Calvin University President Forced To Resign Following ‘Inappropriate Messages’
Photo courtesy of Calvin University
The president of Calvin University, a Christian school based in Michigan, was forced to step down on Monday following “inappropriate messages,” according to the school’s board of trustees.
The shocking announcement alleged that President Wiebe Boer had “engaged in unwelcome and inappropriate communication” toward a nonstudent member of the school.
Boer was not accused of having any physical contact with the person or communicating in a sexually explicit nature, the board added, but that the “conduct is concerning and inappropriate.”
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“The Board of Trustees of Calvin University is committed to fostering a workplace and educational environment that emphasizes the worth of every member of our community,” the board said in a statement. “This includes taking seriously all reports of inappropriate conduct.”
Boer has denied some of the allegations but admitted to sending some inappropriate communications, the officials said. As a result, Boer offered to resign the position he took in 2022 and the board accepted, school officials said.
Born in Nigeria, Boer was a former oil executive and the son of Christian Reformed Church missionaries. His bio was removed from the school’s website soon after the announcement was made public.
Boer had served as the school’s 12th president since Calvin’s founding in 1876. At the time of his hiring, Boer was described as the best person for the position.
“Wiebe personally embodies Calvin’s mission with his unique life story,” Mary Tuuk Kuras, vice chair of the board of trustees who headed the search committee, said in a news release at the time. “His academic grounding, strong sense of social justice, and depth of experience in the private and social sectors position him well to lead Calvin’s next chapter with creativity, drive and humility. His understanding of Calvin’s past propels his innovative optimism for Calvin’s bright future, and he is prepared to roll up his sleeves and work collaboratively with all stakeholders of our Calvin community on that journey.”
The university’s vice president of advancement, Gregory Elzinga, will serve as interim president. Elzinga will address students and faculty on Thursday in a campus meeting about the change in leadership.
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a liberal arts school located on a 400-acre campus based in the Grand Rapids area and features some 3,300 students.
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged. He previously served as deputy head of news at the New York Daily News and a longtime reporter at The New York Post. Follow him on X @ClementeLisi.