Saturday, 11 March 2008, 3.23pm...
Today I discovered that a new colleague who came from China is made associate professor of our college. I was of course taken aback, given the fact that he received his PhD in theology only very recently, and one from a nineth-rate university! He has no theological publications, nor theological teaching experience, but has jumped straight to the rank of associate professorship. This upsets me.
I came with a PhD under a top New Testament scholar in the world today, with publications and almost seven years teaching experience, including that of supervising postgraduates. Yet I am not even an assistant professor, a rank given to fresh PhD without work experience and publication. But I am worse than that: I have been made a lecturer, a rank given to a master's degree holder!
Fortunately, I will be leaving this unfair organisation which seems not to value its own people, and which appears to be taking in pseudo-intellectuals and pseudo-scholars. It doesn't seem to care what sort of PhD an applicant has and where it was taken. Thus, a PhD from a little mission centre, validated by one of the lowest ranked universities, seems totally acceptable to the organisation.
Meanwhile, the leaders are hoping that I would remain if my application for employment pass in Hong Kong is unsuccessful. But now I am totally apprehensive. I don't think I would even want to remain, even if I am not successful in my employment pass application.
That's my position for now.
"Dear Lord,
This is an unfair world. Grant me to find peace and joy in you, even if the world is not that friendly. Give me your grace to live my life honourably, to the glory and praise of our heavenly father. In Jesus' name. Amen'.
