Concordia University sheds longtime religious affiliation
The Concordia University of Edmonton has officially surrendered its religious roots to better reflect its openness and diverse student population.
The board finalized the decision last fall, said Concordia president Gerald Krispin, but it was officially announced April 15.
“The idea to change has been there for quite some time,” he said.
“Concordia has not been fully supported by any particular religious constituency for very many years.
“It basically goes back to 1978 that the level of support has gone down.”
In its $30-million annual budget, Krispin said $30,000 came from the constituency of Lutheran alumni this past year — down from their usual donation of $128,400 a year due to severe financial troubles faced by the church. But the decision to break away was being discussed in 2014 before the financial crisis, Krispin said.
“We really want people to know that we truly are an inclusive university which really has that openness and students who come here are welcome for every background they come from. And when you’re associated with a church, people make assumptions.” Krispin said most students welcomed the move.
Robert Bugbee, president of Lutheran Church-Canada, said he was shocked by the decision, as it was made without consultation with his organization.
“I understand the situation they’re in, ” he said. “The school made a judgment that it would perhaps be easier for them to expand their basis of support if they were not so close with their Christian heritage. But it’s left us wondering if it had to go that way … and if it had to be quite so absolute.”
Bugbee said there will continue to be an Institute for Christian Studies at the university where conferences will be held.
“We’re disappointed, of course, because it was ancestors in our church that planted that institution back in the 1920s. There was a long history of common work together between the church and the university,” he said. “I think the relationship will continue to be a cordial one, but I don’t know exactly how it will shake down in the future.”