Diversity, Reconciliation, Antiracism, and Social Justice

The following was taken from answers Dr. Barnes submitted in response to questions from the Presidential Search Committee.

Becoming a campus that more nearly reflects the body of Christ is one of the biggest challenges we face at Bethel University. To achieve greater racial and cultural diversity has been identified as one of our top university goals, and we have made progress, but we have struggled to make as much progress as we desire. For biblical reasons, for economic reasons, for demographic reasons, for reasons related to the accomplishment of our mission, we must continue to make this one of our essential commitments. The Bethel of the future must celebrate and reflect the racial and gender diversity of the body of Christ, a driving commitment to reconciliation, and an educational practice that changes our identity and connects our employees and students to God's global mission.

I have attempted to lead in this arena at Bethel through continuing to grow in my own understanding, supporting the growth of others, publicly calling for us to stand for justice, and allocating resources to bring about structural change. I have articulated educational and biblical reasons for the importance of our commitments. I have prodded and lobbied to get our students and employees into situations where learning on this is maximized. I expect that these issues will continue to challenge us as an institution and as individuals. We cannot ignore God's call to reconcile, re-image, and commit to biblical justice. God demands our commitment to a biblical view of the world, and these issues are at the heart of a biblical worldview.