by Hunter Patterson | Mar 12, 2012 | News Slider
Soulforce members are trained to face hate and discrimination when they arrive on a Christian campus. However, they were met with optimism and gratefulness during their three sessions with the Lipscomb community on Monday. Soulforce is a “national non-profit that works nonviolently to end the religious and political oppression of LGBTQ people.” Since 2006, Soulforce has used their Equality Ride to initiate conversations and promote dialogue on Christian college campuses that “discriminate against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals and their allies.” On Saturday, the Equality Ride bus rolled into Nashville. Since then, members of Soulforce have met with students, faculty and administration from Lipscomb as well as other faith-based universities in Nashville such as Trevecca and Belmont. Soulforce said the university has been very hospitable to its group. This is not always the case for the LGBTQ organization when they approach a campus asking for dialogue and discussion. Last week in Atlanta, the group encountered resistance from Carver Bible College when trying to establish a dialogue on their campus. On its blog, the group says they were forced to stay on the sidewalk outside the gate. Because of the decision to lock them out, their communication with students was limited to singing and holding up signs that could be seen through the windows of Carver’s chapel. Attending Monday’s event at Lipscomb came with strict guidelines. All attendees were told to arrive at least 10 minutes early and to have their Lipscomb IDs in hand. The doors closed on the hour, every hour, to prevent any sort of interruption during the session. Students and faculty who arrived late...
by Emily Snell | Mar 8, 2012 | News Slider
Soulforce, a group that promotes equality for LGBTQ people, will visit Lipscomb on Monday, March 12. The Soulforce visit was announced briefly at the end of The Gathering on Feb. 28. A March 1 email from SGA President Daniel Wakefield further clarified the event. The email stated that students were invited to attend one of three morning discussion sessions in Ezell chapel, involving panel discussions with representatives from Soulforce and university professors. The email reminded students that seating would be limited. “[Soulforce’s] mission is to bring attention to what they believe are unfair attitudes and policies within religious organizations,” Wakefield’s email said. “As a gracious and loving Christian community, Lipscomb seeks to be open to conversation about issues that may be difficult or sensitive,” the email contintued. “In this spirit, we look forward to meaningful dialogue with the Soulforce visitors and hope they feel that they have been graciously, thoughtfully, and faithfully received.” In a two-part panel discussion led by Dr. Steve Joiner, Lipscomb’s director for the Institute for Conflict Management, Soulforce will explore the justice and ethical issues surrounding the subject of homosexual orientation and homosexual practice. On Monday, the university will have panel discussions at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. for the limited number of students who were able to sign up in the SGA office. The justice issues that the panel will likely discuss include bullying and equal and fair treatment under the law. Lipscomb panelists include Dr. Ken Durham, Dr. Randy Spivey and Dr. Norma Burgess. A second panel will include Dr. Lee Camp, Dr. John Mark Hicks and Dr. Charla Long. Soulforce will supply...
by Emily Snell | Mar 10, 2011 | News Slider
Harding University attracted national media attention last week when it blocked a website created by gay students. But Harding, affiliated with the churches of Christ and located in Searcy, Ark., isn’t the only Christian university to be confronted with the issue of gay rights in the last few months. Belmont University in December terminated the contract of the head women’s soccer coach, who is a lesbian; last month the university changed its non-discrimination policy to include “sexual orientation” and has officially recognized the first gay student organization. The issue has prompted discussion of homosexuality, sexual behavior and tolerance among the student body and even in the president’s office at Lipscomb. “Even though we want to be a Christian university, and we seek to be and we are, that doesn’t mean that topics like [sexuality] are inappropriate,” President Randolph Lowry told Lumination. “In fact, they’re very appropriate. And we believe that, in the context of a faith environment, they must be held.” Lipscomb’s student handbook points out that sexual contact, including but not restricted to intercourse, between students is a moral violation and is subject to discipline. Lowry emphasized that this code applies to any behavior—heterosexual or homosexual—and that all sexual contact outside the marriage relationship of husband and wife is “inappropriate and inconsistent with the community we seek to be.” The president said he does not foresee a change in policy but expects that the university will continue “being gracious, being in conversation, being of help and assistance.” Patrick McAnally, a law, justice and society major, said he thinks dialogue about the topic is one benefit of the Harding...
