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It seems everywhere I turn these days I see and hear someone talking about this extremely popular book by Paul Young titled: “The Shack”

A Faculty Response
It seems to have stirred both raving fans and controversy. Recently, Seminary professor Dr. Paul Louis Metzger was interviewed by Zach Dundas of Portland Monthly magazine for what I will call his “evangelically informed theological take” on this book in the November 2008 issue.

Read it for yourself here

However, As Great As That Is
Our very own President, Dr. Daniel R. Lockwood, was on the cutting edge months ago when he wrote his review of the book for the Summer 2008 issue of Multnomah Magazine - (if you’re not a subscriber, then do it, because it’s free and worth every penny! Drop a line at magazine@multnomah.edu).

Here is the 2-page PDF for your ease.

We might get one more post up before Thanksgiving Break (hooray for Higher Ed holiday schedules!) - so check back again - otherwise, we’ll see you on Monday or Tuesday with fresh fodder.

I’ll make this brief:

1. Constitution Day was on September 17th.
2. All institutions enrolling students who receive federal funding for financial aid must “observe” this day in “some way” by “emphasizing the constitution” on the actual day.
3. There is no mandate for “how” we are to “emphasize” the constitution.
4. Multnomah University disperses financial aid from the federal government to our students, so our way to “emphasize” is to pray for our country that was founded on the principals laid out in the constitution.

Here’s a brief quote from Dr. Dan Lockwood, President:

We’ve done different things: a panel discussion, a lecture by Dr. Scalberg, etc. .  The last two years we have simply asked students who can to gather around the flagpole and pray for our nation…

…I wonder what Reed College does?

Well Dr. Dan, here is what they did last year:

This year, Reed is partnering with Seton Hall University and participating in a simulcast presentation entitled: Interrogation as a Means of Intelligence Gathering.
http://web.reed.edu/career/calendar/2007/September/constitutionday.html

It’s definitely a different approach.

Today marks an important beginning for Multnomah—for two reasons. First, on this day we begin operating as Multnomah University. And second, as Multnomah University we now occupy a significant footprint in Reno, Nevada, right in the heart of the mountain west.

Background
Our Reno-Tahoe presence has been a long time in the making. Conversations began over nine years ago when several church and business leaders from northern Nevada approached Multnomah about the possibility of creating a Bible college in Reno.

“Many of our young people leave Reno for their college education,” says Multnomah alum Tony Slavin, one of the original trustees who serves on the pastoral staff of Grace Community Church, “but then they would never return to Nevada. We needed a place in Reno where they could be equipped to minister in the church here.”

For seven years, Multnomah, pursuing regional accreditation with NWCCU, could not launch extension education. However, Dr. Larry Ayers, a Multnomah adjunct faculty with higher education experience, spent a year in Reno organizing their board and securing approval from the State of Nevada to operate Meadows Bible Institute (MBI) as a state-authorized Bible institute, the only faith-based institution of its kind.

Agreement
Then, last February, Multnomah’s board of trustees approved a recommendation to take over the facility in Reno for the purpose of offering accredited, biblical education for northern Nevada. After MBI’s board accepted this recommendation, Multnomah and Meadows negotiated an agreement that would transfer all its assets to Multnomah. We signed this historic agreement the evening of June 30, 2008, with joy, prayer, and celebration.

Looking Ahead
Now the work begins. Jason Daniels will continue as administrative director of the Reno-Tahoe site, reporting to me and working with each of the Portland campus departments. In cooperation with our accrediting agencies, we hope to begin offering accredited courses, perhaps as early as this fall.

Rejoice with us! God has, I believe, opened a portal of opportunity to enlarge Multnomah’s mission and ministry into the mountain west region of the United States!

Read the official press release here

The following letter was sent to many of Multnomah’s constituents this month. This information now exists publicly amongst the student body, Faculty, and Staff. We welcome any comments you may have and we will do our best to keep you all informed of any updates we may have along the way.

- Robert Leary, Director of Promotions & Communications.
***

Dear Alumni, Donors, and Friends:

There’s never a dull moment at Multnomah.  In fact, sometimes, things are downright exciting!  I want to bring you up to date on a recent board of trustees’ decision that has some wonderful ramifications for the placement and ministry impact of our students and for the strategic fulfillment of Multnomah’s mission in the years ahead.

In its September board meeting, the board, after prayerful consideration, unanimously passed a motion that empowers the administration to take all the necessary steps for Multnomah to become a university.  This will involve notification of the State of Oregon and all accreditation agencies, making the necessary legal changes to our institutional documents, and communicating effectively with you, our alumni and supporters.  Our target date for this change is July 1, 2008.

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