Here is Deepa Bharath at the Associated Press:
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.
Read the rest here.
I am a graduate of Fuller, (MDiv, 1978). I also am cleaning out my garage and came across a box of work I did at Fuller. I discovered a paper I did in March, 1978 for Chrisitan Ethics with Louis Smedes. The question I wrote on was: Is it permissible for the church to accept practicing homosexuals into full membership and participation in the church without implicit or explicit demands that they discontinue all homosexual activity?”
Five pages of argument led to this answer: “Based on the acceptance of the following presuppositions, I think that the consequences of encouraging practicing homosexuals to be full members of the church would be beneficial in the long and short erm: 1) Whatever it is, homosexuality exists in our society and will not disappear, 2) Only a minority of people are of a homosexual persuasion. 3) Homosexuality is not the choice of the individual. 4) Homosexual celibacy is as difficult for homosexuals as it is for heterosexuals. 5) There are practicing homosexuals who consider themselves to be Christians and they meet the churches’ requirements for full membership except for their homosexual practice. 6) It is better for Christian homosexuals to grow and fellowship within the church than without it (or even in homosexual churches).
Today I would be even more in favor of acceptance of LGBTQ+ persons within the church. As a high school teacher in a Christian school for 32 years I now know many former students who have come out. I also know how difficult that has been for them within Evangelical Christianity. And that rejection seems so wrong to me.