Northern Seminary has appointed two new female board members, one with experience in abuse response, the other a seasoned pastor. This follows a months-long shakeup, prompting the former president to resign over alleged bullying of female employees, and board members to resign for allegedly retaliating against whistleblowers.

Charlene Quint, an attorney who helps domestic violence victims, and Patty Bilyeu, a pastor and CEO, have joined the board of this Lisle, Ill.-based campus, the seminary Anunciado Monday.

“We are pleased to have the partnership of Dr. Patty King Bilyeu and Dr. Charlene Quint as newly elected members of the Board of Trustees,” said Jim Stellwagen, board chair, in the online statement. “Dr. King Bilyeu is a Northern graduate and seasoned female lead pastor. Dr. Quint brings a wealth of knowledge and experience given her various roles, but especially in her development of AbuseCare.”

In March, Northern Seminary President William Shiell renunciar amid allegations of bullying and retaliation publicado por TRR. Many Northern students claimed the board mishandled the allegations and called for board members to apologize or resign.

Since then, the seminary despedido whistleblower Jennifer Boysen, Northern’s former chief development officer. Popular Provost Lynn Cohick also reportedly resigned but hasn’t issued a public statement explaining why. Tommy Lee, executive director of the seminary’s Grow Center for Church and Mission, also resigned. He had been outspoken about Shiell’s alleged bullying.

Fay Quanstrom, a board member, who accused other board members of bullying female board members, renunciar—but then was reinstated. Former Board Chair Wyatt Hoch and board member, John Kujawa, whom students named in a complaint to the Association of Theological Schools, resigned. Board member, David Gnirk, also renunciar.

Northern had previously been known for cultivating a “tov” or “good” culture that student protesters have said has been tarnished. In July, the board se disculpó in a letter to students, faculty, and staff.

Also on Monday, Northern officially changed acting president Karen Walker Freeburg’s status to interim president and initiated a search for a new president. In April, Freeburg took over as acting president when Shiell resigned and has led Northern through a season of learning and healing, Stellwagen said. In July, Freeburg sent un correo electrónico to students saying the board has shown sorrow, regret, and an understanding of their responsibility in the concerns raised.

“The Board’s sorrow was palpable, and they re-committed to planning a wise path for the seminary’s future,” she told students in her July email. “They will ensure that any new Trustees in the pipeline align with the current board’s desire for real change.”

Freeburg also sent TRR an additional statement calling for real changes and not “damage control” to systemic issues or she’ll resign.

“I have committed to the Northern community that I am here for change and systemic healing,” she wrote in her statement.  “It is the only way forward. There is neither enough money nor any title that I would accept if it came with the expectation of performative, status-quo action that would simply soothe the anxieties and create a false sense of wellness. I will resign if I hear in my soul that we are participating in actions that are for the purpose of damage control instead of letting go of control and seeking the wisdom and partnership of the entire Northern community and the Holy Spirit.”

The board is also working with a professional consultant with experience in crisis and nonprofit management, Freeburg wrote. The consultant has done work with In Trust, an organization that trains, supports, and advises accredited seminary boards and executives.  

The seminary invited students, faculty, and staff into working groups and a task force with a goal of transparency and accountability, she said. Gerald Dew, a Chicago-area pastor and director of the seminary’s South Side Center for Urban Leadership, is a co-leader for that task force.

“We admit there have been human errors, mistakes, and failures, as happens with any organization led by and populated by people,” Dew wrote in una declaración that Freeburg provided TRR. “However, our foundation is firm, our mission, vision, and values are clear, and our future is bright.”

The new board members are also hopeful.

“I admire Northern’s beautiful, God-centered history to educate women and men of all races and cultures as church leaders empowered by the Holy Spirit,” Quint said. “I am honored to be called to serve the Lord in this capacity, and I look forward to the exciting things God will do in and through his people at Northern.”

Quint is a family law attorney, focusing her practice on helping women overcome domestic abuse. She is also the founder of AbuseCare, a nondenominational faith-based organization designed to provide hope and healing to women and to educate and equip businesses and faith communities.

Bilyeu is the CEO and executive minister for the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region. Bilyeu has served as pastor, youth pastor, Christian educator, interim pastor, and Christian school teacher and administrator. She received her doctorate from Northern Seminary.

The news of the new board members was met with cautious support from those who raised concerns.

“We are excited for the new appointments of Rev. Dr. Patty Bilyeu and Charlene Quint, J.D., C.D.V.P.,” wrote student leaders Sarah Klingler, Justin Charles, and Karen Smith. “They bring valuable insight to the Northern Board that is needed in this attempt at a new path forward.”

Attorney and Northern master’s student Christine Calareso Bleecker said she’s encouraged and hopeful.

“I am prayerfully hopeful that the fresh perspectives brought to the board by these women will help tear down systems that do not serve the students, faculty, and staff at Northern, and help build up new systems that support transparency, accountability, and justice,” she said.

Whistleblower Jennifer Boysen recently attended a board-initiated Zoom call for the 17 letter-writers who originally informed the board of Shiell’s alleged bullying. Some shared tearful stories with the board, pleading for acknowledgement and restitution, she said.

Boysen said she still hasn’t seen an apology from the board directly to the bullying victims. The board has also never apologized for firing her after she raised concerns about Shiell.

“There needs to be a public apology,” Boysen said. “And there needs to be sort of this personal commitment to their faith demonstrated above what they think they should quote unquote protect the school . . . If you’re not willing to do the right thing, then how can you lead an organization that’s equipped to train pastors and teachers and other individuals on this?”

Stellwagen told TRR that the board is communicating with Boysen through her attorney.

Klingler, Charles, and Smith also urged for ongoing assistance for those harmed in their joint statement to TRR.

“We remain steadfast in our primary desire, which is that the victims of Bill Shiell, who experienced harm by the previous actions/inactions of the Northern Board, be engaged with trauma-informed interactions and offered any assistance they need, while forming a culture at the Board that doesn’t allow this to happen again,” they wrote.

Rebecca Hopkins es una periodista radicada en Colorado.