{"id":6775,"date":"2006-11-13T22:22:16","date_gmt":"2006-11-14T03:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=6775"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:36:06","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:36:06","slug":"5263","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/11\/13\/5263\/","title":{"rendered":"Parkyn: North Park Provides \u2018Edge Habitat\u2019 for Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO, IL (November 13, 2006) \u2013 In his inaugural address Sunday, North Park University President David Parkyn stressed the role of the school as an \u201cedge habitat\u201d where faith, academia, and the world meet.
\n
\nEdge habitats are places where ecosystems transition, such as from ponds to meadows. \u201cThis is a place where many communities meet,\u201d Parkyn said. \u201cThis is a place where borders touch. Because so many borders meet at North Park, this is a place that teems with life, color and complexity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university has the Christian call to speak with a vibrant voice that reflects and infuses the life, color and complexity of the world around the school, Parkyn said. \u201cThe voice of North Park University must not be characterized as decaffeinated with skim,\u201d he said to laughter. \u201cThat puts us in the world of \u2018who cares anyway.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

To be a place that matters, the university must continue its long tradition of nurturing faith while pursuing academic freedom, Parkyn said. \u201cIs wisdom found as we take what we believe and circle the wagons, keeping in all that we think is good and keeping out all that we think is evil?\u201d he asked. \u201cIs wisdom found in exclusion?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cOr is wisdom found as divine light and likeness are encountered with all that surrounds us – the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the certain and the uncertain,\u201d he continued. \u201cIs wisdom found through inclusion? The Covenanters who gathered in Moses Hill in 1891 (when the school was founded) preferred inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making companions of faith and academic freedom is necessary for the growth of students, even if the process is uncomfortable, Parkyn said. He quoted former North Park President Karl A. Olsson, saying, \u201cNo student ever matures who hasn\u2019t felt the earth shaking beneath his feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students are given a special opportunity to mature at North Park as they encounter the world in the diversity of the city, and as they learn to recognize the image of God in every person, regardless of race, gender, culture or creed, Parkyn said.<\/p>\n

The city colors the voice of North Park, Parkyn said, explaining, \u201cThe city is both text and context for learning.\u201d He spoke of telling students that \u201cThe city is among the most important books you will read while you are at the university.\u201d<\/p>\n

The complexity of the city also impacts the voice and mission of the school. Students are privileged to live in the country\u2019s most diverse zip code because it exposes them to so much of the world. \u201cBy living here and through learning here, our students discover our life is not simply about us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkyn noted that half the people in the neighborhood around the university are immigrants. \u201cAll the world has come to our neighborhood,\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cOur neighborhood is the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis complexity of language and culture in our very neighborhood nourishes a voice of justice, mercy and compassion,\u201d Parkyn said. \u201cOur voice must be a voice which seeks justice for all people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strengthening that voice in students is the purpose of teaching, Parkyn said. \u201cWe must proclaim the voice of justice not only with our lips, but also with our lives,\u201d he exhorted. \u201cWalking side by side with our students, we must change the world and we must be changed by the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkyn drew upon the words of Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, who sought to develop the city as a place that would have opportunity for all: \u201cMake no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe dared to dream big dreams because the cause demanded only big dreams,\u201d Parkyn said. \u201cWe too must make no little plans. We must be bold. We must embrace risk. Our faith demands it. Our city needs it. Our people deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

In introducing her husband, Linda Parkyn, professor of Spanish, referred to the president as someone who has an uncommon eye. \u201cHe will not bring you the conventional view,\u201d she said. \u201cHe will color outside the lines. He will take what many of us see – the obstacles to whatever it is we want to accomplish – and he will expand our view, flip the expression of our hearts, and give us another way to get there, another venue to try.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is immune to those who say it can\u2019t be done,\u201d she quickly added. \u201cHe\u2019ll find another way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other speakers at the inauguration included Glenn Palmberg, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and David Horner, past president of North Park. The ceremony also featured students from 32 countries carrying their nations\u2019 flags as reflective of the school\u2019s diversity.<\/p>\n

The inauguration ceremony in the university gymnasium was the final event in a weekend of activities that included an academic symposium, the University Orchestra performing Peter and the Wolf<\/em> with narration provided by Parkyn, and a celebration with the students.<\/p>\n

\n
Copyright \u00a9 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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CHICAGO, IL (November 13, 2006) \u2013 In his inaugural address Sunday, North Park University President David Parkyn stressed the role of the school as an \u201cedge habitat\u201d where faith, academia, and the world meet. Report This Post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nParkyn: North Park Provides \u2018Edge Habitat\u2019 for Students - Covenant Newswire Archives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/11\/13\/5263\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Parkyn: North Park Provides \u2018Edge Habitat\u2019 for Students - Covenant Newswire Archives\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CHICAGO, IL (November 13, 2006) \u2013 In his inaugural address Sunday, North Park University President David Parkyn stressed the role of the school as an \u201cedge habitat\u201d where faith, academia, and the world meet. 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