By Terimarie Degree

Guest Writer

Calvin's requirement that faculty put their children through Christian education has been discussed and featured in previous Chimes articles, but it deserves another look. If a staff member decides to choose a non-Christian school for their children, Calvin gives them the boot. In my short time of being here at Calvin (I'm a junior) I have witnessed this rule rid our college of two of its staff. Justin Barrett completed his last semester here in the spring of 2000, and Robert Reed now is currently finishing his last semester.

In the past, the subjects of cultural and religious preservation were argued to either defend or tear down this rule. As an African-American brought up within the Baptist tradition, and only first exposed to Dutch culture and the Christian Reformed Church a couple years ago, I find myself ill-equipped to tackle the issue of cultural/religious preservation. But, as an outsider looking in, I have come to see that there is an aspect of the CRC faith that is emphasized more strongly than in other denominations, including my own. That aspect is Christian service.

Christian service is not only a part of the Christian Reformed faith; it is also very much a part of the vision for this school. I would like to raise a couple of questions specifically asking how great a value should be placed upon acts of service, and furthermore, if ever an act of service should come within the bounds of conflict with this requirement, which one of them should rightfully win out?

Calvin places a large importance on service. There is, in fact, an entire department dedicated to carrying out a specific mission for the school in that area, called the Service-Learning Center. With catch phrases such as ``Serving to Learn ... Learning to Serve.'' and ``Joining the Dance,'' the center highlights the benefits of a give-and-take relationship as well as the fun and enjoyment one can receive by means of an act of service.

The purpose statement acknowledges the significance of such work as it ``provides the settings for learning and growth'' while also is a sharing of ``culture, heritage and friendship.'' Basically, the program presents itself in a way so that any student with hankerings to serve can feel like their needs will be met and that they will not only make a difference to someone but they themselves will change for the better.

What does the function of the Service-Learning Center have to do with the staff requirement? It is obvious that Calvin would like its students to branch out and help those who maybe are less fortunate than them. Calvin would also like students to interact with those who come from different walks of life in order to be of assistance and to learn lessons they might not otherwise, but what about the Calvin staff? Are programs geared toward the staff? Do they have to spend an extremely hot day or two in late August doing some sort of work out in the community with the not so exciting reward of a T-shirt? Must they complete a certain amount of hours of service depending upon what particular field they work in? As far as I know, there is no requirement of service that is applied to all of the staff. Does that mean that service is something that is deemed less important than scholarship?

The absence of such a requirement of that does not, in and of itself, indicate that service is less important. However, if something is valuable for students, should it not also be seen as something of worth for staff members as well as for their children? I think so, and those who choose to the people who chose to go against this rule and were consequently punished for it, thought the same.

The two men who have lost their positions here at Calvin have lost them because they made decisions to serve. These decisions were not only made for themselves but for their families, for their children. They chose to say in their actions that service was not just an activity or an afternoon spent in late summer, but that service was a lifestyle.

Robert Reed goes to Madison Square CRC, a church we are all familiar with and one that is known for its cultural diversity and community involvement. He, along with other members of the church, decided to move into the same community as the church in order to serve daily instead of just worship once a week. They chose to be a part of their surroundings to better them, to help build them up, and to lead others to Christ. They chose to ``learn and grow, and share of culture, heritage and friendship.''

Reed has younger children who since moving have made new friendships with the children of the community. The new friends and the new environment also came with a new school. Reed decided to send his children to the place where their friends went to learn. He did this not in rebellion of Calvin policy or to defy what importance Christian education holds but as a way to further incorporate the life of service he would like to share with his children. As a result, he is ending his career here at Calvin because his reasons for enrolling his children in public schools are not good enough for him to be allowed to stay.

Again it seems that the vision for service is meant for the students, not the staff. Why are the standards different when we are supposed to be in this together? Why are staff members being punished for not only ``Joining the Dance'' but also taking control and showing their children the steps? We have already lost one staff member to this rule and another is on his way, but one concluding question should be asked: do the standards that are so strongly upheld pertaining to staff requirements comply with the ideals and principles of God and His specific vision for Calvin, or do they merely abide by those of men?

We must obey God rather than men! (Acts 5:29, NIV)