If a person gets on the web and types http://www.messiah.edu, the first screen they see says, “Rigorously Academic, Unapologetically Christian” in bright red letters. Should it be changed to, “Rigorously Athletic, Christian when it's convenient”? I must admit I am incredibly disappointed in Hot Rod for the recent ban on public prayer. I disagree with banning student led prayer, but I can see both sides of the issue and won't discuss it here. What upsets me most, though, is the methodology that was taken to implement this policy.
The Muhlenberg Soccer game occurred on November 14 where Sawatsky met a drunk and irrational fan. As a result, he sent a memo three days later on the 17th banning all “public prayer before inter-collegiate athletic events. What about those team huddles . . . where it is obvious to the opposition and fans that the team is in prayer? Again, . . . this should probably be discouraged” (President Sawatsky's memo). What upsets me most is that Dr. Sawatsky made this decision alone! When I think of the spiritual leaders on campus, three names come to mind: Hot Rod, Dennis, and Evie. Of the three, only one knew about this change in policy. Hollinger and Telfer were not even consulted and knew nothing about this memo until about a month later! And then in last weeks article, Sawatsky said he did not intend the memo for students. So how many people were we going to keep this a secret from? Can you just imagine what would happen if a local paper got a hold of one of those memos? Or, even worse, if the alumni -- specifically athletic alumni -- found out? Can you say, “Bye, bye alumni funding?”
To soften the blow, the memo then lists six ways we can, “rightly bear witness to Christ through our inter-collegiate athletics...: exceptional sportsmanship; strong team camaraderie, and solidarity; coaches who are seen as demanding yet supportive; to everyone that Christians aren't wimps and can be as tough and excellent athletes as anyone; friendliness and good humor, and enjoyment of life and the game; and strength of character in victory and defeat; etc., etc.” I would expect that from any team that exists. What sets us apart is that we have Christ, yet Jesus is not mentioned at all in the above points.
Right after I heard about this memo, I went home for Christmas break. One afternoon I was watching the (I think) Saints vs. Jets football game. One player got knocked unconscious so all the members of the OTHER TEAM all got down on their knees and prayed. And there are plenty of other sports events that we see players and teams praying -- teams and players that don't claim to be Unapologetically Christian. Yet we are the ones who must compromise. Most of us are familiar with the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Right before raising Lazarus, “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me’” (John 11:41-2). Are we not called to be Christ-like?
On a different note, what I would like to see is some accountability. The US and MCSA governments both have checks and balances set up to hold each branch accountable. Right now we live in a quasi-dictatorship. If Sawatsky says, it goes. And none of the faculty will openly disagree with anything the President says for fear of being “asked to resign.” I think it would be beneficial to have all decisions made by Dr. Sawatsky go through another body, maybe the trustees, maybe we can form another (Another?) committee to oversee just those specific decisions.
I do thank Evie, Dennis, Coach Turner, The Swinging Bridge staff, and the MCSA Execs. for all your help in trying to find answers.
Chi-Rho,
Chad T. Lower