The Multnomah Family Team, founded by Dr. Garry Friesen, unites a volunteer team of four Multnomah alumni to pursue moral justice regarding the Multnomah University campus by confronting Jessup University and to ensure Multnomah’s legacy continues locally and globally. Read about the team here.

Our team is an unofficial independent group of concerned alumni. We were not hurt by Jessup nor by the final Multnomah administration. We are not parties with either administration. Our “outside” position allowed us to speak up when many could not speak up since they had signed “non-disclosure” agreements.

The primary purpose of the Multnomah Family Team is to pursue moral justice regarding the Multnomah campus by confronting Jessup University. We are seeking “moral” not “legal” justice and leaving “legal” justice to others. Mediation may help this purpose. It is the “primary” purpose and other purposes have been added as natural extensions. See Justice for Multnomah

A secondary purpose is to encourage alumni and preserve as much of its history as possible. The purpose was natural since there were items that could be preserved such as the library, the chapel and items for the archives. Alumni were encouraged by any efforts to save Multnomah and that encouragement can be extended by such things as the videos of Multnomah history. Alumni can also help by prayer and donations. See Projects

Our team is aware that such legal efforts might be taken by others. Government agencies had to approve the takeover, and so they might bring legal suit. But, our purpose to seek “moral” justice not “legal” justice. The “Contribution Agreement” was a non-disclosure document. Only insiders know if that Agreement was legally broken.

The bottom line is that we want Matthew 18:15-17 to determine our process.

The primary purpose of the Multnomah Family Team is to pursue moral justice regarding the Multnomah campus by confronting Jessup University. We are seeking “moral” not “legal” justice and leaving “legal” justice to others. Mediation may help this purpose. It is the “primary” purpose and other purposes have been added as natural extensions. See Justice for Multnomah

Our main goal of justice can never be a “fool’s errand”. We are not asking “What is our chance of success?” The question is “who will stand up to the injustices that Multnomah experienced?” We are not motivated by success, but by a Mitchell and Micah mandate. Teach the Bible or die trying. And, “Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before your God.”

We are emotional, but emotion is not our motivation. Our sadness does not change our responsibility as believers to seek justice. We are not motivated by potential practical outcomes. For us, it is “Justice or bust.” We CANNOT do NOTHING. We encourage you to join us.

Getting the plot of land is not the goal. Our goal is to get the just value of the campus to support future Bible ministry. We don’t know, but the campus might be currently owned by creditors and not available. However, the value of the campus could create an endowment for future Bible ministry.

We have clearly stated to Jessup (see MU/JU Time Line & Receipts) that any just conclusion must include re-imbursing them for their investment in sustaining Multnomah for 1.5 years. The amount would be decided by a mediation accountant. Jessup agreed to retain and pay most of the Multnomah faculty and staff. This was a mixed blessing. The blessing was obvious. The downside was that Jessup gave the team and curriculum that failed, one year to turn it around. When asked, “If the Multnomah staff fails after one year, will Jessup bring in its own team and curriculum?” The answer was “No”. There was no sustainable plan for the campus to continue even long enough to keep the short-term promise to students that they could graduate with the same faculty and from the same campus.

The Multnomah Family Team has envisioned several places. And, part of the job of a Mediation Team would be to decide the proper place to deposit money. Our goal is to make sure that such a return goes toward supporting some kind of Bible teaching ministry. One option is to create an endowment whose yearly earnings are directed to Bible teaching ministries. When Central Bible Church was sold, they created such an endowment.

This would be decided by the Multnomah Family team with extra members added to reflect the Multnomah community. Two possible options include: (1) Sell the campus, reimburse Jessup for 1.5 years of expenses, and create an endowment to support Bible teaching ministries. (2) Use part of the campus for a Bible teaching organization and lease out the rest to other groups supporting Bible ministries.

So far, we are not aware of any official Jessup response regarding the RNS Article. They have not privately responded to the Multnomah Family Team. But, shortly after the article and the letter went out, Jessup wrote a blog that gives some of their perspective. It is available here:

https://jessup.edu/blog/cultural-impact/a-shared-story-of-faith-struggle-and-legacy/

We are like many alumni who sadly watched Multnomah’s drift from its original mission. Many of the decisions used to sustain a failing college were troubling. Those decisions probably contributed to Multnomah’s demise. Our research showed failures from both Multnomah and Jessup especially in due diligence. Multnomah lost everything. We do not desire for Jessup to unjustly profit from this loss. Seeking to right injustices is still needed and appropriate.

Dr. G: My plan was expressed while I served as VP-Academic Dean at Multnomah.  I said we should keep our mission and be the best Bible college possible or die trying.  Our mission was not to exist or to hire people.  It was “If you want Bible, you want Multnomah.”  If we could not have sustained the original mission, then we should close debt free, sell the campus and create an endowment for another Bible college or to start over.  There are dozens of great Christian liberal arts colleges.  We need a few great Bible colleges for the mission of the Church.

Both Ray and Karl made positive statements when Jessup took over Multnomah.  That was not their final word.  About ten faculty and staff wrote letters of concern about what Jessup was doing once they directed the campus.  The letters of Ray, Karl and Becky Josberger were indicative of how toxic the relationship with Jessup became.  We have permission to share those three letters.   Jessup made no response to them, but you might. 

View Toxic Timeline: Multiple Letters of Concern Sent to Jessup University Board Ignored

Read Dr. Ray Lubeck’s Letter
Read Dr. Karl Kutz’s Letter
Read Rebekah Josberger’s Letter
Read Multnomah Leader’s Letter

Our goal is not to start Multnomah again on the campus. Our goal is to seek justice from Jessup. If this is achieved, there will be great value returned to preserve Multnomah’s legacy of Bible teaching. There may be something great that rises from the ashes. Meanwhile, our only purpose is to seek a just conclusion to the Multnomah-Jessup story.

All the Bible in Community (ABC) paid Jessup $50,000 for the books from the Mitchell Library. Unexpectedly, Jessup required that none of the books be used to “reconstitute” a new Multnomah. So, legally they cannot be used for a new Bible college. But, ABC hopes to help with new books. ABC receives thousands of good books that are duplicates and these could be donated.