Clarion 1993-04-30 Vol. 68 No. 12

              "The salaries are too low" -- Brushaber
answers the tough questions on page 3
Vol. 68, No. 12 April 30,1993'
Christianity Today Awards Roger Olson's Book
by Anne J. Bottazzi
News Editor
Roger Olson, professor of biblical
and theological studies, has been
awarded the "Best Book in Biblical and
Theological Studies in 1992" by
Christianity Today. His book, 20th
Century Theology: God and the Work
inaTransitionalAge, wasco-authored
by Stanley Grenz. Grenz, a professor at
Regent College in Vancouver, approached Olson which the subject of
Christian Theology in the Modern
World already with a contract from
InterVarsity Press. Olson has been
conducting research for 2 years and
wrote most of the manuscript while on
sabbatical in Fall of 1991. His initial
interest in the modem world view and
Christianity began in Seminary at North
American Baptist. Contemporary Theology was his focus even through his
Ph.D. studies. It was no surprise to
Olson that his first book would revolve
around this subject.
The book contains manuscript written by both professors and also contains
summary remarks and some opinions.
Olson feels the main challenge in writing
the book was the rewriting. The publisher wanted the tone and voice of both
authors to match. Olson feels the book
is successful in "reading like a single
author work."
, The main use for the book now is in
Olson's Contemporary Theology class,
a modem age elective. Like Bethel's
classroom, other seminaries and
Christian colleges are requesting the
textbook. The award-winning book
focuses on all the major theologians
and mainstream periods of theology up
until present day. Issues of feminism,
liberation and African Americanism are
also dealt with in terms of Modem
World Theology. With the recognition
of the award, book clubs and the
Christian Community are also increasing sales of the book.
Olson celebrated the award by congratulating his co-author over the phone
Photo/Woody Dahlberg
Roger Olson, Professor of Biblical
and Theological Studies, is coauthor of the new book, 20th
Century Theology: God and the
World In a Transitional Age
and taking his wife out to dinner. Anything more extravagant than this meal
will come with the royalties, Olson
predicts.
This Bethel professor has also recently delivered a paper on
"ECKANKAR: From Ancient Science
of Soul Travel to New Age Religion" at
the annual national meeting of the
American Academy of Religion in San
Francisco. Basically, Olson states this
group of 5,000 members meet together
and read papers about cults, although
the group coins the subject "New Religions." ECKANKAR has its headquarters in the Twin Cities, so Olson
derived information by research, phone
calls, interviewing the former leader
and members, and touring their facility.
Another interest of Olson's is to
produce a book of readings which
supplement the textbook. This two-
volume set would coincide with each
chapter. Olson is also constantly writing articles and book reviews besides
his teaching responsibilities.
When Does Discussion Lead to Discrimination?
by Josh Freed
Editor
The Salt and Light forum in which
John Piper and Michael Holmes debated
the role of women in the church generated additional debate in the form of
a letter from two Bethel faculty members. The letter stated in part that, "to
question our fittedness, on the basis of
gender.,. constitutes discrimination on
the basis of gender, a practice that Bethel
cannot condone."
At the Salt and Light Forum, John
Piper, who is pastor of Bethlehem
Baptist Church, spoke about his belief
that women can minister biblically in
any position except those which involve
authority over men.
This position causes hardship for
women teachers, according to Lucie
Johnson, Professor of Psychology and
Photo/ Courtesy of Bethlehem Baptist
Local BGC pastor John Piper
recently spoke at Bethel about
his belief that women should not
hold positions of authority over
men.
one of the co-authors of the letter. "At
Bethel the debate [overmen and women]
has been seen as a theological debate, a
debate that has to do with the church.
But it has implications in the classroom."
Johnson said she has personally had
situations where a male student has had
a problem learning from her because he
believed that as a woman she wasn't
qualified to teach men.
"I think that if the faculty can't get
beyond the debate of 'can women teach
men,' it creates problems in the classroom; it creates an environment that is
more difficult for women to operate in,
because men do not have to deal with
that kind of a question," Johnson said.
Tim Essenberg, Assistant Professor
of Econom ics and advisor to the students
who coordinate Salt and Light, said that
"If the debate ends with students going
back to the classroom and saying 'Lucie
Johnson, I don't know if I can listen to
your lecture today,' that would be a
major problem."
The authors of the letter, Johnson
and Associate Professor of Nursing
Nancy Larson, said that the letter was
not intended to put a stop to forum s I ike
Salt and Light. "Our intent is not to
muzzle anyone," Johnson said. Larson
said, "I am not in any way trying to
oppose discussion of the issues."
The main concern, the two authors
said, was that people might not understand Bethel's position on the issue of
women teaching men in the church and
the classroom. "My concern was the
impression that [the discussion] would
give folks coming in from off-campus,"
Larson said. Both authors felt mat if the
advertising had made Bethel's position
of non-discrimination clear, there would
have been no need for the letter.
Baseball Splits
Double-Header
With St. Olaf
Page 7
Rhetoric Defines
Women's Roles
Page 11