REMUERA BAPTIST COLLEGE

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26877, 1 November 1952, Page 6

REMUERA BAPTIST COLLEGE

Retiring Principal’s Complaints “WORK WANTONLY ENDED” (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 31. The Rev. Luke H. Jenkins, the retiring principal of the Baptist College of New Zealand at Remuera, told the Baptist Assembly in Dunedin today that he had been “driven from the college” by a campaign conducted by a group in the denomination which had “gone all out” for his removal. The group, said Mr Jenkins, had opposed his work on the grounds that he was a modernist, and that he and his wife were unspiritual and worldly people. His work, undertaken in good heart, had been brought wantonly to an end, the academic integrity of the college had been destroyed, and the Baptist denomination involved in open scandal.

The presentation of Mr Jenkins’s resort was considered by the assembly in committee. However, a copy of the report, left in Auckland, was released on Mr Jenkins’s own authority. Mr Jenkins has been principal of the Baptist College for the last seven years, but last May he announced that he would not offer himself for a further term of service when his present appointment expired in 1953. Board Meeting “Blocked”

In February, four ministers blocked a meeting of the college board, and precipitated his withdrawal from the college, said Mr Jenkins in his report. Three of these ministers became applicants for the vacancy. Mr Jenkins said the question of the principal’s appointment was raised at a meeting of the Baptist Union executive in March, and as a result a delegation put it to him that he should not stand for his office again. There were no professional, theologu cal, or moral grounds on which his ca!l cou!d rightly be terminated, said Mr Jenkins. The educational work of the college had not been a failure, and the teaching of the college and, in particular, the principal had been vindicated by the results achie\ ed by students in the University examinations in Under his administration, said Mr Jenkins, the college had gained an academic standing it did not have before, and it had not lost touch with the churches. The college had been economically administered, and although new equipment had steadilv been bought, its funds had shown a regular surplus. The life of the college was peacej s P lte ou tside interference, and the devotional life of the students was steadily improving, Mr Jenkins said. However, to carry out his work with essential dignity and authority was impossible under the circumstances. and to save the college and himself from eight months’ degradatrnn, he had announced his withdrawal. “Efforts to Create Disaffection” Mr Jenkins said the campaign against him personally had been reinforced by determined efforts to create disaffection among the students It is the easiest thing in the world to stir un disaffection among students l ?^f a X en them ' as some have been, that if thev are loyal to the principal, they will be labelled modernist? and never get good churches,” said Mr Jenkins. “I was determined to pro-t(7yi-«tud?nJS from such a n attack on the life of the college. There was < l ne ) vay for me to do it.” i Mr Jenkins said the whole campaign i an attack on the integrity of a $ Go ?-- Since that - through the action of certain minis- i ters, now appeared to have the en- i

d°r s ement of the executive of the Baptist Union, it was clear that he could not carry on his work without sacrificing the integrity which it was the primary duty of a minister to guard.