Christian College Professor Who Claimed Christians and Muslims Worship Same God Finds Job in Jeopardy

A professor at a Christian college who stirred up controversy by wearing a hijab and claiming that Muslims and Christians worship the same God will face a panel that may terminate her employment.

According to Foxnews.com, Larycia Hawkins, who is an associate professor at Wheaton College outside of Chicago, declared that she would wear a hijab to stand in solidarity with Muslims whom she felt were being persecuted after the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks.

In a controversial Facebook post, Hawkins said, “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

Wheaton initially put Hawkins on administrative leave, but is now considering firing her, as her statement of solidarity with Muslims clashes with the College’s doctrinal statement, which Hawkins agreed to uphold.

The Chicago Tribune reports that this is not the first time Hawkins has clashed with the College. Previously, there were issues concerning a paper on the Bible and race relations in America, a photo taken of Hawkins at a party on the day of Chicago’s Gay Pride Parade, and a suggestion from Hawkins that the College include carefully-chosen wording for talks on sexuality.

Hawkins currently faces a hearing with the College’s Faculty Personnel Committee which is made up of nine tenured faculty members. After hearing her case, the panel will then make a recommendation to Wheaton President Philip Ryken on whether Hawkins’ employment should be terminated.

Publication date: January 6, 2015