Wheaton College Recommends Terminating Professor Larycia Hawkins Over Comments About Islam

Wheaton College initially suspended Larycia Hawkins, professor of political science, on Dec. 15 after she said Christians and Muslims "worship the same God." Hawkins' primary purpose was to announce that she would wear hijab during Advent to show her solidarity with Muslims in the United States facing persecution.

Now, according to a statement released Jan. 5, Wheaton Provost Stanton Jones delivered to President Philip Ryken a "Notice of Recommendation to Initiate Termination-for-Cause Proceedings regarding Dr. Hawkins."

This development comes, according to the college, after Hawkins "declined to participate in further dialogue about the theological implications of her public statements."

Hawkins will now face a hearing before the Faculty Personnel Committee, after which President Ryken will make a recommendation regarding her employment status to the Wheaton College Board of Trustees.

Christianity Today reports that Dr. Hawkins will issue a public response at a press conference in Chicago on Jan. 6.