California evangelical seminary ponders changes that would make it more welcoming to LGBTQ students

Associated Press ^ | 05/27/2024 | DEEPA BHARATH

[SeekAndFind]

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical school in Pasadena, California, is deliberating whether to become more open to LGBTQ+ students who previously faced possible expulsion if found to be in a same-sex union. That’s according to a draft of proposed revisions to the seminary’s sexual standards that was obtained by The Associated Press.

If the board votes to approve these revisions, Fuller could become the first evangelical seminary in the country to adopt standards acknowledging the diversity of thought among Christians pertaining to human sexuality, according to retired professor John Hawthorne, an expert on Christian colleges.

Such a decision would carry Fuller into uncharted territory, Hawthorne said. “It’s a bold step for a school that fought off lawsuits on this very issue a few years ago.”

At the same time, several current and former students and faculty believe this move would preserve Fuller’s existing status as a “third space” where Christians with diverse views on sexuality are welcome — a space that has been shrinking nationally amid increasing political polarization on the issue.

Fuller issued a statement Thursday saying the deliberations on this topic are ongoing and drafts of possible revisions have been created solely for discussion and reflection. It says no proposals have been submitted to trustees for a vote and it is unclear when the board might even consider the matter.

Hawthorne, whose upcoming book argues that Christian colleges should put students front and center instead of worrying about critics, anticipates “significant blowback” from conservative Christians should Fuller move forward with the revisions.

“I hope they have a plan on how to manage the aftermath, the storm, when it comes,” he said.

[SeekAndFind]

In 2019 and 2020, two former students sued Fuller, alleging they were being expelled for being in same-sex marriages. In October 2020, courts upheld Fuller’s right to enforce its sexual standards policy. Its standards prohibit “homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct” and hold that sexual intimacy is reserved for a marriage between a man and a woman.

[HereInTheHeartland]

The anal sex proponents want to infiltrate everything

[JimRed]

What is the upside to welcoming the mentally ill?

[PeterPrinciple]

They should be pondering how to please God............

[Wallace T.]

I have thought that Fuller Seminary was a bit on the liberal side. Like other infiltrators into the evangelical church, they are using word salad about a “third way” to justify defying Biblical standards.

[SaveFerris]

The apostasy is prophesied in the Bible.

We're watching it happen.

[AppyPappy]

You don’t get sued. There is no rational reason for admitting people based on sexuality. It’s not on the application.

[faithhopecharity]

infiltrating the Church and Synagogue with this moral degeneracy is Satan’s crowning achievement

[SaveFerris]

Fuller, seemingly once conservative.

I heard some stuff from one of their graduates back in the mid-1990s.

From another guy - we knew this other guy - he came out with less Faith than when he went in.

[Steve_Seattle]

Phase 1: In the name of "diversity," allow openly LGBTQ+ students and faculty.

Phase 2: In the name of "diversity," ban students and faculty who adhere to traditional, Biblical views of marriage and sexuality.

[PAR35]

I’ve considered Fuller to be liberal for years.

[Ge0ffrey]

Why?

[nwrep]

Next up - Dallas.

[bigbob]

Hire some former Catholic priests and Baptist youth counselors

[hoagy62]

Such a decision would carry Fuller into uncharted territory, Hawthorne said. “It’s a bold step.....

..straight into the pit of Hell. The heck with what God says. Hail Satan!”

That’s pretty much their attitude.

[SaveFerris]

Yeah

Even a college professor over 40 years ago was a graduate

Nice guy, gave me excellent grades and a great suggestion for my term paper

But he often had a liberal view on some stuff

[SaveFerris]

THIS 🔝🔝🔝

[SaveFerris]

THIS is exactly why I refuse to watch a certain show where almost half of the cast and the creator, director and co-writer honor the “Pride” flag.

[Da Coyote]

...and another church bites the dust...and another church bites the dust....

[faithhopecharity]

I am okay with their private lives so long as they are private.
This kind of stuff does NOT belong in church or synagogue unless the cleric is preaching, teaching against it

and it does not belong in scouting or public schools, either

and we don’t patronize a big chain store that has mixed sex’ rest rooms,

every society has to establish some lines, some limits. I am okay with hiring a homosexual into lots and lots of jobs including, say, accounting or auto mechanics. They do not belong in public school teaching or other situations where there are children at stake. Not sure any two of us would agree on the precise lines to draw but imho there have to be some limits and protecting young children from getting confused or misled is one I draw.