One Year Ago: When Dr. Roy Atwood quit New Saint Andrews College

In the middle of the school year; in the middle of a semester; in the middle of a Monday morning; three weeks before Christmas and without any prospect for future employment: Dr. Roy Atwood resigned his position as President of New Saint Andrews College. And it appears that someone really wanted this to smart because they inserted two arresting sentences about his financial straits in his departure announcement (below).

Dr. Roy Atwood, Mr. Doug Jones, Mr. Doug Wilson

Roy Atwood, Doug Jones, Doug Wilson.

Dr. Atwood enjoyed a colorful career at NSA. He witnessed and helped cover up every scandal that has marked Mr. Wilson’s ministry — from the drug ring, to the casino, to the Christ Church Commitment to Loyalty, to Steven Sitler (he and his wife can be seen in attendance at Sitler’s wedding), to Jamin Wight — Dr. Atwood saw it all and he agreed with the vision. Moreover, through it all he was a loyalist’s loyalist. But they cut him loose and he eventually landed at Morthland College.

It likely involved the Christ Church network of illegal boarding houses, as many of their problems originate there (Dr. Atwood operated an illegal boarding house, along with most of the Kirk elders). If you know, please use the contact form.

Joint Public Announcement
The board of New Saint Andrews College regrets to announce that Roy Atwood is stepping down from his role as president of the college, effective immediately. He will continue to work for the College in his role as Senior Fellow, including teaching his scheduled classes and working with students. According to our board policy procedures on executive succession, Executive Vice-president Bob Hieronymus will take over as acting president until December 31st. Since Bob had already informed us that he will be leaving NSA at the end of the year, Academic Dean Ben Merkle, as per policy, will begin serving as interim president January 1st. He will serve as interim president until the president search committee identifies the next president.

The board wants to take this opportunity to honor Roy for his years of faithful service to the College, and to publicly acknowledge how much we owe to him. We know that without him, New Saint Andrews College would not be nearly so successful. Roy was instrumental in procuring our building, our accreditation and our outstanding faculty, and we owe him countless other debts that we could not begin to itemize. We thank the Lord for Roy’s and Bev’s years of service and sacrifice to the College.

At the same time, a resignation mid-year is not a trifle. Because of other recent administrative staff changes, the Board felt it needed to advance its timetable for appointing a new chief executive prior to Roy’s planned retirement at age 67. Unfortunately, because Roy is 62 and not yet in a position financially to retire at this time, he thought it best to resign, allowing the board to seek new leadership while he pursues other employment opportunities.

The members of the board and Roy esteem one another highly as conscientious Christian gentlemen. We trust that God will make fruitful this transition to new leadership in the College and for Roy’s future labors.

Please pray for us all, and we look forward to a bright future as God blesses the work of our hands.

Csaba Leidenfrost
Chairman, NSA Board of Directors

Roy A. Atwood

4 Comments

  1. This has been something I really hope we get more information about some day because the letter makes no sense. The board was planning on appointing a new president prior to Roy’s planned retirement date (And why, if they regret they have to announce this?) And Roy thought it would be best to resign immediately, in the middle of a school year? I don’t understand why they couldn’t transition with finding a new President (though they had obviously already found him in Ben Merkle) and Roy looking for his next job while he still continued to serve.

    What was the benefit of cutting Atwood loose so quickly and hastening Merkle’s ascension?

  2. He was a liability — that is, he did something that, if discovered, would have spelled the end of NSA. Unless you can think of another explanation for them sending him to Poland (or the likes) immediately after they canned him.

  3. That is a really curious resignation announcement. I don’t think I’ve ever seen me like it.

    Going by the way it was worded, someone is really upset. Make that angry.

    I have no idea what is going on, but I’m guessing that there’s more than we can see.

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