Editor's note:  since Mr. Stolpe's graduation from Bethel in 1969, he has joined the national staff of the Christian Service Brigade and is now managing editor of the Brigade Leader Magazine.
 

To the editor:

It has become increasingly obvious that no single group of faculty or students (even the music department) can fairly represent the sentiments and nature of the Bethel student community, much less control it.  No amount of lecture in Fine Arts, discussion in faculty meetings or anger in the Clarion will alter the listening habits of Bethel students or relieve their frustration with "traditional church music."

Since moving to Illinois, I have seen music play a major part in renewing the students of our congregation, and it was contemporary music, with a "beat."  There was no "show" for them, simply a medium that spoke Christ meaningfully into their lives. "Traditional church music" had been a serious block to their spiritual development, but a little "folk," a little "beat" became the first step in their discovery of a meaningful Christ.  This all happened without alienating even one of the "over 30."  All had come to realize that two cultures are at most different, not superior or inferior, even generational cultures.

However, Bethel has a public relations problem; it must attract students while pleasing their parents and pastors.  Who will form the image of the "Bethel student?"  To distort that image in the name of public relations or "taste" in music is dishonest.  Students, it is your image; it is your responsibility to aggressively form it yourselves.  As we stand on the verge of a new reformation, don't let anyone rip the guts out of it by killing the music.

Norman Stolpe '69