UNIVERSITIES CANADA's END-RUN ON FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS

I am on a mailing list, and this morning my inbox held this communique from Dr. Carson Pue. I have affinity for Trinity Western University which maintains impeccable educational standards within the context of Christian heritage and values. Because it has met Universities Canada’s standards for decades, and because McLeans magazine has annually cited TWU for excellence, the reported amendment to Universities Canada’s bylaws is deliberately shocking. The proposal would affect all faith-based institutions. Read Dr. Pue’s statement.   

Dear Dr. Ron, 

When I first started working with Bob Kuhn, our president, at TWU, I shared that the evil one never attacks on just one front, and that we must be vigilant in looking for other ways that TWU might come under attack. Since I last wrote to you, another attack has begun.

Last week in the news, it was revealed that Universities Canada (a voluntary non-profit organization for universities) is set to vote in October on amendments to its governing bylaws that could lead to the expulsion of faith-based institutions across the country. Universities Canada officials hope to add a non-discrimination clause to their bylaws that would force faith-based schools such as Trinity Western University to scrap their community covenants under which students and staff agree to live according to Christian moral standards. The rule changes would, among other things, prohibit dismissal of employees who disavow an institution's Christian character.

Michael Van Pelt, the CEO of Cardus, a Christian think tank located in Ottawa, said the following:

In addition to the amendment, the board adopted a complementary policy forbidding any member institution from using “exemptions for bona fideoccupational requirements in an employment relationship to discriminate based on protected grounds, whether or not such exemptions would be otherwise permitted under applicable human rights law.”

In other words, the carefully measured balances that courts have sorted through when it comes to conflicting rights isn’t good enough for Universities Canada. To remain within Universities Canada, some universities may be required to waive some of their legal rights as both employers and educators.

This has been President Kuhn’s response so far:

We applaud Universities Canada’s goal of affirming diversity and promoting non-discrimination. All people, regardless of their background, should be treated with dignity. Jesus modelled this for us.

The legal complexity and the need for the balancing of rights will mean this draft bylaw will undoubtedly have to change because no member of Universities Canada will be able to comply with the new bylaw in its current form. If there were no allowance made for special situations, a Francophone university would not be able to hire only professors fluent in French. It would mean a First Nations university would not be able to show preference for hiring First Nations professors.

Tackling discrimination is a high priority for all universities. Legalities around human rights are very complex. It is typically a provincial matter, so it can vary from coast to coast. Courts and specialized tribunals have the necessary expertise to deal with these human rights issues. I have been talking with other Universities Canada member presidents, and have proposed that the new membership criterion require each university to make a very clear statement of commitment to Canadian human rights law.

May I ask you to now pray for us as we invite Universities Canada to think clearly about what they are proposing? When an institution seeks to unilaterally change the laws regarding what standards of diversity and inclusiveness are legal, all of civil society feels the cultural impact.

Here are some specific prayer requests:

• Pray that TWU’s executive leaders will be humble and use this as a teachable moment with regard to Canadian law and lawful discrimination.
• Pray that one-third of the presidents who attend the meeting in October in Ottawa will oppose the bylaw amendment.
• Praise God that we have had strong enrollment this year.
• Lift up all the men and women who have come to TWU with hope and excitement about serving the Lord in multiple fields of service.

Thank you for your “having our back” in prayer.

Blessings,



Rev. Dr. Carson Pue
Special Assistant to the President
Trinity Western University