In July, Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, announced that James Tengatenga had been appointed the Virginia Rice Kelsey ’61s Dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College. The foundation, established in 1951, supports the spiritual and moral efforts of the college community. The foundation supports community service programs, cross-cultural initiatives, and provides for off-campus fellowships and internships relating to ethical leadership and social justice.
But after the appointment was announced, comments made by Dr. Tengatenga on homosexuality came to light.
In view of these comments, Philip J. Hanlon, president of Dartmouth College decided “not to move forward with the appointment of Dr. Tengatenga as dean of the Tucker Foundation.” In a statement, President Hanlon said, “Following much reflection and consultation with senior leaders at Dartmouth, it has become quite clear to me that Dr. Tengatenga’s past comments about homosexuality have compromised his ability to serve effectively as dean. The foundation and Dartmouth’s commitment to inclusion are too important to be mired in discord over this appointment.”
Dr. Tengatenga is diocesan bishop of southern Malawi and chair of the Worldwide Anglican Communion’s Anglican Consultative Council. A native of Zimbabwe, he is a graduate of the Zomba Theological College in Malawi. He earned a master of divinity degree at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, and a Ph.D. at the University of Malawi. He has taught at Zomba Theological College and the University of Malawi.
