2008 Woodie Awards
Student examines homosexuality on campus: Administration's view
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Forum
- Page 1 of 4 next >
Writers Note: The following is part two of a three-part series on homosexuality. The first part covered the views of people aiming for tolerance of homosexuality. This article covers why SBU has a need for such a strong policy. Next week's article will feature comments from both sides of the argument. It should be remembered that Southwest Baptist University does not have a policy strictly against homosexuality. However, there is a policy regarding sexual impropriety. For more information, see the SBU Student Handbook.
A man sits down at his computer and begins to type an e-mail. Normally, situations like this would not seem like much, but this e-mail was different. Southwest Baptist University President Dr. C. Pat Taylor explains.
"I received an e-mail from a person that was here that we [dismissed] for drug use," Taylor began. "This person has since realized where they were headed [because of] our holding this person accountable and actually administering consequences to his actions.
"This person said 'If SBU hadn't made a stand I would be in jail today.' He thanked me for us holding him accountable. This person did not choose to come back here, but he did choose another school, and this person has already graduated."
In the arguments against such stringent policies such as SBU's policy on moral impropriety, some may think that love and mercy is lost. But examples like the one in the e-mail Taylor received cause him to feel otherwise.
"When you decide to come here, you have to agree to live a certain way, or you can't live here," said Taylor. "If you come in smoking marijuana, we're going to send you away. We're going to tell you we love you as we send you away and hope that you can get your life straightened out, but you can't smoke marijuana here. It's against the law - it's against our law. Our 'Principles and Expectations' are not just set up on man's law, but on God's law and our interpretation of what God's law is."
This kind of 'tough love' is something many in the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) believe is a necessary thing. Josh Hall, a pastor from Selmore Baptist Church in the Ozarks, wrote a guest column in the MBC newspaper The Pathway in March of 2005 explaining this need.
A man sits down at his computer and begins to type an e-mail. Normally, situations like this would not seem like much, but this e-mail was different. Southwest Baptist University President Dr. C. Pat Taylor explains.
"I received an e-mail from a person that was here that we [dismissed] for drug use," Taylor began. "This person has since realized where they were headed [because of] our holding this person accountable and actually administering consequences to his actions.
"This person said 'If SBU hadn't made a stand I would be in jail today.' He thanked me for us holding him accountable. This person did not choose to come back here, but he did choose another school, and this person has already graduated."
In the arguments against such stringent policies such as SBU's policy on moral impropriety, some may think that love and mercy is lost. But examples like the one in the e-mail Taylor received cause him to feel otherwise.
"When you decide to come here, you have to agree to live a certain way, or you can't live here," said Taylor. "If you come in smoking marijuana, we're going to send you away. We're going to tell you we love you as we send you away and hope that you can get your life straightened out, but you can't smoke marijuana here. It's against the law - it's against our law. Our 'Principles and Expectations' are not just set up on man's law, but on God's law and our interpretation of what God's law is."
This kind of 'tough love' is something many in the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) believe is a necessary thing. Josh Hall, a pastor from Selmore Baptist Church in the Ozarks, wrote a guest column in the MBC newspaper The Pathway in March of 2005 explaining this need.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Shane
Shane
posted 4/27/07 @ 8:49 AM CST
Does this article seriously compare homosexuality to drunk driving?
If I recall, people are not born drunk drivers and homosexuals do not pose a threat to bystanders. (Continued…)
Audra
posted 4/27/07 @ 7:45 PM CST
Lots of thoughts on this...I apologize in advance for the lenghty post. :-)
In reading the arguments for and against SBU's policy regarding sexual sins with homosexuality being the focal point, I can't help but feel like we're missing the
real point of the issue. (Continued…)
Post a Comment