A statement by Liberty
University June 25 says Ergun Caner’s contract as dean of Liberty’s seminary
will not be extended, but that he will continue on the seminary’s faculty.
Liberty had been
investigating claims that Caner made conflicting statements about his personal
history that embellished his credentials as a young Muslim trained in jihadist
tactics before a conversion to Christianity.
Liberty’s statement
said their “thorough and exhaustive review” of Caner’s statements concluded
that he had made “self-contradictory” statements.
The investigative
committee found no evidence “to suggest that Dr. Caner was not a Muslim who
converted to Christianity as a teenager, but, instead, found discrepancies
related to matters such as dates, names and places of residence.”
The statement said
Caner “has apologized for the discrepancies and misstatements that led to this
review.”
His contract as dean of
the seminary expired June 30 and was not renewed. He accepted an employment
contract for the 2010-2011 academic year and remains on the faculty as a
professor.
Liberty said in May it
would investigate charges in various media questioning Caner’s claims about
being raised in Turkey, and about his defending Christianity in debates with
Muslim scholars and other religious leaders in 13 countries and 35 states.
Christianity Today was
the first mainstream news outlet to report the Caner controversy. One well-known blogger and a pastor, Wade Burleson, considered what would happen if Caner had to follow the school’s honor code. He had other blogs about Caner as well. Visit his blog here.