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Rock For LifeAccording to this page, Concordia University-Portland, OR (my alma mater, for full disclosure, as well as part of the Concordia University System of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), now has a Gay-Straight Alliance club. [Screen shots from the page; you never know when a website might go down or accidentally lose information:]
[Or, if that's not your thing, you could join this group:
Do they tell you that anyone can get AIDS? It could happen to you, even though you've only had sex with one person who has also only had sex with one person. I mean, blood transfusions must make up, what, 80 or 90 percent of HIV/AIDS cases?]
So what, right? They’re just trying to make sure that everyone has a safe place to talk about concerns. Well, if the national organization (or is this the national site? They have the same name) is any indication, anyone who might be opposed to homosexual “marriage” is a “rightwing fascist” [sic]. Is that one of the “variety of perspectives” that will be presented to the general population (of the school? the neighborhood? the city?). Is the goal really “dialogue,” or is it to alleviate those pesky “social and religious concerns”? I have no idea, but perhaps Dr. Kunert could alleviate my concerns that this is going to turn into an advocacy group on CU-Ps campus, and that it won’t be long before this Concordia looks like any other school with a tolerance week, where information on any number of perverse sexual practices is “provided…to the general population.”
This sort of group is never just for discussion and informational purposes; if you doubt it, check the national site here. There is no such thing as a “variety of perspectives.” There is only: gay is okay, and you should really explore your sexuality so that you can decide if you are gay, straight, bi, transgendered, or questioning. Or perhaps this is a good example (linked from the main site) of the sort of reasoned exchange we might expect at CU-P:
These are all fundamental elements of the natural world no matter how much people wish it otherwise or cling to books written by ignorant ancestors thousands of years ago. Humanity literally fought to keep the world flat despite reality, mass-murdered human beings because a book written by ignorant dead bigots told them (still do in some parts of the world), and even waged wars to keep people in slavery (still do in some parts of the world) despite all human beings sharing the same heart, imagination, and dreams.
Religion based on ancient people’s writings has been a driving force behind atrocities and oppression, and also a force for liberty and justice because when all is said and done such religious endeavors are only as good or evil as the people pursuing them. Some say their deity is no more than what is found in the writings of ancient people. Others say their god is greater than any book written long ago could ever capture or contain. Every thinking adult knows that ancient writings can be used to justify any and all actions. There are even passages in three major religions that the gay community could use to justify wiping out all life in regions that violate the human rights of gay human beings, but the gay community has shown great restraint in not resorting to such measures. The writings of long-since-dead people are an unacceptable excuse for the continued violation of human rights.
If I had doubts becauase of the theology department about sending my children to CU-P, this seals the deal.
From CUP’s own Student Handbook regarding activities:
Other principal objectives of the Associated Students of Concordia University shall be:
1. To foster and protect the general welfare and rights of the students of the university.
2. To empower and encourage students to participate responsibly in the affairs of the university.
3. To regulate matters pertaining to the student life of its members.
4. To assist in the direction and continued development of the university.
5. To encourage students in the pursuit of knowledge and growth of their faith.
And also from the Handbook Code of Conduct:
SEXUAL INTIMACY
There is to be no sexual intimacy (genital) outside of marriage on-campus. The Concordia community’s commitment to the authority of Scripture leads us to believe that a sexual relationship is to be understood and experienced within the context of that mutually acknowledged commitment to lifelong union known as marriage. This belief concerning our sexuality is based on our understanding of God’s perfect and good design for our sexual lives, on our own experience, and on our knowledge of human development and relational dynamics. It is our conviction that the sexual relationship is best understood as an expression of oneness in marriage and that to understand it or to express it otherwise would diminish the high regard that we have for this gift from God.
We are wrestling with the framing of our theological debates in legalistic terms.
One strategy is that we must debate the legalistic position (equal rigts positions) of gays or whatever issue we’re debating in their terms on their ground. Since it is become an issue of State/Federal Law versus theological principle, in context of those who embrace the separation of church and state ideologies, we don’t want to offend anyone by with an argument that overlaps these legal-theological boundaries.
What we end up with are legalistic clubs like this one cropping up within our theological circles.
So.. we support equal rights from a legal point of view, then speak out against what others believe is equality from a theological point of view. How can we be for some things legally, and against similar things theologically? To those outside our close circles of influence, we appear hypocrites, and our positions lose any sense of credibility.
Every time we frame our theological issues in legalistic terms for debate, we lose the debate in the legal arena.
LC-MS has enough problems dealing with it’s own internal legalism debates that we certainly don’t need clubs like this in our midst associated with national organizations promoting contrary theological positions.
Just checked the Concordia Portland website (09/17/2010, 8:20pm CDT). The Alliance was no longer in the list of clubs.
Funny…
For clarification purposes, Concordia’s GSA club was formed in response to one issue only: the unChristian treatment of individuals based on the perception of their sexual orientation. The student primarily responsible for calling the club into formation is a student who has a gay relative whom they had observed harassed and mistreated. The same issues had arisen on Concordia’s campus and this student asked that a club be allowed to form so that the community could discuss this issue. It was originally called the “Gay-Straight Alliance” naively, not knowing there was a national organization by the same name. We changed the name to “Unity Club” to demonstrate that we did not agree with the national organization’s agenda or rationale. I agreed to serve as advisor to this club because of the many years I have witnessed students with gender identity struggles hurting, with little opportunity to share their issues, for fear of harassment and physical harm. My experience has demonstrated that many students from strong Christian backgrounds are so troubled by this issue that they consider suicide. In fact, the rate of suicides among gays and lesbians is much, much higher than in the population as a whole. As with any other issue dealt with at Concordia, we do nothing in this organization that would violate our sworn affirmation to honor and uphold the position of the LCMS.
It is quite interesting to me that the author of this blog does not identify himself/herself. In addition, it seems that the tone and content of the blog are in violation of the 8th commandment as interpreted by Luther. It would seem that we have forgotten about “putting the best construction on everything.”
If anyone is ever interested in finding out what goes on at Concordia, I am more than happy to discuss that with them. I am very proud of what our faculty and students do for the Gospel. We are not perfect, of course, but we trust in the promise of God’s grace when we sin.
Dr. Kunert,
Thank you for your clarification, especially on the One Voice Group. It does indeed have a laudable purpose.
As for the 8th Commandment, I don’t think I have violated it by making known that a particular group exists at one of our Synodical schools. Everything I said was based on what I saw on the websites of national organizations, which I concluded (justifiably so, as you make clear) were associated with the group at Concordia. If there is something in particular that you think violates the 8th Commandment, I would be glad to reconsider it.
I am glad to know that your group is not associated with those other organizations, and I trust that the group will not deny the sinfulness of homosexual sexual relationships.
I noted in another post why I do this semi-anonymously. You know who I am, and I will tell anyone who e-mails me privately who I am. It is not for anonymity’s sake, but because I sometimes make my political opinions known, which could interfere with my being a pastor to those who vote otherwise than I might.
Thanks again for the clarification.
Oh, and I forgot to comment on the One Voice Club. I’m actually not sure what the comment above meant, so I’ll put the best construction on it and suppose it is simply asking for clarification of its function.
The One Voice Club was begun by a student several years ago to raise awareness of the epidemic of AIDS-related deaths in Africa, especially from two perspectives: the number of African children who were infected during the birthing process and the much greater number of African orphans who got that way because AIDS had killed both of their parents. This student spent two summers in rural Ethiopia serving in a missionary clinic that assisted with AIDS orphans. She recently graduated from medical school and is now considering serving in the international field in public health.
Is this not following Christ’s example?
Charles Kunert says:
“it seems that the tone and content of the blog are in violation of the 8th commandment as interpreted by Luther. It would seem that we have forgotten about “putting the best construction on everything.”
This is somewhat troubling. Luther’s Small Catechism, in the explanation of the 8th Commandment, says: “We should put the best construction on everything; that is, we should cover up his [our neighbor's] faults and explain in his favor WHATEVER CAN BE SO EXPLAINED.” (Emphasis added.) When a group is organized at one of our synodical schools that has the same name as a nationally organized group which has an agenda totally contrary to Scripture, then what is there about that that can be favorably explained? The defense of naivete sounds a bit disingenuous coming from someone who has been involved in these issues for many years and has taught courses on this subject matter.
It seems to me that Dr. Kunert would do well to follow his own advice and not capriciously accuse someone else of violating the 8th Commandment when he, himself, fails to “put the best construction on everything.” He apparently assumed, wrongly, that the initial post was aimed at homosexual behavior rather than “Gay/Straight Alliance” organizations.
I would like to know which church Timotheos presides over. Given what I’ve read here today, I would like to know, primarily, so I can avoid setting foot through that set of doors.
I retract the previous snarky comment in favor of this question: I assume that “Method” is either a member of a church already, or not. If so, he (she?) has no intention of joining my congregation. If not, perhaps he is upset that the Missouri Synod actually holds to what the words of the Scriptures say, whether they are popular or convenient or nice. On the other hand, I’m not exactly sure what he found so objectionable. If there is something particular, perhaps we can discuss that, rather than make judgments based on some assumed stereotype. (I realize that I may have come close to doing that in the original post, but I would be happy to retract anything false.) So if Method or anyone else has something substantive or worthwhile to contribute, I’m open to that conversation. But if people object to me calling homosexual behavior sinful, or criticizing a group that takes an ignorant and anti-religious stance against those who disagree, I cannot apologize for that. I have no desire to set any unnecessary obstacles in the paths of those who need to hear the forgiveness of God in Christ for sinners; but I have no authority to remove obstacles Christ Himself does not remove (e.g., the need for repentance and sorrow over sin).