Posted on 09/24/2018 10:14:45 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Evangelical College Azusa Pacific announced last week that it will be allowing LGBT relationships for students on campus following years of pressure.
Zu Media, the student paper, reported last week that officials at the Christian university in California have decided to remove language from the student standard of conduct that previously prohibited such relationships on campus.
APU has said that despite the change, set to take effect in the Fall 2018 semester, it still backs the "Biblical principles of human sexuality," in the belief that "sexual union is intended by God to take place only within the marriage covenant between a man and a woman."
LGBT activists have long called for the change, and held a vigil in November 2017 for a former employee who sued the university for wrongful demotion, claiming he was harassed and assaulted by colleagues who believed he was gay.
The school paper explained that the development is a result of long dialogue between students and the administration, and years of efforts to that end.
Associate Dean of Students Bill Fiala described the change to the student code of conduct:
"The changes that occurred to the handbooks around sexual behavior creates one standard for all undergraduate students, as opposed to differential standards for different groups," Fiala said.
"The change that happened with the code of conduct is still in alignment with our identity as a Christian institution. The language changed, but the spirit didn't. Our spirit is still a conservative, evangelical perspective on human sexuality."
Some, such as Erin Green, co-executive director of Brave Commons and recent APU alumni, who has pushed for the recognition of LGBT groups, said that it was "unfair" to exclude people in gay relationships.
"Queer students are just as able to have romanticized relationships that abide by APU's rules. The code used falsely assumed that same-sex romances always involved sexual behavior. This stigmatization causes harm to our community, especially those serious about their Christian faith," Green insisted.
Along with the change to the code of conduct, there will also be a new pilot program aimed at providing "a safe space for LGBTQ+ students on campus."
Fiala positioned that the hope is for students to "experience respect, justice, grace and understanding."
"If you look at our mission, it's consistent with Christianity. Our values for the pilot program are inclusivity, love, bravery. Our goals are care, connection and conversation. These all seem like Christian values to me," he continued.
"I believe that our program's mission is alignment with the values of the university in caring for students and creating conversation about difficult topics."
Conservative commentators, such as Orthodox Christian author Rod Dreher, criticized the decision, however.
"They can tell themselves whatever they like about their 'spirit,' but it's self-deception. This is how conservative institutions surrender: by giving up, then telling themselves (and their donors) that they haven't surrendered. Saving face is not the same thing as saving the institution's core values," he wrote on The American Conservative website on Saturday.
"Azusa Pacific is an important Evangelical school. It will be very interesting to see what the rest of the CCCU (Council for Christian Colleges and Universities) schools do in response," he added.
Shame on Azusa Pacific.
It’s A to Z in USA, not Rainbow Romp.
Step on the graves of the pioneers that gave their labor of love to build that work. Tear away the old landmarks. And open the gates for the enemy to kiss your children.
Repent!
Aren’t they pressuring BIOLA too ???
“”The change that happened with the code of conduct is still in alignment with our identity as a Christian institution. The language changed, but the spirit didn’t. Our spirit is still a conservative, evangelical perspective on human sexuality.”
It does no such thing. You now allow and support non-Christian relationships at your school.
Has to make one wonder what else they’re teaching while provoking they’re still an evangelical Christian based school.
it won’t be long before we similar headlines for Azusa that are seen for the following:
“[Catholic Caucus]A Homosexual Party for Cardinal McCarrick”
Satan has infiltrated Azusa, and is leading the school now
Yeah, right...
"I'm a sleep around skank, party girl, and part time hooker but I still consider myself a virgin who holds a a conservative, evangelical perspective on human sexuality."
Good luck replacing the monies from your Alumni donors.......
Nose of camel, meet inside of tent.
WHEN will our side realize it doesn’t EVER end with the first demand???? Within 5 years the LGBT will be persecuting normal people at this college. Once they’re in, they run the show! Look at the military for reference.
Satan conquers another church
What denomination is this college associated with?
RE: What denomination is this college associated with?
It’s not associated with any specific denomination. It is non or inter denominational.
Here is its history according to the Wikipedia entry:
A small group of Quakers (also known as Friends) and a Methodist evangelist laid the foundation for the Training School for Christian Workers in 1899.
Though its Friends connections remain today, Quaker influence on the school diminished by the 1930s.
As faculty members began to embrace Evangelicalism and reject a growing liberal trend in the California Yearly Meeting of Friends, a campus church was established in 1933. This shift moved the “school church” from the local Huntington Park Friends Church to the on-campus worship gathering. The new campus church planted eight “tabernacles” throughout California which collectively became known as the Evangel Church denomination.
The series of college mergers and campus re-locations which followed helped to solidify the school’s identity as an Evangelical institution.
The leadership at Azusa Pacific is about as twisted and hypocritical as it gets. They are the blind leading the blind.
"...and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching..." - 1 Timothy 1:10
"If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness..." -1 Timothy 6:3
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires..." - 2 Timothy 4:3
1 Thess 4:1-8 draws a line in the sand against sexual immorality. Those who reject the command against it have rejected God.
Azuza Pacific will close within three years.
I knew years ago that the word “Evangelical” no longer equated to Conservative. Evangelical now means progressive.
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