Thread: Methodist clergy launch petition to stop Bush library at SMU

http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp? ... 3&nav=Bsmh

Methodist clergy launch petition to stop Bush library at SMU
Jan 18, 2007
DALLAS -- Saying some Bush administration policies conflict with church teachings, Methodist ministers from across the nation launched an online petition drive Thursday urging Southern Methodist University to abandon plans to build his presidential library.


The petition says church members believe that linking George W. Bush's presidency with a university bearing the Methodist name "is utterly inappropriate." Among the petition's 18 organizers are 10 Methodist bishops, SMU graduates and a retired professor.

"Methodists have a long history of social conscience, so questions about the conduct of this president are very concerning," said one of the organizers, the Rev. Andrew J. Weaver of Brooklyn, N.Y., who graduated from SMU's Perkins School of Theology.

The petition comes on the heels of criticism by some faculty who said the library complex's public policy institute dedicated to the philosophy of the Bush administration would hurt the school's reputation.

But Bush, who said Thursday he is "leaning heavily toward SMU" and is close to a decision, addressed his critics.

"I understand there are some who have reservations, and my advice to them is understand that a library and institution would enhance education, be a place for interesting discussion and be a place for people to express their views and write and think, and these universities I think understand that and are excited about the prospects and so am I," he told Belo Corp. television.

SMU became the apparent winner in the library competition last month when the site selection committee said it was entering into further talks with the 11,000-student private university, which is first lady Laura Bush's alma mater. The Bushes are Methodists.

The Rev. Mark Craig, senior minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church where the Bushes are members, said the petition organizers' views about Bush were subjective and did not reflect the opinion of most church members.

Craig, an SMU board of trustees member, said the board voted unanimously to try to lure the library six years ago and had fully supported the project since then. He said the petition holds no weight and would have no impact on any SMU decisions about the library.

"The library is not about politics," Craig said. "The library is about history, having U.S. history from a period of eight years and that conveyed to a great academic institution."

SMU, founded in 1911, is directed by a 40-member board of trustees _ which includes three Methodist bishops _ who are approved every four years by the Methodist church. At least half of the board members must be Methodists. SMU also receives some funding from the church.

More than 2,600 people had signed the petition at http://www.protectsmu.org as of Thursday afternoon, but some said they supported the library. Some pranksters signed their names as Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Peter Pan and Osama bin Laden.

Petition organizers said they expected thousands of signatures but were not sure when they planned to present the petition to SMU officials and the United Methodist Church's South Central Jurisdiction, which oversees SMU.

"This is a broader discussion that needs to take place within the Methodist church, and it's not about political differences. This has to do with ethics," said the Rev. Fred Kandeler of New Braunfels, a retired minister and an SMU theology school graduate.

Although the church has no vote on whether the library is built at SMU, it may have to approve whether the university sells or leases land for the project, said the Rev. David Severe, director of missions and administration for the South Central Jurisdiction in Oklahoma City. That matter may be discussed at a meeting next month, he said.

A final decision on the library is expected within months after Bush receives a recommendation from committee members Don L. Evans, former commerce secretary; Marvin P. Bush, the president's brother; Andrew Card, Bush's first chief of staff; and Craig Roberts Stapleton, U.S. ambassador to France.

If negotiations with SMU fail, the library will go to one of two other finalists: Baylor University in Waco, near the Bushes' Crawford ranch, or the University of Dallas.

Who the hell would go to his library....I KNOW!!!!!! BUILD IT IN MEXICO

Does anybody know when this idiotic practice of building half a billion dollar presidential "libraries" began?

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/ ... 522187.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 22, 2007

University withdraws bid for Bush library


By Andrea Ahles

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

FORT WORTH, Texas - The University of Dallas in Irving has withdrawn its bid for the George W. Bush Presidential Library, leaving Southern Methodist University in Dallas as the only contender for the research center and associated public-policy institute.

"We're disappointed we weren't selected, obviously. But we are moving forward," Harry Longwell, chairman of UD's board of trustees, said at a Monday morning news conference.

"This land is a prime piece of property that could be involved in future developments."

Longwell declined to say how much was spent preparing the bid. He said that much was raised from private sources and that the proposal did not cost the private Catholic university any money.

Bush's library selection committee announced in December that it was entering negotiations with SMU alone for the project.

UD officials said Monday that they had envisioned a presidential library complex accompanied by a 250-acre "Freedom Park" with 43 oak trees planted in honor of each president through Bush.

The project was designed by HKS Architects of Dallas and would have "melded Washington elegance with Texas charm," promotional material said.

But now, 135 acres that had been earmarked for the library could be added to 380 acres envisioned for the redevelopment of Texas Stadium and the surrounding area. The Dallas Cowboys are scheduled to leave Texas Stadium in 2009, when the team begins playing at its new $1 billion stadium complex in nearby Arlington.

The university's withdrawal releases Irving from its pledge to use $50 million in hotel tax money for the library, Longwell said.