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Now the white supremacists have come for the Muslims. They first came for Black Christians during a Wednesday night prayer meeting in a church in Charleston, South Carolina, next they came for a group of Gays partying in a night club in Orlando, Florida, then a group of Jews in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now, Muslims in a Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) presented, Rev. Edward L. Wheeler, Ph.D, as it new president this week. Wheeler was named the new ITC president in a press conference called by the Board of Trustees for the 57 year old theological seminary.
Wheeler will become the 10th president when he assumes his full-time duties as the new ITC President in April. He was lured out of retirement to address issues currently facing the ITC seminary. He comes to this position with an impressive resume.
In 2012, Wheeler retired as president of the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. He led that seminary to unparalleled growth for 14 years.
The new ITC president is no stranger to ITC. From 1982-85, Wheeler served as Dean of the Morehouse School of Religion, which is the Baptist constituent seminary in the ITC conglomerate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Morehouse College in 1969.
From 1985-91, Wheeler pastored the Zion Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, while also holding down a faculty position at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He parlayed this experience to become Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Religion and Society at Tuskegee University from 1991-97.
Wheeler earned a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School and a Ph.D., in Historical Theology from Emory University.
Over 100 people attended the March 3rd news conference to learn of Dr. Wheeler’s appointment. The audience was composed of members from every segment of campus life, including the Board of Trustees, the administration, faculty, and students.
Among this group at the news conference was a strong contingent of Spelman Sisters from the Class of ’69. They were classmates of Wheeler’s wife, Mary Susan. One of them, local attorney Bettieanne Hart said, “I remember when they went on their first date.”
Wheeler was quick to express his undying love for his wife of 45 years. She unselfishly agreed to give up her retirement in order for him to assume the helm of ITC.
The ITC Provost, Dr. Temba Mafico charged Wheeler to increase the enrollment, raise funds, provide students with scholarships, and to raise teacher salaries as well as the salaries of the staff.
Rev. Dr. R. L. White, President of Alumni Association, pledged that he would increase the percentage of alumni giving above the current percentile level.
Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley, Pastor Emeritus of Atlanta’s Progressive Baptist Church, pledged the support of the Concerned Black Clergy behind Dr. Wheeler and ITC.
Wheeler the new ITC president is off to a good start.
Harold Michael Harvey, JD, is the author of the legal thriller “Paper Puzzle,” available at Amazon and at haroldmichaelharvey.com. He can be contacted at hmharvey@haroldmichaelharvey.com