Show goodwill, return prof to classroom

The potential terminating of the Wheaton College professor, Larycia Hawkins, is disturbing on so many levels. Firstly is the potential loss of employment for this tenured educator.

My hope is that another college will quickly offer her a new position; perhaps Chair of World Religions, or better still, Chair of Christian Studies at a rabbinic training college. In researching the subject, it was heartening to discover that so many Christian colleges and universities have a Jewish or Islamic Studies Chair.

Wheaton College missed a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the love thy neighbor principles they espouse to practice by not standing in support of Professor Hawkins as she stood in solidarity with her Muslim sisters.

Does it really matter by what name we call the creator?

Isn't adherence to a religious faith meant to guide us in becoming kinder, more gentle and accepting human beings?

Learning about and engaging with people of different faiths has always been important in my religion so I was delighted to learn recently about the Interfaith Partners for Peace Initiative, which pairs local teams of rabbis and ministers who are committed to peaceful dialogue, recently visited Israel together. Reverend Myron McCoy, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple spoke about his observations from the trip. He said, "Peace is not about erasing each other's truth but about finding the space for each truth and recommitting to engagement and dialogue."

We just celebrated the Christmas season with its enduring hopes for peace on earth and good will towards man. Now would be a good time for the Wheaton College Board to practice good will by returning Professor Hawkins to her classroom.

Judi Tepe

Elgin