Eastern Mennonite University is founded on Christian principles. We strive to follow the ways of Jesus, and this is an essential part of the college’s identity. As I consider myself a devout Christian, I fully support EMU’s goal. I want to see it continue to uphold its values, and I think that doing so can make for the optimal educational experience. For that reason, I find it crucial that we abolish the antiquated policy that bars non-Christian professors from tenure-track faculty positions.

Currently, the university’s hiring policy states, “EMU will hire and maintain a teaching faculty [this does not apply to non-teaching staff] in which all tenure-track faculty members support the mission, vision and Anabaptist core values of the university, and actively participate in a community of Christian faith.” I am aware that this issue has flown under the radar; it is likely that most of you haven’t even heard that EMU has this policy. And still others of you may be glad that the university has this policy. You may feel that having Christian professors preserves the values that we as a community seek to uphold (love for God and others, servanthood, cohesive community, etc.). But this semester, three of my classmates and I have been analyzing the conflicts that arise from EMU’s hiring policy, and we have found much controversy around the topic, from the individual level to the systemic struggles that EMU currently deals with. We have discovered how important it is to begin challenging this policy. It has a more serious impact on our education than many of us realize, and there are a few reasons why it would be favorable to see permanent non-Christian faculty on campus.

First, learning from those who practice different faiths will help us develop a more thorough Christian environment. As a student in the discipline of theology, I have learned a lot about what productive discourse in the field looks like. Of course, I, like many Christians, have found a great deal of value in discourse with other faithful Christians; as we all try to live like Jesus, helping each other along the way is beneficial. But Christianity does not exist in a vacuum. Christianity is present in the lives of many non-Christians, and that impact should be important to Christians. Non-Christians (for the most part) don’t want to obliterate Christianity; they want it to foster healthy relationships and serve the people of the world in constructive ways, which is what we Christians want as well. If the university continues to neglect non-Christian voices, then we will miss important perspectives that are crucial to helping us reach these goals.

Second, non-Christian scholars make for some really impactful perspectives. Last semester, I had the privilege of taking a course taught by a non-Christian adjunct professor. My professor really helped me to think deeply about the world, and I found it easy to retain a lot of what I learned in their class. When I asked around, many of my classmates felt the same way.

Unfortunately, this professor likely won’t be at EMU much longer. My group and I got a chance to interview them as part of our work, where they shared, “There isn’t a future for me here.” Who can blame them? Without the prospects of job stability, fair salaries, and equitable status among their colleagues, there is little incentive for these gifted professors to stay where they are undervalued. This issue is not some hypothetical question; EMU’s hiring policy has serious implications for faculty and students right now.

Of course, there are reasons to have a majority Christian faculty. There are reasons that the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership all identify as Christian. Our identity as a Mennonite university implies that Mennonites will hold the highest leadership positions. But when we find great non-Christian professors who help us see new perspectives and excel at their job, they should be allowed to have a career here at EMU.