Dear Pres. Dr. Barry Corey

As proud alumni, donors, and supporters of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology, we are writing to express deep concern over a recent petition. Fundamental to our concern is the belief that the alumni who crafted and signed the BASIS petition addressed to the President this June are not endorsing a traditional view that acknowledges Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as sufficient for reconciliation and unity both in the culture and the Church. Rather, their petition pushes a postmodern ideology that perceives people as not essentially equal and rejects our common humanity being grounded in the image of God. This ideology further appeals to our sinful tendency toward division and pushes a view of human persons that too casually adopts philosophical and sociological principles inimical to historical Christian thought. It emphasizes not diversity among essential equals, but segregates human persons based on superficial physical and cultural differences. Our identity, however, is first and foremost in the image of God, not in our cultural heritage or socio-economic position. This is a divinely-ordained identity, not a socially constructed one. 

While we are pleased to hear that the President did not respond to such a brazen set of demands, we are also disconcerted by the simple fact that the crafters of the BASIS petition and those who attached their good names to it, were educated and mentored at Biola. In light of this reality, we feel compelled to actively address this ideology and its status at Biola University, Talbot School of Theology. 

This unbiblical ideology has a name: Critical Theory (hereafter referred to as CT or CRT). CT promotes an alternative gospel whereby we must seek salvation by deconstructing existing societal structures— forcibly if need be— as the primary means of producing moral character, or conquering sin, instead of seeking transformation of the heart through the inner-working of the Holy Spirit, the practice of our Christian faith, and the individual pursuit of virtue. This ideology has all the trappings of a new religion: (https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/11/andrew-sullivan-the-intersectional-lefts-political-endgame.html) 

Moreover, CT and CRT reduce all human relationships, without exception, to pure power dynamics. This makes any relationship, personal or otherwise, fundamentally a relationship of oppressor vs. the oppressed, regardless of facts to the contrary. Such a view of human relationships will continue to damage already fragile human relationships, even church and familial ones. This core tenet renders all friendships, between the two sexes and ethnically disparate persons entirely inauthentic and disingenuous. Instead of bringing us together in unity, CRT assumes an oppressor-oppressed dichotomy and thus promotes endless, inescapable division. While we accept that in any human relationship there exists the potential for such a dynamic, we deny the anti-Christian materialism that frames the entire social theory behind CRT, and the view that this dynamic is manifested solely in group-identity. Instead, we affirm the fundamentally Christian proclamation of essential human equality grounded in our shared identity as image bearers of God, but which is corrupted by the reality of sin. To attribute guilt to individuals solely because they belong to a particular ethnic group is a graceless doctrine, one not in keeping with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and which gives way to endless accusation, public shaming, and the manipulation of truth. In Ephesians 2:11-20, we are told that Christ’s blood has “destroyed” the “dividing wall of hostility,” is our “peace,” has made us “one,” and has made us “fellow citizens.” We do not need CT or CRT as mechanisms of analysis or impetuses for penitence, for Christ’s blood is sufficient to unify us and reconcile us to one another. 

CT and CRT have other components that are deeply incompatible with biblical Christianity, and cannot be maintained harmoniously by a Christian seminary or university, lest that seminary or university eventually lose its orthodox Christian character. We cannot bear to think that Biola and Talbot School of Theology could become the next Wake Forest or Union Theological. As alumni and donors representing a diverse group of Christians from many ethnic backgrounds, we desperately hope to provide an alternative voice to the aggressive, demanding, and uncompromising ones that already seem to have “won the day,” not only at Biola but throughout higher education in our country, as evidenced by institutions such as Evergreen College, WA (https://www.thecollegefix.com/as-evergreen-states-enrollment-continues-to-tank-it-hosts-white-blaming-equity-symposium/). 

Therefore, we appeal to our common historical faith, to our common human reason, and to our common human nature, in the hope that you will seriously consider our objections, our affirmations, and our suggestions for how Biola might best proceed in these times of great uncertainty. We pray for the leadership of Biola that they would be granted the strength and courage to seek what is good, what is true, and what is beautiful in the sight of God and what will unite the Body of Christ rather than tear it apart. 

Our Concerns:

We alumni of Talbot School of Theology and Biola University share the following concerns:

• That there may be tacit support by some faculty at Biola of groups, organizations, or movements that directly or indirectly fund or support violence, either against property or human life, especially the organization Black Lives Matter. Evidence of the danger of such organizations can be found here, for example: https://www.leoweekly.com/2017/08/white-people/. Also, we do not limit violence to physical violence, but consider any act of calumny or detraction aimed at persons with alternative views as violent.
• Biola adopting and training students in the principles and tenets of a philosophical ideology that is not conducive to an orthodox biblical hermeneutic, to the historical deposit of the Christian faith, or to human flourishing more broadly.
• The tactics used by some alumni to strong-arm leadership into making unwise decisions about the future of Christian education at Biola university, a decision that will impact the Church for years to come, and that reinforces an immoral precedent already set at secular institutions.
• That, in fact, the “viewpoint diversity” mentioned in the Theological Statement on Diversity will not actually be realized, but remain merely notional as alternative, conservative black and POC (people of color) voices will be rejected solely because they hold diverse opinions from the now mainstream culture.
• That there has been an uncritical assumption that peaceful racial movements are not implicitly connected to and supportive of similar racial movements that do advocate for “doing evil so good may come,” an inherently unbiblical and sinful moral disposition. This tactic is also one that is well known to any student of military information operations, where “peaceful” movements are used as public fronts, all the while supporting their more militant counterparts (e.g. the Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Army).
• That CRT advocates at Biola may be making an uncritical assumption that all POC— to include many African Americans, are actually in agreement with the kinds of demands being made upon white Americans and institutions such as Biola. This is simply untrue.
• That Biola, through its enthusiastic promotion of the SCORR conference, is abetting in an understanding of ethics and morality that transforms “resentment” and “vengeance” into virtues, and makes shaming and the use of ad hominem a legitimate alternative to reasoned dialogue.
• That in not denouncing organizations like Black Lives Matter, or by entertaining alumni or faculty who actively support such organizations, Biola may be indirectly endorsing values that are inconsistent with biblical Christianity, or with the founding principles of our country (e.g. same-sex marriage, transgenderism, anti-Capitalism, etc., https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/).
• That in attaching itself to these other values, Biola is giving into an ideology that is much more concerned with far broader sociological and cultural goals than just racial reconciliation and institutional diversity; goals related to the overturning of the economic and social structures that have allowed all people in this country to thrive— to include its educational systems and the nuclear family itself.
• Finally, the signers of this statement are deeply grieved at the character, content, and tone of the BASIS petition sent to the President in June of this year; a tone and attitude that did not represent Christlikeness, but was instead imbued with a deeply worldly, arrogant, and aggressive sense of entitlement and disregard for authority. Yet all of these signatories were educated and mentored at Biola. This is not a good harbinger of things to come, and raises many red flags about the current academic climate in the undergraduate departments.

Our Affirmations:

We alumni of Biola and the Talbot School of Theology affirm with great conviction the following:

• That all human life is created in the image of God and that there is a common human nature to all men and women.
• That because of that common human nature and because of the existence of the soul, we share in a reality far deeper and far more fundamental than any merely physical or cultural difference that might seem to divide us.
• That human diversity in our physical and cultural differences is something to be celebrated as part of God’s plan for his creation, both in this life and the life to come.
• That racism has existed in this country and in every country of the world, and that it must be fought through peaceful and prayerful means wherever and whenever it is found. This does not, however, justify that any means can be used to fight the evil of racism, for it is neither biblical, nor reasonable, nor decent to commit evil so that some good may come, even a greater good.
• That Blacks have been uniquely mistreated in the history of this country and that special attention should be given to the needs of Black communities, including their families and their churches. We, however, emphasize that the primary need for any community, family, or church is always a spiritual and relational need, and not a political one.
• That, in accordance with the Scriptures, while generational and corporate sins are realities to contend with, God does not directly punish sons for the sins of the fathers, nor individuals for the sins of the community, nor should we punish innocent people for the wickedness of others. This is especially the case when those others are not members of Christ’s body, the Church, but only members of some ethnic group. For, while we are all held culpable for the original sin of Adam, Christ came as the last Adam to die for our sins and to offer us redemption through his blood. Under CRT, there is no redemption and no end to the works one must do to achieve reconciliation. As stated earlier, under CT, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is not enough to unite us.
• That the unborn and the protection of the unborn should take precedent in the defense of the doctrine of imago Dei. As Mother Theresa rightly taught, the most vulnerable and most marginalized in society should always be prioritized over those that can to some degree defend or fend for themselves. Any organization, therefore, that affirms or celebrates legal abortion should be renounced for not only not being committed to the full range of human dignity, but also deemed as culpable in the destruction of human life and dignity.
• We affirm that the nuclear family as God originally designed it (one original, biological male and one original, biological female united in life-long, monogamous marriage) is still and shall ever be the only theological position of human sexual relations that fully honors God and is faithful to the inspired biblical text, the historical deposit of the Church, and that subsequently leads to human flourishing both individually and culturally.
• Finally, we do affirm that the problem of racism has been and continues to be a real one. However, it is a complex issue that is multi-causal and its solution cannot be reduced to simplistic platitudes and sloganeering; it will not be resolved through the propagation of false narratives and the abuse of evidence. It is the Christian religion, with Christ as its center that can lead us into a new era of peace and restoration, not a theory that acts as an alternative religion to the true Gospel. Moreover while there may be systemic and institutional evils, as pointed out by the late Dr. Robert Saucy, that there are such evils does not entail that systemic racism currently exists, especially as defined by CRT scholars and advocates. 

Constructive Initiatives:

In light of these affirmations, we propose the following constructive initiatives:

• That Biola actively seek partnership with Black and other minority groups and ministries that provide a conservative alternative to organizations like Black Lives Matter. Some that are worth considering are: The 1776 Project, The Center for Biblical Unity, the Manhattan Institute, Heritage Counsel, and the Claremont Institute.
• That Biola invite alternative voices of color to speak, such as the following: Dr. Voddie Baucham, Chantal Monique Duson, Samuel Sey, Melissa Sturdivant Pellew, Leo Terrel, Larry Elder, Shelby Steele, Jesse Lee Peterson, Tim Scott, Neil Shenvi, Brandon Tatum, Coleman Hughes, John McWhorter, Jason Riley, Glenn Loury, Walter Williams, David Azzerad, Jamil Javani, and Thomas Sowell.
• That Biola officially clarify its position on core tenets of Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory that to us seem incompatible with historical Christian orthodoxy, as well as toxic to the welfare of human souls.
• That Biola require faculty and staff to sign a pledge not to promote, endorse, or advocate for CT or CRT on campus.
• That Biola publicly clarify its position on the organization Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/what-we-believe/
• That Biola organize a series of open and formal debates between socially Conservative and Liberal Christians that are done in a spirit of charity and truth-seeking (since the Alumni represented here by and large believe that the real split is not across racial lines, but across social and political theories, this forum will also act to address what we believe to be the real, underlying issues causing the actual problems of our times).
• That Biola adopt a new strategy of racial and gender integration that clearly and without exception gives zero preference to potential students, employees or faculty based on their ethnicity or gender, but that transparently considers students, faculty, and staff based solely and entirely on their individual merit and their personal, Christian character.
• That in a sign of solidarity and social courage, Biola sponsor a police and law enforcement appreciation day each year to honor the men and women of La Mirada that keep our communities safe.
• That the administration be active in inviting alternative voices to CRT, not just as speakers, but also teachers and faculty.
• That the administration be proactive in counteracting aggressive forms of CRT being taught in classrooms, aspects of which are causing students to doubt their faith.
• That there be disciplinary action taken against faculty who do not take the doctrinal statement of Biola seriously, but are interested in subverting classical Christian teachings on the human person and Christian moral development.
• That there be an internal review of the following departments, faculty dissertations, and the literature being assigned in any classes that touch on CT or CRT: Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, English and Literature, Communications and Intercultural Studies.
• That there be an active initiative to present alternative voices and academic works in these departments that are teaching CT or CRT, and that an official  statement be made that while CT and CRT can be examined and elucidated as a theory, it is not one that Biola endorses or promotes.
• That Biola take seriously and address the concerns of students who have felt indoctrinated and abused by CRT advocates.
• That a review be conducted to determine exactly what is being done to integrate the biblical worldview with these other sociological disciplines like Critical Theory.

Dr. Corey, we are with you. We know the depth of your character and the degree of your commitment to Jesus Christ and the revealed Word of God, and thus stand with you. That is why we believe it is imperative that you expose and uproot this unbiblical ideology of Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory at Biola University, lest Biola fall prey to the “long march through the institutions” that has already caused the downfall of so many places of higher education. May the Lord guide you in these troubling times.

In Christ,

The Signatories:

Aaaron Huffman, (’18)

Aaron Brake, (’11)

Adam Haer, (’15)

Andrea Greene, (’98)

Anthony Costello, (’16 & ’18)

Ariel J. Bollant, (’18)

Artur Asaduriyan, Founder Apologia (’15)

Austin A. Green, Talbot School of Theology (’20)

Bob Brumleu, Biola MBA Mentor

Brian Brooks, Jr. (’19)

Carlos Pamplona, (’14 & ’18)

Carolyn Caldwell, (’20)

Claudia Kalmikov, (’16)

Dr. Corey Miller, President/CEO Ratio Christi, (’01)

Dana S. Chisholm, (’02)

Dr. Jacob Daniel, President Heritage Counsel (’19)

Dr. Kurt Jaros, Faith Ascent Ministries (’10 & ’11)

Elizabeth (Hagberg) Webb, (’10)

Eric Nimmo, ('19)

Glenn Meyer, (’19)

Jeff Kalmikov (’13)

Jeffrey Lee, National Project Coordinator, Christian Educators Association International (’17 & ’19)

John Kalmikov, (’16)

John Rigsby ('94)

John Woolard, (’16 & ’19)

Joseph Taub, (’18)

Joshua Johnson (’19)

Joshua Matayka, (’19)

Juan E. Davalos, Vice President of Talbot’s Associated Students (’11)

Justin Green, Founder of GodLovesHomosexuals.com (’10)

Karen Ruth Myers, (’10)

Kathryn Kuranaga (’10)

Kelly Monroe Kullberg, Former Biola Board of Trustees

Logan Zeppieri (’19)

Lori Mann ('05)

Lucas K. Murillo, (’09 & ’18)

Matthew Abraham Schellenberg, (’10) 

Paloma Herrera, (’17)

Pastor Mark J Davison, Born Again Christian Church (’13 & ’15) 

Ryan Bunke, (’18)

Ryan Taylor, (’17)

Sally Habashy, (’18)

Scarlett Clay, (’18)

Shawn Harms, (’19)

Sheldon Mann (’07 & ’09)

Tim Stratton, President of Free Thinking Ministries (’14)

Timothy Stetson Pierce, (’18)

Troy Peiffer, (’15 & ’17)

Wai-Shing Simon Tse, (’87 & ’98)

Zachary Kirkpatrick, (’19)

To follow updates on this petition please visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/540873916581260/