We previously reported on this website that the truth was beginning to come out at NWC (post dated Sept 23, 2009). We posted a published report that President Cureton had confessed to dismissing Dr. Doug Huffman as Bible and Theology Dept. Chair in retaliation for meeting with board leadership at their request, and falsely telling others that Dr. Huffman had resigned.
More Disclosures
Now, further information has come to light with a statement posted November 9 by Dallas Jenkins at the Friends of Northwestern College and Radio Facebook page. Here is the statement:
"Special Master" found President Cureton guilty of all charges
Dallas Jenkins, November 9, 2009
Earlier this year, the 2008-09 Student Government issued a public vote of "no confidence" in President Cureton because of "irrefutable evidence of lies, deception, slander, and unethical behavior." Shortly thereafter, the board of trustees hired a "Special Master" (legal investigator) to look into all the charges and promised that they would "hold accountable" any who had done wrong, including the students who had made such bold claims.
Several months later, the board issued a statement saying that they were halting the investigation, but that they would continue to "monitor the situation."
As we've discussed here, it was revealed that President Cureton indeed admitted that he had spread false information about Dr. Huffman and that Dr. Huffman's demotion was an act of "retribution."
We have discovered that this was not the only accusation that proved to be accurate. In fact the "Special Master" found President Cureton guilty of all the charges of lies, deception, slander, and unethical behavior. This information was provided by an eyewitness to the meeting between members of the board and Dr. Cureton in which the report was discussed in detail and has been confirmed by multiple high-ranking sources in the administration. All sources confirm that the investigation was halted before an official written report could be made because well over the $75,000 budget was spent.
We have known this for some time now but have not revealed it publicly because we have hoped that the board of trustees would do it on their own. We have contacted the board, asking them to reveal this information, and have received no response. I have been told that the administration and staff have been instructed "not to engage in any conversations about this matter." Many faculty and staff are upset about these findings but are unwilling to demand answers or make statements on the matter.
Too many reputations have been damaged for this information to be kept private. Several faculty, students, former trustees, and alums have been accused of reckless, unbiblical, inaccurate, and vengeful behavior regarding the President. President Cureton made a public statement saying the students who'd made the accusations were "young in the faith," unaware of the extent of their action. If the "special master" had found them guilty and their accusations inaccurate, the board of trustees and President Cureton would have been quick to publicly reveal these findings and be vindicated. The fact that they've been silent about the investigation is not only telling but unfair. They must address this situation publicly with the same zeal and passion they addressed it with before the truth was discovered.
Over $100,000 was spent on this objective investigation; the students and alumni who provide the money for this deserve to know the results, and those whose reputations have been unfairly damaged deserve to be vindicated.
Charges Verified
What's significant about the Special Master's report is not that it brings new information to light, but that it provides independent verification of charges and evidence already brought forward by former trustees, students, faculty, alumni and others.
Board Must Act
We agree with Dallas' statement that it's time for the board to "address this situation publicly with the same zeal and passion" with which they sought to defend the president before the charges brought against him were proved true.
To follow the discussion of the above statement on Facebook, go to the Friends of Northwestern College & Radio page and click on the Discussion tab, or
click here.
Pray
This is a critical time for Northwestern College & Radio. While outward appearances may suggest in some ways that all is well at Northwestern, the truth is that sin and deceitfulness tolerated in leadership undermine and threaten the entire ministry:
"Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
We urge you to renew your prayer for Northwestern, that the Lord would strengthen those in leadership with the wisdom, courage and humility to do what's right, what is truly best for Northwestern, and what will most glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray also about what steps
you should take to help restore Northwestern's integrity and unity as a Christ-centered, Christ-exalting ministry.
It's not just our beloved Northwestern, but the Lord's Name which is at stake.
For His Name's sake,
Friends of NWC
TAKE ACTION
