Professors Emeriti: Valued Assets for Seminary and Church

It comes as a surprise for many of us, but inevitably we reach a stage where age catches up with us. The word “retirement” leaks into our vocabulary. This is a reality of both the academy and church. At Heritage College and Seminary, three professors have been appointed as “Professor Emeritus”: Dr. Stan Fowler, myself, and more recently Dr. Barry Howson. This is a huge honour for us in that our colleagues and senior administration sees us worthy of this title.

Yes, there are knowing smiles when I am introduced as Professor Emeritus. It means that I am getting old, and I need to make way for the next generation. It is said that “Old professors never die, they lose their faculties.” Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 comes home to roost.

However, there is great value in this appointment. Because of the uniqueness of age and experience there is knowledge of institutional history available, and perhaps some wisdom to share in current decision-making and realities. Further, a long career of research and teaching now has time to move into writing. And then, there is a continued ambassadorship for the college and seminary as we move among the churches and ministries for our constituency and alumni.

Our dear friend and valued colleague, Stan Fowler, carried the title well before he passed into glory. I trust that both Barry and I, along with others yet to come, will carry the mantle as well as he did.

At Heritage we have a policy on appointing someone as a Professor Emeritus. The policy includes criteria for such an appointment, along with a signed commitment to the doctrinal position of the college and seminary. It also includes benefits such as invitations to participate in major institutional events such as graduations and convocations, a professional development fund, access to institutional facilities and library, names included in the institutional catalogues, and retention of our Heritage email address. It is a non-paid honourary position.

For us who have been appointed Professor Emeritus to retain this kind of connection with the institution in which we have invested so deeply is truly an honour and privilege. Matthew Fishman in an article entitled “The Merits of Emeriti” (Academe, May-June 2012, 39-41) writes this, “Members of the upcoming generation of academic retirees value their institutional perquisites [yes, that is a word], many of which are low-cost benefits, and these may pay large future dividends of institutions and retired faculty alike.”

David G. Barker (Th.D.) – Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies