After 53 years the Cook School for Christian Leadership - an American Indian training institute - closes at the end of May. What a loss! I thought diversity was our priority! The East Valley Tribune carries the front page story Tuesday, about 300 attended the closing ceremony in March.
Reverend Charles H. Cook established the school that sits on a 15 acre campus in Tempe. Not to long ago, about 100 American Indian tribes participated, imagine - 75% were Christian pastors serving on reservations. Losing a unique school designed for Native American churches is major.
It appears the decline in enrollment was due to lack of support of the Cook School as quoted, “nobody has really paid attention to Cook — it has been there struggling alone.” Where where we? The community, the churches, the board, the state?
Why?: unable to link with colleges to obtain accreditation in Okalahoma & Iowa - donations to the struggling school dropped - the “racial-ethnic institution” label generated lack of interest.
The affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (USA) currently not as strong may bring a few weeks at the Catholic Franciscan Renewal Center. The sale means new office space is needed - Tempe or Mesa - for a staff of 5-6, its theological library, Native American library collection, archives and Cook museum. Quite a catch, for which city?
Affected: 3 congregations use of the chapel AND families living on campus displaced. Zoned for residential, valued at $40 M last year, an unknown developer is purchasing the land for $$$ ? Plans are to use the revenue toward equipping American Indians for church leadership. I hope it’s successful.