Bju, Grace to Meet, Discuss "Concerns of Both Parties"
By Ron Barnett
Bob Jones University and GRACE, a firm the school hired to investigate its past handling of student allegations of sexual abuse, have set a meeting for next week to discuss “concerns of both parties,” according to a BJU statement released today. The meeting follows a disclosure last week by GRACE, or Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment, that BJU had terminated its contract. “Bob Jones University and GRACE will meet next week to discuss the concerns of both parties and determine a plan for moving forward,” the school’s statement says. “Bob Jones University and GRACE remain hopeful this project can be completed with GRACE and in so doing raise sexual abuse awareness and minister to victims whose lives have been ravaged by abuse.” GRACE, based in Lynchburg, Va., also issued a statement about the meeting. “During the past week, representatives of GRACE and BJU have continued to communicate for the purpose of working out a time for an in-person meeting,” the statement says. “The parties were recently able to schedule such a meeting for next week. “The purpose of this meeting is for the parties to articulate expressed concerns, as well as to dialogue about the possibility of GRACE completing the independent investigation process started last year.” “We ask for prayers for everyone involved in this upcoming meeting,” the statement says. “We also ask that we continue to pray for God to work mightily on the behalf of all the amazing individuals who have been impacted by this most recent development.” GRACE, founded by a former sex crimes prosecutor who is a grandson of Billy Graham, was hired by BJU in 2012 to determine how the university handled allegations of sexual abuse from students in the past, whether the incidents happened on campus or earlier in the student’s life. The university surprised GRACE by terminating its agreement in late January. BJU President Stephen Jones told faculty, staff and students last week that the investigation had gone “askew.” “There is nothing being covered up,” Jones said. “If we had wanted a coverup we wouldn’t have initiated an investigation with an ombudsman. “We initiated this process and we are committed to seeing it to completion and I want to also emphasize once again that we care deeply about the individuals and about the families involved and we are committed to honoring the Lord in the way that we deal with this as we continue to move forward to achieve the objectives that we started out with.”
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