Transgender professor may have to leave Azusa Pacific University

[Bardoux]

Transgender professor may have to leave Azusa Pacific University
Melissa Macbride, September 22nd

A professor at a local Christian college is coming out as transgender, and it could cost him his job. He says he's being forced out after 15 years at the school. Ackley said he struggled for years living as a married woman. He now identifies himself as a transgender man and he is going through a divorce.

Ackley decided to tell APU about plans for a legal name change. Ackley says the university is concerned keeping him in the classroom would be a distraction and could affect future admissions and donations. He told his students the truth and that he might soon be replaced. He says they were in tears.

Some students have formed an online petition to get Ackley to stay at the university.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=9257997&rss=rss-kabc-article-9257997

[DriftingCrow]

Another one here:

Professor Asked To Leave Christian University After Coming Out As Trans
http://www.buzzfeed.com/skarlan/professor-asked-to-leave-christian-university-after-coming-o
Author: Sarah Karlan Source BuzzFeed

H. Adam Ackley was asked to step down from from his teaching position of nearly fifteen years. . . The 47-year-old former head of the theology department is currently in his third of a five-year contract.

Ackley stated that he didn't get the sense the individuals with whom he was speaking had a "theological problem with transgender identity."

[Darkie]

The comments on the first link are just horrible...

[Bardoux]

The comments on the first link are just horrible...

Just had a look.... 

Some people are just incredibly ignorant.

[MadelineB]

Transgender theology professor asked to leave Christian college
Sarah Pulliam Bailey
Sep 23, 2013

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/23/transgender-theology-professor-asked-leave-christian-college/

(RNS) A California Christian university has asked a professor who was once its chair of theology and philosophy to leave after he came out as transgender.

Heather Clements taught theology at Azusa Pacific University for 15 years, but this past year, he began referring to himself as H. Adam Ackley. "This year has been a transition from being a mentally ill woman to being a sane, transgendered man," he said.


During one of Dr. H. Adam Ackley's classes, he tells his students for the first time of his transgender identity. He had just written his preferred name on the board. Photo by Annie Z. Yu

Ackley, who is in his third year of a five-year contract at a school that does not use the tenure system, said university policies seem to be silent about transgender issues, except that "Humans were created as gendered beings."

APU students have 700 supporters so far for a change.org petition supporting Ackley and calling for the school "to create a safer environment for students and faculty."

Ackley said that he accepted his transgender identity earlier this year....

"I tried to be the best Christian woman I could be ... but I have to accept something difficult about myself," he said. "I've never been fully myself, I've always been living a lie, not exactly on purpose but that was the best truth I knew at the time."

[Bardoux]

'I could be fired because I'm transgender': Female theology professor risks job at Christian college and marriage after revealing new male identity
Sadie Whitelocks, September 24th

A theology professor at a Christian college is set to be replaced in his role after coming out as transgender.

'I did get the message that it has to do with their concern that other people, such as donors, parents and churches connected to the university will have problems not understanding transgender identity.

Mr Ackley said that he accepted his transgender identity this year after the American Psychiatric Association removed 'gender identity disorder' from the list of mental illnesses in its manual.

But he says his news was not greeted with enthusiasm and higher ups said keeping him in the classroom would be a distraction and could affect future admissions and donations.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2430674/Transgender-Azusa-Pacific-University-professor-reveals-male-identity.html
-----------------------------------------

Article has now been picked up by the UK's Daily Mail newspaper

[Jamie D]

H. Adam Ackley, Transgender Theology Professor, Asked To Leave California's Azusa Pacific University

Religion News Service  |  By Sarah Pulliam Bailey

A California Christian university has asked a professor who was once its chair of theology and philosophy to leave after he came out as transgender.

Heather Clements taught theology at Azusa Pacific University for 15 years, but this past year, he began referring to himself as H. Adam Ackley. "This year has been a transition from being a mentally ill woman to being a sane, transgendered man," he said.

Ackley, who is in his third year of a five-year contract at a school that does not use the tenure system, said university policies seem to be silent about transgender issues, except that "Humans were created as gendered beings."

"I did not get a sense directly from the individuals with whom I was speaking that they had a theological problem with transgender identity," Ackley said. "I did get the message that it has to do with their concern that other people, such as donors, parents and churches connected to the university will have problems not understanding transgender identity."

Full article and video at the link

[Amelia Pond]

Azusa Pacific University Students Rally Behind Embattled Transgender Professor
Willian Avila and Ted Chen, NBC News, Thursday, Oct 3, 2013

Students rallied Wednesday behind a theology professor who was asked to step down from his position after coming out as transgender to officials at a Christian university.

When Azusa Pacific University Professor H. Adam Ackley, formerly Heather Ann Clements, formally asked the private school in Azusa to recognize his name and gender change, the university immediately asked him to leave his post.

Ackley's lawyer said the professor of 15 years did not violate any school policies.

[Bardoux]

Christian College: Transgender Professor Should Go "Elsewhere"
Willian Avila, October 4th

A professor of theology has agreed to step down from his position after coming out as transgender to officials at the Christian university that employed him for 15 years, both parties announced in a joint statement Friday.

"While we appreciate Dr. Ackley's past service and pray God's best for the journey ahead, we have reached a mutual agreement that recognizes it would be best for Dr. Ackley to pursue professional endeavors elsewhere," the university said in a statement.

Ackley, who was once the school's chair of theology and philosophy, said he has received an "overwhelming amount of support" from students and colleagues, as well as on social media, since his story came to light.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Embattled-Transgender-Professor-Steps-Down-After-Negotiations-With-Christian-College-226537721.html?