Tag: Dean Jordan

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Stories In Focus

Feature: Dean Jordan

By Jiana Martin ('26)

Dean Michael Jordan has been Houghton’s full-time Dean of the Chapel for 12 years. Additionally, he works half-time as a professor for various theology and biblical literature classes. After marrying his wife, Jill, and graduating from Houghton in the class of ‘99, he attended seminary and earned his master’s in 2002 from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For the next seven years, he pastored the Exton Community Baptist Church Church in Exton, PA, and returned to school to earn his Doctorate. In 2009, he received his Ph.D. in Liturgical Studies from Drew University. 

“I like that I get to have a pastoral connection with any student that wants one,” Dean Jordan thoughtfully replied. 

Dean Jordan enjoys being a teacher, but his role as a pastor has allowed him to have a different type of relationship with anybody who wants to “just talk.” In regards to students, he can connect with them and get to know them as people without worrying about their academic achievements.

As for Dean Jordan’s favorite places on campus, he really likes how the new Spiritual Life office turned out. In general, he enjoys quiet, sacred and sanctuary spaces, such as the prayer chapel space in the basement of the Wesley Chapel. 

“I also like how outdoorsy Houghton is and I like having so much that is walkable and breathable,” Dean Jordan added. 

Last Thursday, Jan. 18, Dean Jordan spoke at the first faculty lecture of the semester, based on his upcoming book, “Worship in an Age of Anxiety.” This is his first book and he is excited for its release later this year on June 2. 

“I have always valued writing,” Dean Jordan commented and was encouraged by his friend, a professor from Yale, to write a book. 

A couple of years ago, InterVarsity Press reached out to him about a series they were planning to do called Dynamics of Christian Worship. This gave him the opportunity to put pen to paper. The first part of the book looks at anxiety and discusses how churches have often talked about it in the past. Dean Jordan explains that the book contemplates the question: What are some ways that churches can do what we do in a way that is more anxiety informed?

During his lecture, Dean Jordan talked about the prevalence of anxiety and how it has increased in American culture over the past 20 years. He also touched on what people are learning when they get help for anxiety and in what ways the church helps or hurts them. 

Dean Jordan hopes the lecture was a good opportunity for attendees to start reflecting more conscientiously on the ways they practice worship.

“Hopefully, a lecture like this can help people understand some of the backstory to a lot of these worship practices and help them be a little more informed in the way they think about worship,” Dean Jordan concluded.  ★

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Campus News

Dean Jordan Lectures on LGBTQ Issues

Dean of the chapel, Michael Jordan, delivered the first of three lectures in a series on same sex attraction in Christian higher education. The lecture took place on Tuesday evening in the Chamberlain Center and was titled, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?: Same-sex Attraction and the Christian College.”

“Every few years as students turn over there’s a difference in the way students think” said Jordan when asked why he decided to give the talks. “What is considered “progressive” has drastically changed since I was a student twenty years ago, but even since Jill and I moved back to Houghton, I’ve seen viewpoints shift. It’s important for us to be talking about this – not only our decisions but how we’re thinking about making them.”

Houghton is sponsored by the Wesleyan Church, which has declared, as per their website, “We do not, cannot, and will not endorse homosexual activity as a lifestyle.” The site goes on to say that the denomination has arrived at this conclusion from an “overwhelming preponderance of biblical evidence.” Jordan, who has stated in chapel that he agrees with the official Wesleyan position, affirmed the importance of the Bible in the decision making process. “You need to be considering what theological tools you should be using to make what is essentially a theological decision” he said. “And as gospel people, this an issue you have to think through.”

Some students seem to agree. “I think it’s good he’s not avoiding the subject” said Emilia Gildemiester ’18. Katherine Stevick ‘19 stated, “A lot of people would prefer not to talk about it. It’s important for us to be discussing these issues and listening to each other’s viewpoints.”

Jordan originally stated in a chapel announcement  his intention to deliver three lectures. One was to be aimed towards students with a progressive viewpoint on same sex attraction, one aimed towards students who were undecided on the issue and one aimed towards those who maintain a traditional stance. The email announcement also stated that the latter two talks – aimed at those undecided and progressive have been postponed.

According to Jordan, this decision was a result of a meeting between himself and representatives of the LGBTQ community. “A group of students who are affirming of LGBTQ relationships requested to speak with me about my proposed talks” he stated. “After hearing what they had to say, I decided to put off two of talks. I want to try and honor their requests, and I want to give time for that process to happen.” Jordan said he reached an agreement with the group about the content of the first talk before he gave it on Tuesday.

Jordan said he had slightly modified the content of his first talk so that it can stand alone, but it is still covers most of the same information he originally planned for his conservative segment. He currently plans to give the second two talks later in the semester or early next year depending on when he can come to an agreement with the group of students.

“I was looking forward to all three of Dean Jordan’s talks; I think there is something for everyone to get out of all three of them no matter your viewpoint” said Casey Greene ’18. Stevick agreed and added,  “It’s always good to listen to each other.”

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Opinions

LGBQ Inclusion: Community Covenant Amendment

The words “homosexual behavior” need to be taken out of the Community Covenant. Placing “homosexual behavior” within this context equates it to premarital sex and adultery. It is a vague statement which singles out lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) students.

Houghton College’s Statement of Community Responsibilities reads: “We believe that Scripture clearly prohibits certain acts, including drinking beverage alcohol to excess, stealing, speaking or writing profanely or slanderously, acting dishonestly, cheating, engaging in occult practice, and engaging in sexual relations outside the bonds of a Biblical understanding of marriage, including premarital sex, adultery and homosexual behavior” (emphasis added).

Luke_QuoteEquating “homosexual behavior” with premarital sex and adultery hyper-sexualizes LGBQ students’ lives. Recent Graduate, Wynn Horton, said, “By condemning homosexual behavior alongside these others we denigrate it in certain ways,” pointing out that it makes it sound only lustful and foolish. Premarital sex and adultery are both explicitly sexual acts, but “homosexual behavior” is not exclusively about sex. There is much more to a “behavior” than sex.

There are straight students kissing, holding hands, and snuggling around campus. Whether these public displays of affection are desirable is besides the point. The point is they are happening and no “rules” are broken. What does this mean for LGBQ students? The vagueness of this brings many questions. What does “homosexual behavior” mean? What about two men dating on campus, a lesbian student with an off campus fiancée, or, perhaps in the future, a married lesbian or gay couple enrolled on campus? Additionally, how will lesbian or gay alumni couples feel about returning for homecoming and reunions? In an attempt to answer some of these questions, Michael Jordan, dean of the chapel, said, “I want to be clear that the Community Covenant by itself does not restrict LGBQ dating behavior that is not explicitly sexual.” The issue, however, is that the language of the Community Covenant does not adequately communicate this and so these questions still raise doubts in the minds of LGBQ students.

The college’s Same-Sex Attraction: Our Community Voice document outlines community beliefs, acknowledges differing views, and says how people should be treated. It states “… we ask for [LGBQ] students to respect our perspective for the sake of our communal life together. This would mean being especially sensitive to public displays of affection.” While this document is progress, this passage further perpetuates the view that LGBQ students must hide in the “closet,” while their straight peers do not.

LukeWhile the intention may not be to single out LGBQ students, it nonetheless does. By saying “homosexual behavior” and not mentioning heterosexual “behaviors,” the Community Covenant alienates LGBQ students from their peers. Jordan pointed out, “Statements about celibacy and chastity are of course problematic for all 18- to 22-year-olds, no matter their sexual orientation.” Yes, this is true, if the statement were about only chastity or celibacy. However, within their context, these two documents seem to be prohibiting more than just sexual relations, even if that may not be the intent.

The passage in the Community Covenant should be rewritten. Horton said the “passage could easily be rewritten to serve the college’s purpose while maintaining its loyalty to a Christian heritage.” He suggests changing the last part to “‘…and engaging in sexual relations outside of the bonds of marriage.’” This simpler, condensed version still maintains the essential meaning, but does not single anyone out.

According to Kim Cockle, student life administrative assistant, to make such change to the

Community Covenant, requires it to be brought to the Student Life Council as a policy change, then taken to the faculty, and ultimately to the Board of Trustees. To stand in solidarity with their LGBQ peers, students should bring this amendment proposition to the Student Life Council, in the form of a petition or in person at a council meeting. It would still condemn illicit sexual relations for Houghton Students, but diminish the hyper-sexualization, clear up the vague language surrounding the issue, and improve the climate for LGBQ students on campus.

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News

New VOCA Office Opens in Campus Center

A noticeable new edition to the Van Dyke Lounge, is the Fleming-Farver Vocational Opportunities and Career Advising (VOCA office). The office was made possible by a generous donation by Thomas, Ph.D. ’64 and Phyllis (Fleming ‘65) Farver. The VOCA office, lead by Director Kim Pool and Coordinator Brian Reitnour, including other staff such as Administrative Assistant, Cindy Hannigan, Vocational Specialist Rebecca Rowley, Dean Jordan, along with multiple VOCA counselors, offers services that were previously offered in the Career Services Office.

VOCAVOCA will support academic departments and advisors, as well as help students find internship opportunities and connect with Houghton alumni for potential career opportunities through the use of a service called Houghton Connects. According to Pool, the VOCA office hopes to streamline career resources for Houghton students as well as “significantly increase the number of internships and jobs in our online database, specifically in Buffalo and New York City. We also hope to launch an online system that will house internships and streamline the process for registering and receiving approval for an academic internship.” Although, she said, “academic content and approval of academic credit are under the jurisdiction of the Academic Records Office, academic departments, and faculty.

Reitnour stated, “We also hope to talk with students about the broader concept of vocation and God’s calling, which spans beyond one’s occupation to include civic responsibility, relationships with friends and family, church participation and extra curricular activities.” Reitnour also said, “Discovering one’s vocation is more than just searching within to identify unique interests and attributes. It also involves taking a deep look at the world’s needs. We hope to connect students with opportunities to use their skills to serve the needs of the world.”

“The previous location [of Career Services] was tucked away and too small to effectively reach out to 1,000 students. The new location is highly visible and accessible, not only to current students but also prospective students and parents,” Hannigan said. “Its visibility during campus tours communicates Houghton’s commitment and institutional priority to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to be prepared for life after college.” She said that the rest of the Van Dyk lounge will be receiving new furniture in the next few weeks to compliment the VOCA décor.

VOCA offers services to all Houghton students, not just upperclassman. Pool said, “First years and sophomores will definitely benefit from talking with a VOCA counselor early about choosing a major and career options.” In addition to this, students can take advantage of the career assessment tests available at VOCA, as well as Houghton Connects and workshops. Upcoming workshop topics include subjects such as networking, resumes and cover letters, and interviewing skills. A student can even request to do a mock interview with a VOCA counselor.

The new location has already seen in increase in student activity. Students can make appointments in person as well as online, at http://www.houghton.edu/students/voca/. Pool said, “Whatever your class year, we encourage you to make an appointment today to talk with a VOCA counselor who can assess where you are in the four year plan and make sure you are headed in the right direction.”