OneWheaton
OneWheaton is a group of Wheaton College alumni that formed in 2011 to provide support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students at the evangelical Christian college.
History
OneWheaton first mobilized in response to Wheaton College's chapel series titled "Sexuality and Wholeness"[1]—which included a message stating that following Jesus and living in a same-sex relationship are incompatible goals[2]—and the seminar "Same-Sex Marriage Affects Everyone"—which hypothesized that allowing same-sex marriage would lead to families abandoning their children, men having test tube babies for the purpose of molesting them, and ultimately, the end of "what was once a great civilization."[3] On April 29th, 2011, members of the group distributed a letter to students on campus sharing their opinion that "sexual identity is not a tragic sign of the sinful nature of the world" and affirming "the full humanity and dignity of every human being regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."[4]
Mission
OneWheaton's one and only mission is to provide support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning students and alumni at Wheaton and other colleges. Its mission is not to change Wheaton College's policies prohibiting homosexual acts or to stand against those people who choose lifelong celibacy as their personal path of reconciling their faith and sexuality. The group does not propose any theological grounds or defense of its position since it is a diverse group made of up people who hold many different perspectives, but who are unified by their shared belief that the classification of homosexuality as "sinful" is not only incorrect, but damaging.[5]. OneWheaton notes on its website that the group is not "affliated or condoned by Wheaton College."[6]
Response from Wheaton College
On April 29th, 2011, the day that the letter was distributed, Wheaton College President Philip Ryken responded to the letter by sending an internal email to the students, faculty, and staff of the college. The email indicated that the administrations sees "each member of the human family as created in the image of God himself" but that "scripture condemns...homosexual behavior and all other sexual relations outside the bounds of marriage between a man and woman.”[7]. Ryken's response references the Community Covenant, which stipulates that homosexual behavior is not allowed at the school.[8]
Members
OneWheaton has over 500 members, including alumni who are allies in support of their mission as well as alumni who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. Supporters range from those who graduated in 1957 to the present.[9]
Negative response
The blog Gay Christian Movement Watch, founded by Darryl Foster, suggested that the uprising of the LGBTQ Christian movement was a threat to Christian colleges around the nation, making an analogy of the gay Christian movement to the Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and using the film's poster to criticize OneWheaton's mission.[10]
The New American, published by the John Birch Society, criticized the group for imposing its "lifestyle" on Wheaton College.[11]
External links
References
- ^ http://www.christianpost.com/news/wheaton-college-alumni-group-says-being-gay-is-not-a-sin-50099/print.html
- ^ http://www.wheaton.edu/wetn/flash-chapel/chap10-11/110401Hill.html
- ^ http://ruthinstitute.libsyn.com/same-sex-marriage-affects-everyone
- ^ http://www.onewheaton.com
- ^ http://www.onewheaton.com/img/OneWheaton_MediaRelease_042911_Expanded.pdf
- ^ http://www.onewheaton.com
- ^ http://www.wheaton.edu/news/releases/10-11_releases/04.29.11_OneWheatonResponse.html
- ^ http://www.wheaton.edu/welcome/aboutus_community.html
- ^ http://www.onewheaton.com
- ^ http://www.gcmwatch.com/7116/attack-of-the-50-ft-gay-christian-college-alumni
- ^ http://thenewamerican.com/culture/education/7398-christian-colleges-are-latest-target-of-homosexual-activists