METHODISTS REPRESENTING THE CAUSE OF HISPANIC AMERICANS (MARCHA)
The Hispanic/Latino Caucus in The United Methodist Church

PRESS RELEASE: Situation at Iliff School of Theology

Contact person: Rev. German Acevedo-Delgado, President of MARCHA 2001-2204 Gacevedo@gbgm-umc.org

Milwaukee, WI, November 21, 2004

This is the text of the resolution approved by the 2004 Assembly of MARCHA regarding the Iliff School of Theology and the dismissal of President Dr. David Maldonado.

Resolution regarding Iliff School of Theology

The Assembly of MARCHA, gathered on November 19 to 21, 2004 expresses its outrage for the injustice and mistreatment done by Iliff against Dr. David Maldonado.

The joint report of the University Senate and the General Commission on Religion and Race review team on the Iliff situation recommended that “Iliff School of Theology be placed on “immediate listing with public warning.” The public warning was issued after identifying that institutional racism was a major, significant factor” leading to the dismissal of Dr. Maldonado. The circumstances related to the dismissal of Dr. Maldonado were hidden, skillfully disguised with the retirement language that was used by Iliff to announce the departure of Dr. Maldonado. The joint report is in agreement with the initial findings of MARCHA’s investigation on this matter.

Even when the intervention of MARCHA was prompted by the mistreatment of Dr. David Maldonado, one of our distinguished members, we are concerned for the well being of other racial ethnic minorities working or studying at Iliff, and for the quality of theological education in The United Methodist Church. We were appalled by the intents to intimidate Dr. Eunjoo Kim due to her support to Dr. Maldonado. The assembly of MARCHA commends Dr. Eunjoo Kim for her integrity and courage. We also commend Rev. Dr. Gil Caldwell, a former member of the Iliff Board of Trustees, for once more taking a clear stance against bigotry. Other racial ethnic minority faculty also provided valuable information to the initial research done by MARCHA. We salute all of them without mentioning their names as they wished, and celebrate their long-standing struggle against racism and for inclusiveness.

Integrity, courage, taking a stance against injustice and bigotry are values that any school of theology should be instilling in the members of its community. Iliff needs to take step to redress the injustice against Dr. Maldonado, against Dr. Kim and against all the people struggling to overcome racism.

Therefore, the 33rd assembly of MARCHA calls on Iliff to do the following:

Be it further resolved that the Executive Committee of MARCHA is hereby instructed to follow up on this matter by being in communication with the General Commission on Religion and Race and monitoring the progress of Iliff on justly addressing the aforementioned concerns. If needed the Executive Committee on MARCHA shall strongly request from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the General Commission on Religion and Race, the General Council on Finance and Administration, the General Board of Global Ministries, and the Committee on Hispanic/Latino Ministries that no funds from the United Methodist Church be available to Iliff until such time that the institutional racism issues are satisfactorily addressed and justice has been done to Dr. David Maldonado. Also, the Executive Committee of MARCHA, if significant changes do not occur before the end of the Spring 2005 semester, will discourage Hispanic/Latino students from enrolling at the Iliff School of Theology.

Copy of this resolution will be send to all the general agencies and the racial-ethnic minority caucuses within the United Methodist Church. Approved by the Assembly of MARCHA on November 20, 2004.