We Need to Be Unified

Ive been getting into Ephesians 4 a lot lately, which says that we need to be unified in the Love of Christ as one body, depsite differences, and that if we do, we will become mature in Christ. Which means if we are separated by differences, we are only infants. I feel like a situation on campus is making us more infantile that mature, and I wanted to let people know, and to ask them to pray about it. This is an email Barry Loy sent to the whole student body:

Dear Students,
 
This morning an article appeared in the Salem News reporting on a recent action of the Gordon College Student Association (GCSA). If interested, you can find the article at http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_128003916.html <http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_128003916.html> .  The College believes that the article misrepresented both what happened in the GCSA meeting last week and the spirit and intent of the students voting on the Spectrum Proposal.  At the bottom of this note I have pasted a statement summarizing Gordon’s perspective.  Given that the article is a reflection on Gordon College and the students who attend Gordon, I wanted you to be aware of the situation and our response.
 
Also, in closing, I’d like to state our position regarding homosexual behavior. Gordon College affirms the historic, orthodox Christian position that homosexual practice is incompatible with the teaching of Scripture and the Gordon community is expected to refrain from any sexual intercourse—heterosexual or homosexual; premarital or extramarital—outside of the marriage covenant. There is currently much debate among believing Christians about the nature and causes of homosexuality, and about a faithful Christian response to same-sex attractions, but we acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of grace, all called to redeemed humanity in Christ. We recognize that students at Gordon who struggle with their sexual orientation have often felt marginalized and alone, and recognize the pressing need for a safe campus environment for all students.
 
Thank you for your time.  I know that you are very busy and I do hope that your preparation for exams and the completion of your papers goes very well.
 
Sincerely,
 
Barry Loy
Dean of Students
 
 
Gordon College Statement on GCSA Supporting Spectrum

The recent article in the Salem News entitled, “Campus Club Rejected,” (5.6.08) misrepresented both what happened in the Gordon College Student Association (GCSA) meeting last Wednesday, April 30, 2008 and the spirit and intent of GCSA. In fact, GCSA endorsed the concept of having a group that would support LGBTQ students on campus (the proposed group is called Spectrum) but suggested that this group fall under another, more appropriate umbrella. The College realizes that supporting LGBTQ students is an important step and needs to be a collaboration between student-led GCSA and administration in a form yet to be determined.
The outcome of the meeting was not a rejection of the group, Spectrum; rather, there are three key follow-up questions GCSA has raised to help move this forward:
1.     Can students lead Spectrum by themselves? Or do they need the support of faculty and/or staff?
2.     Does the Center for Student Development (CSD) already have the tools and the capacity to lead something like this?
3.     The current Spectrum proposal and goals are weak and ambiguous. How can the College make sure that a safe place is created to support LGBTQ students?
As a result of these questions, GCSA President Prashan DeVisser appointed a new committee to research the best way to address these needs.  The committee consists of nine students that are current voting members of GCSA and part of next year’s cabinet and have been divided into three groups of three students each to research the best venue for supporting LGBTQ students on campus. One group met with Barry Loy, Dean of  Students; one group met with the Chapel Office; one group researched what other Christian, liberal arts colleges are doing to support LGBTQ students on campus. GCSA will then meet to discuss how to move forward in supporting these students on campus next year and in the years to come.

 
Barry J.  Loy
Dean of Students
Gordon College
255 Grapevine Road
Wenham, MA  01984
9788674072

Respond as you will, let us talk about this: No more hiding from the tough questions. God Bless and much love y'all! Until the post post post! -Link