Paul's Passing Thoughts

“It grieves my heart to write this next statement. But,  friends, I am ashamed to be called a graduate of Cedarville College/ University.”

“For several years the University has knowingly and willingly allowed a man to be on the Board of Trustees that was, and still is part of a terrible, sinful situation that no one wants to address.”

~Susan D. Dohse MEd.

I am a 1973 graduate of Cedarville College, now Cedarville University. I remember so clearly traveling from Louisville, Kentucky with my parents to this unknown to us destination in Cedarville, Ohio.  This was before GPS, or Map Quest, so my Dad located Cedarville on a map and off we went.  My mother, bless her heart, exclaimed, after we had been traveling for a while on country roads, “Lordy, Lordy, Susan, is this place in the middle of a cornfield?”  Well, back in the day, the answer was “Almost.”

Maddox was the new dormitory and I was privileged to be in one of the units.  After unloading and settling into my room, my parents were to attend a parent’s only meeting with Cedarville’s president, Dr. James Jeremiah. I waited out by our car, taking in the college atmosphere, nervous, excited, and a little fearful.  I had just turned 17 and now was attending college out of state. When the meeting was over my Dad stood before me and said, “I like that man.  He is not going to put up with any shenanigans.” That was back in the day.

Back in the day when I attended Cedarville, the college was ever so careful who was on the Board, who was permitted to preach/teach in Chapel, and even what Christian groups would be allowed to come and minister in music to us students. The standard was to be not associated knowingly with any person or group that compromised the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Those words taken from the book of Revelation was the mission statement of Cedarville College, back in the day.

Unfortunately, not so today. It grieves my heart to write this next statement. But, friends, I am ashamed to be called a graduate of Cedarville College/ University. For several years the University has knowingly and willingly allowed a man to be on the Board of Trustees that was, and still is part of a terrible, sinful situation that no one wants to address.  Dr. Loftis, once head of ABWE, was involved in the cover-up of criminal acts committed by Dr. Ketcham, missionary doctor to Bangladesh. Now Loftis is on the Board of Trustees, a sought after conference speaker, and speaks at retreats held at Baptist camps.

Where is the practice of Matthew 18?  Where are the men, godly men, who should be confronting Dr. Loftis, breaking fellowship with him, separating from associating with him until he repents, and reconciles with those he had horribly offended? Instead, he is rewarded with a position as trustee, offered speaking engagements, and allowed to continue serving in the Christian community as though nothing is wrong. To Dr. Loftis, and to Cedarville University, I ask that you either live by the Word of God, and protect the testimony of Jesus Christ, or take down these words that are displayed on campus. Don’t display words that you do not plan on living by.

Back in the day, Dr. Jeremiah would not have tolerated these shenanigans, but, unfortunately, we are faced with today.

Susan