PART I of III

Nigel Biggar, Emeritus Regius Professor of Moral Theology, University of Oxford, is a graduate of Regent College—he now says he is “ashamed to be an alumnus.” How did that happen?

Regent College scheduled a presentation by Biggar on March 6th on the topic of “Colonialism Revisited: Did the British Empire Promote Human Welfare?” (based on his recent book Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, 2023). Regent then unilaterally cancelled the presentation. The ensuing brouhaha and display of woke-ism and cancel culture in action was covered in detail in the National Post and elsewhere.

If anyone thinks that woke culture is an imaginary concept, it reared its ugly head once again. The Christian community is not immune. The case involves Nigel Biggar who was recently named one of the world’s top thinkers by Prospect Magazine of the UK. He was recently appointed to the House of Lords and is now referred to as The Rt Hon. Lord Biggar of Castle Douglas. Biggar was an instructor in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program (he will be participating again in 2025). He has also participated in ELO Webinars.

Biggar’s presentation at Regent College on March 6th was summarily and unilaterally cancelled. Biggar wrote in a recent note to Regent President Jeff Greenman after learning his talk had been cancelled, “I am aware, of course, that the topic of colonialism is highly controversial in Canada — as it is throughout the English-speaking world.” Further, “I am quite convinced that the prevailing narrative is so distorted as to be false.”

Greenman wrote in a February 14th note to Regent students that the sudden cancellation naturally prompts questions about its rationale. He explained that Regent is “committed to equipping students and encouraging our wider constituency ‘to engage their culture as thoughtful and prayerful Christians, sharing in Christ’s creative and redemptive mission.”

Further, “that goal is pursued both inside the classroom and through various public events. In my judgment, the planned lecture on a very sensitive subject was not right for Regent since it needed a different framing to foster constructive dialogue. Whenever we engage topics about which there is strong disagreement or controversy, it is critically important that all aspects of an event, from the choice of speaker to the event’s format, should demonstrate our concern for both critical reflection and appropriate pastoral awareness.”

Greenman said he realizes “that there will be disagreement about the decision I have made, and some will be disappointed or upset by this change of plans. I regret that the decision was not made before the lecture was announced.”

In his correspondence with Greenman, Biggar chalks up the cancellation to “the intemperate, even abusive agitation that has recently appeared on the Regent alumni Facebook site. Again, let us be clear. These agitators were not protesting against being forced to listen to me, because no one was forcing them. No, they were protesting that Regent should allow anyone else to hear what I have to say, because they regard it not merely as mistaken but pernicious.”

Biggar bears no personal resentment towards Greenman, “But I do object in the strongest possible terms to his decision, especially if that decision is expressive of a policy of repressing the responsible, rational criticism and discussion of prevailing views.”

Is Greenman’s approach reflective of the culture of Regent? According to an article by Douglas Farrow, Cancel Culture at Regent College, February 19, 2025, “Regent has become party to cancel culture, and shies from scrutiny, [which] tells us that it has lost its bearings... The Biggar affair suggests that Regent is well down the path of canceling itself. For, in the end, that is what a cancel culture demands. That indeed is the whole point of a cancel culture. A cancel culture knows nothing of Christ and wants nothing of Christ. It wants conformity.“

After this brouhaha, the Board of Regent College has now issued a mea culpa:

“The Board of Governors of Regent College regrets the handling of the Nigel Biggar lecture and its eventual cancellation. Like many institutions, Regent is trying to find its way forward in a complex landscape of sometimes painful and contested issues. We affirm with gratitude President Greenman’s pastoral concern related to this subject matter. We affirm the role of healthy, vigorous and sometimes controversial conversation, especially in academic settings. Not everyone will be happy with every speaker or event hosted at places like Regent College. Regent is committed to hosting difficult and important conversations in the future and undertaking a process to improve how we do that. We are confident that Regent, and parts of our community like the Houston Centre, contribute to these healthy discussions. Regent is and can be that place.” 

No, Regent is not that place. What about others? Biggar conducted a presentation at Redeemer University, Ancaster, ON to over 100 students on February 28th. It was very well received, with a skilled interlocutor, and intelligent students asking good questions. Everyone benefited from the dialogue. One Redeemer participant ruefully noted that “we are committed to grace and truth, which apparently makes us different.”

Further, Biggar participated in a Presentation and discussion on March 1st with distinguished historian, Margaret MacMillian, at Yorkminster Park Church organized by the Canadian Institute for Historical Education.  The room was packed with 300 attendees and another 300 signed up online.

All is not lost in Vancouver as some Christian business leaders stepped forward. Christ Covenant Church, Langley, BC, is hosting Biggar to speak on Tuesday, March 4th, at 7:00 p.m. As they put it, “Professor Biggar was invited by Regent College to speak on the question of "Did the British Empire Promote Human Welfare?" but his lecture was cancelled just weeks before he was due to deliver it due to its controversial nature. This cancelled lecture is now un-cancelled. We believe Professor Biggar's perspective deserves a hearing and topics like this should be seriously addressed, debated, and assessed.” So it should.