Dear President Eaton, Dr. Steele and Dean Jordan,
I am writing to express my disappointment that the SPU administration has decided to not award Haven official club status, and is refusing to let them meet on campus. I was a Peer Advisor the year that the Equality Ride attended SPU. I am forever grateful that SPU was committed to listening to the group that came, and it was the first time that I was exposed to different ways of thinking about homosexuality in particular. I know that not all Christian universities allowed the Equality Ride to come to their campus, but SPU was different. I really valued that SPU was not afraid of dissimilarity in ideas, and were willing to engage in the conversation. I learned about many different theological perspectives during that time, as well as heard many stories of pain from those that spoke. I had never been exposed to the GLBT community prior to this, and it was a pivotal moment in my faith. I was allowed the opportunity to critically think about my faith from an academic perspective, proving to me that God was not afraid of my questions, and that Christianity was a faith that could be thought about on an intellectual level. It was through my education that my faith was saved—through professors who taught me that faith and intellect could go together. It was through my classes at SPU that taught me to value equality for all people, regardless of their difference in gender, race, social class or sexual orientation, and to put my faith in to action and to fight for change alongside them. THIS was why I came to college--to learn about the world around me, to engage with those were were different. Everyone's experience is not like mine. I chose SPU specifically because one did not have to be a confessing Christian to attend like many other Christian universities—which seemed to demonstrate a belief that SPU was confident enough in their doctrine and values that those who were different could attend and still be apart of a community. SPU constantly talked about engaging the culture—and I thought they were trying to practice it as well. That is why I am so disappointed that SPU will not allow Haven club status. This is not the SPU that I know, love, and support in so many ways. I believed that SPU was not afraid of conversation, which Haven has repeatedly expressed is their sole purpose in forming this club. They are not about pushing a perspective, but rather about having open discussion—I have personally witnessed this in the multiple meetings I attended. As a former member of Haven and Sophia, I experienced personally Haven’s efforts to respect SPU’s statement on sexuality, and honor the wishes of the administration, but I have to ask, what is the administration afraid of? Through conversation, I believe that God will lead us to truth—if we cannot trust in that, then where is our faith?
Additionally, this group is vital for those that identify as part of the GLBT community. I personally have had many friends who identify as GLBT, and I have heard their stories of struggle, their feeling that they did not belong, especially and oftentimes specifically within a religious community. Unfortunately, this decision by the administration only seems to confirm this fear. This is absolutely devastating to me as a follower of Christ because I believe that was the antithesis of who He was. Many of my friends thought they were the only one who struggled with these issues, oftentimes giving up faith or their church community altogether because they thought they had to choose, and I can’t imagine how different their stories might have been had they had a group like Haven on campus to support them. As an ally, I needed this group to learn more about my peers and to make sure I was making an effort to create a community they could feel like they were apart of. As a follower of Jesus, I believe this is my call. Jesus was about engaging in conversation. He was about including others. I urge you to please grant Haven club status, as it will create a more loving and inclusive community that I know SPU strives for. It is time to put faith into action.
Respectfully,
Jessica Miller, Class of 2009
I am writing to express my disappointment that the SPU administration has decided to not award Haven official club status, and is refusing to let them meet on campus. I was a Peer Advisor the year that the Equality Ride attended SPU. I am forever grateful that SPU was committed to listening to the group that came, and it was the first time that I was exposed to different ways of thinking about homosexuality in particular. I know that not all Christian universities allowed the Equality Ride to come to their campus, but SPU was different. I really valued that SPU was not afraid of dissimilarity in ideas, and were willing to engage in the conversation. I learned about many different theological perspectives during that time, as well as heard many stories of pain from those that spoke. I had never been exposed to the GLBT community prior to this, and it was a pivotal moment in my faith. I was allowed the opportunity to critically think about my faith from an academic perspective, proving to me that God was not afraid of my questions, and that Christianity was a faith that could be thought about on an intellectual level. It was through my education that my faith was saved—through professors who taught me that faith and intellect could go together. It was through my classes at SPU that taught me to value equality for all people, regardless of their difference in gender, race, social class or sexual orientation, and to put my faith in to action and to fight for change alongside them. THIS was why I came to college--to learn about the world around me, to engage with those were were different. Everyone's experience is not like mine. I chose SPU specifically because one did not have to be a confessing Christian to attend like many other Christian universities—which seemed to demonstrate a belief that SPU was confident enough in their doctrine and values that those who were different could attend and still be apart of a community. SPU constantly talked about engaging the culture—and I thought they were trying to practice it as well. That is why I am so disappointed that SPU will not allow Haven club status. This is not the SPU that I know, love, and support in so many ways. I believed that SPU was not afraid of conversation, which Haven has repeatedly expressed is their sole purpose in forming this club. They are not about pushing a perspective, but rather about having open discussion—I have personally witnessed this in the multiple meetings I attended. As a former member of Haven and Sophia, I experienced personally Haven’s efforts to respect SPU’s statement on sexuality, and honor the wishes of the administration, but I have to ask, what is the administration afraid of? Through conversation, I believe that God will lead us to truth—if we cannot trust in that, then where is our faith?
Additionally, this group is vital for those that identify as part of the GLBT community. I personally have had many friends who identify as GLBT, and I have heard their stories of struggle, their feeling that they did not belong, especially and oftentimes specifically within a religious community. Unfortunately, this decision by the administration only seems to confirm this fear. This is absolutely devastating to me as a follower of Christ because I believe that was the antithesis of who He was. Many of my friends thought they were the only one who struggled with these issues, oftentimes giving up faith or their church community altogether because they thought they had to choose, and I can’t imagine how different their stories might have been had they had a group like Haven on campus to support them. As an ally, I needed this group to learn more about my peers and to make sure I was making an effort to create a community they could feel like they were apart of. As a follower of Jesus, I believe this is my call. Jesus was about engaging in conversation. He was about including others. I urge you to please grant Haven club status, as it will create a more loving and inclusive community that I know SPU strives for. It is time to put faith into action.
Respectfully,
Jessica Miller, Class of 2009
Beautiful letter, Jess. Thanks for your support.
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