Instead, Hawkins, a tenured political science professor at the private evangelical Christian college, proclaimed on social media that Christians and Muslims share the same God and was suspended by the college. “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book,” she posted Friday on Facebook. “And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

If Wheaton College professor Larycia Hawkins had simply donned a headscarf to support her Muslim neighbors without explaining herself, she still might be administering final exams this week.

Instead, Hawkins, a tenured political science professor at the private evangelical Christian college, proclaimed on social media that Christians and Muslims share the same God and was suspended by the college.

“I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book,” she posted Friday on Facebook. “And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

That explanation rankled some evangelical Christians, who read her statement as a conflation of Christian and Muslim theology, even if they supported her symbolic gesture.

“While Islam and Christianity are both monotheistic, we believe there are fundamental differences between the two faiths, including what they teach about God’s revelation to humanity, the nature of God, the path to salvation and the life of prayer,” Wheaton College said in a statement.

Wheaton College students peacefully protest

Students gathered at Wheaton College’s administration building for a protest and sit-in on Dec. 16, 2015, to deliver a letter to President Philip Ryken and Provost Stan Jones, demanding the reinstatement of professor Larycia Hawkins. Hawkins has chosen to wear a traditional headscarf to show solidarity with Muslims as part of her Christian Advent devotion. Her explanation for the gesture didn’t sit well with the school. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

The suspension, effective immediately and lasting through the spring semester, sparked protests on the west suburban campus Wednesday from students calling for Hawkins’ reinstatement and an apology from the college. About two dozen Christian clergy also appeared with Hawkins at a news conference Wednesday in downtown Chicago to show their support.

“I think Wheaton takes very seriously its role as a Christian liberal arts institution,” said Hawkins, who wore a purple headscarf, or hijab, as she spoke at the podium. “And I respect the institution.”

Hawkins announced last week that she would wear a traditional headscarf as part of her devotion during Advent, the contemplative period preceding Christmas on the Christian calendar. She wished to show support for Muslims who have felt under attack because of harsh rhetoric on social media and the presidential campaign trail since mass shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. She said nothing about her gesture or statement contradicted the college’s statement of faith, which all instructors must sign and she reaffirmed Wednesday.

The statement outlines 12 evangelical beliefs, including the literal truth of the Bible, the necessity to be born again in the Holy Spirit, the imminence of the Second Coming and the bodily resurrection of the dead.

“Wheaton College faculty and staff make a commitment to accept and model our institution’s faith foundations with integrity, compassion and theological clarity,” the college said in a statement. “As they participate in various causes, it is essential that faculty and staff engage in and speak about public issues in ways that faithfully represent the college’s evangelical Statement of Faith.”

Protesters on Wednesday insisted that Hawkins had remained faithful to the college’s 12 core beliefs. Dozens gathered on the front steps of the college’s administration building to deliver a letter to President Philip Ryken and Provost Stan Jones, demanding Hawkins’ reinstatement.

“We believe there is nothing in Dr. Hawkins’ public statements that goes against the belief in the power and nature of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit that the Statement of Faith deems as a necessary requirement for affiliation with Wheaton College,” the students’ letter said.

“Dr. Hawkins is an essential part of the community here,” said Wyatt Harms, a senior political science major, who has taken several of Hawkins’ classes. “She’s a refuge for so many students on campus.”

Myra Hooks, 21, a senior biology major from Warsaw, Ind., said the suspension reflects misplaced priorities.

“We really should be focused on our love and support for Muslims, and shouldn’t let our theological clarities shut that out,” she said.

Read More