“Beloved” professor, author, and New Testament theologian, Scot McKnight, has resigned from Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois, following a year of turmoil and leadership changes for the seminary.

“For over a decade, Dr. McKnight has been a beloved professor and has had an immeasurable impact on hundreds of students in his New Testament classes and cohorts,” Northern announced in una declaración released on Wednesday that it laments the pain McKnight and others experienced because of Northern’s “initial response . . . concerning abuses of power. We understand that the shadow of sin casts long. And yet, we have been and will continue to address every area to prevent such abuse from happening again.”

Como El Informe Roys (TRR) reported previously, William Shiell, Northern’s former president, resigned last year following allegations of bullying and retaliation against multiple women in key leadership roles. Board members also resigned after acusaciones that the board retaliated against a whistleblower. The seminary has made a series of recent reforms hoping for healthy culture change.

In addition to his roles as a professor and theologian, McKnight is also the author with his daughter, Laura Barringer, of the popular books, “A Church Called TOV" y "Pivot,” addressing toxic leadership culture within the church. McKnight also spoke on how churches can be “TOV, not Toxic,” at TRR’s Restore Conference in 2022.

McKnight declined to comment for TRR, but provided a copy of his resignation letter, citing a “toxic culture” at the seminary. The statement marks the first time McKnight has publicly spoken about the recent shakeup at Northern.

“I lament Northern’s years-long descent into a toxic culture of complaint, gossip, sidelining and sabotage,” he wrote. “I lament how the machinations of Northern’s toxic culture have impacted the joy and career of others, including (former Northern Provost) Lynn Cohick’s and mine. In addition, I lament how the Board handled the revelations about our former President and how its lack of a survivor-sensitive and trauma-informed perspective harmed the Northern community, especially the survivors and students.”

In an effort to correct its culture, Northern has brought in outside consultants, two new female board members, and Karen Walker Freeburg as an interim president. Freeburg has said she’ll resign if she sees “damage control” rather than real change.

In December, the seminary issued a statement of lament, explaining the school’s plans to change governing structures, policies, and to engage in training from trauma-informed experts.

In its statement, Northern said, “We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.” It added, “Northern Seminary’s Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and administration are committed to ensuring that Northern is a safe place where authentic community, friendship, and learning mingle together. We believe that Northern is, and will be, an exceptional place for church leaders to further engage God’s word and work in the world for generations to come.”

Interim President Freeburg told TRR that the pain in the seminary’s statement refers to what all have experienced due to “mistakes and wrong decisions” made by former Northern leaders.

“Many were hurt in multiple ways by the actions of former leadership and our lack of understanding what it means to respond as a trauma-informed and victim-centered institution,” Freeburg said. “Each person is processing their experiences in their own way and at their own rate. We are seeking to offer grace and gentleness to each person in their healing.  Healing from abuse and harm is not a destination at which one arrives.  It is a journey and surprises one, like grief, in raising its head to impact our lives when we least expect it.”

McKnight wrote that he won’t be retiring, but will be writing, speaking, and teaching “elsewhere.” He requested continued involvement at Northern in certain areas until 2025. He gave his blessing “on and for the good of Northern Seminary.”

Freeburg said McKnight will teach through the end of his faculty contract in June 2024. He’ll also work with doctoral students through their thesis phase until graduation. And he’ll be taking students on a Middle East or Holy Land study tour.

In response to McKnight’s resignation, the seminary also offered statements from New Testament professor Nijay Gupta and Ingrid Faro, coordinator of the master’s degree in Old Testament, about the changes the seminary has been making.

“While 2022 and 2023 revealed a lot of unhealthy things, last summer we rolled up our sleeves and made the right kind of changes and enlisted outside expertise to help us address any blindspots,” Gupta stated. “We don’t want to hide the past, we are learning from the past, and I am very pleased with the progress and direction of the seminary.”

Faro, who was an alleged bullying victim of former President Shiell, also offered her affirmation of the changes at Northern.

“I’m proud of Northern and proud to be affiliated with Northern,” she said. “We have set an example of how to right an institution by placing people before systems, owning up to wrongs, and revamping our entire structure. We continue to set an example of godly leadership and to live up to our mission, God’s mission, of healing the brokenhearted and training disciples.”

Rebecca Hopkins es una periodista radicada en Colorado.