The Dean's Demise

Not everyone is surprised at the rumor suggesting that Karl Wolfe, Dean of The University School, recently told Rebecca Swingle, new professor at the school, that a promotion could be more easily attained were she to sleep with him. Certainly those least surprised were several female students who had been the target of the Dean's amorous behavior. But the question remains--who might stand and suggest that such behavior should not occur in a divinity school, of all places?The Dean's Demise offers readers a fictional case study in how something like sexual harassment impacts a divinity school's educational vision, its theological understanding of community, and the practical issues of governance.Dean Wolfe is a sexual predator in the 1980s who leaves a path of human destruction without remorse. His sins are ancient, but the process by which the university deals with them is cumbersome by today's standards. This is a troubling narrative about abusive behavior in a divinity school, the predator's attempt to recast himself as victim, the university's instincts to attend to its best interests, and the elusive struggle for justice. The narrative is chilling and thought-provoking, woven with threads of realism, trauma, and theological insight. --Daniel O. Aleshire, executive director of The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS)With over fifty years in theological education, Richard Fletcher explores human dynamics often uncovered in cases of sexual harassment in this fictional novel. Fletcher's experiences as minister, professor, and dean come together in helpful ways for those persons engaged in decision-making related to institutional governance, theological understanding, and the educational preparation of ministers.