Academic Dean Delwin Brown, and other faculty and staff.
     Five students alleging "authoritarian leadership and
institutional racism" were arrested May 14 after they occupied the
seminary chapel beyond closing. They subsequently engaged in a
hunger strike until reaching agreement with the administration on
June 17.
     Prior to the board' decision, an opportunity was provided for
the entire Iliff community to discuss the matter.
     The commission will include trustees, students, faculty and
staff and will begin its work this fall. It will monitor and
encourage inclusiveness. Structural details are to be worked out
by a subcommittee.
     The trustees also approved a proposal to invite a
professional mediator to work within the Iliff community in
building mutual trust and confidence among all of its constituent
groups.
     In other action, the board approved hiring Kamela Parel as
assistant professor of history of Christianity and endorsed the
appointment of Edward P. Antonio, a United Methodist from
Zimbabwe, as visiting professor of theology and social theory.
     With these appointments, the president noted the 21 faculty
members will include five people of color, four men and one woman.
The administrative staff has a number of women in decision-making
positions, including a woman on the senior administrative team.
The registrar, director of student services and director of
financial aid are women of color. In addition, women serve as
director of admissions, director of public information and
coordinator of academic administration.
     One of Iliff's faculty members is Buddhist and another is
Jewish. Most of the 343 students are United Methodist, but more
than 20 additional denominations are also represented, and the
school offers an Anglican studies program.
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