Wheaton College 'Parts Ways' with Larycia Hawkins

Wheaton College and Dr. Larycia Hawkins, a political science professor who wore a headscarf to show solidarity with Muslims, have agreed to part ways.

Wheaton said in a statement on its website Saturday that the college and Hawkins "have reached a confidential agreement under which they will part ways."

"They have come together and found a mutual place of resolution and reconciliation," the college said in a press release.

Hawkins, who is a Christian, was placed on leave in December when she posted on Facebook that Christians and Muslims worship the same God. College officials said at the time that her views were inconsistent with their "doctrinal convictions."

The college had attempted to fire Hawkins but faculty leaders unanimously asked them to drop the charges.

In a letter written earlier this month, Wheaton Provost Stanton Jones told faculty, "I communicated to Dr. Hawkins that I recognize her as a sister in Christ, and that it was never my intent to call the sincerity of her faith into question...I asked Dr. Hawkins for her forgiveness for the ways I contributed to the fracture of our relationship, and to the fracture of Dr. Hawkins' relationship with the College."

President Philip Ryken followed that letter with the announcement that the school and Hawkins would part ways.

"The administration and Dr. Hawkins have come to a place of resolution and reconciliation," Ryken wrote. "With a mutual desire for God's blessing, we have decided to part ways."

Christianity Today reports that the emails and announcement came shortly after a leaked memo revealed discrimination concerns. Some students and alumni had also embarked on a hunger fast until after the scheduled hearing for the purpose of "lament, reconciliation, and shalom."

Wheaton College said that neither the school nor Hawkins would speak to the press about their relationship or their reconciliation before a Feb. 10 press conference.