Discrimination Against LGBTQIA2S+ Allies in Conservative Christian Institutions of Higher Education

Discrimination against LGBTQIA2S+ professionals in higher education is nothing new. In places of higher education, as an out gay faculty member, I have faced discrimination in various forms. In one institution, I was denied tenure because I am gay, though the institution said it was because my fifth (5th) book was not "up to their standards." As to what their "standards" were, or if there was a manual outlining those "standards," there was not. I asked. It was subjective decision. At yet another institution of higher education, related to the Presbyterian Church (USA), I was badgered by the then-search committee to tell them why I was denied at the previous institution (because I'm gay, see previous story), even though if I were to tell them the real reason I would not have been appointed and also reported to my Presbytery leadership, in which the PCUSA, as a denomination and at that time, was hostile to out gay pastors. Besides, I still wasn't publicly out as a gay man. 

And yes, I know I'm not the only one with this kind of story. For me, with a background in Christian religious education, my hope of working in an institution of higher education, like a seminary related to a major mainline denomination, was fraught with problems as a gay man, even after some of the denominations opened up and welcomed out LGBTQIA2S+ faculty. How many want to hire a full-throated questioning, open and honest gay activist and scholar, with a publishing history that would put others to shame? You get the point. I gave up.

I was saddened to be reminded that not only do out-LGBTQIA2S+ people lose positions in institutions of higher education simply because of who we are, but so do our allies. This was brought home to me in this story from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. Calvin University is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, a conservative Reformed church that is historically connected to the Dutch Reformed Church. Calvin University professor Joe Kuilema officiated a same sex marriage in October 15, 2021.

The policy of the University bars sex outside of a marriage between a man and a woman, and that marriage is only between a man and a woman. I'd love to know how many people at that University keep up with this dictum.

The problem is this: the majority of younger people are looking for colleges and universities that are diverse and inclusive. A recent Gallup survey found that 1 in 5 Americans born between 1997 and 2003 say LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion is non-negotiable, which puts them at odds with "conservative older Christian leaders and evangelical institutions," writes religionnews.com reporter Bob Smietana. To the end, Calvin sponsors a support group for LGBTQIA2S+ students, gives an alumni award to an LGBTQAI2S+ graduate, and last year the undergraduates elected a gay student body president. But Joe Kuilema, who is an elder of a Christian Reformed Church and not a minister, who was acting as an elder and not as a professor, was not reappointed to his position at the University because he officiated the wedding of lesbians Nicole Sweda and Annica Steen. Yes, Kuilema had done his due diligence and got the blessings of his local parish to officiate the wedding as an elder of the church. But that didn't matter with Calvin University. 

Interestingly enough, Nicole Sweda, the out lesbian, works for the Center for Social Research (CRS). CRS had been part of the University since 1970s. Because of her wedding to her wife, the institution was allowed to spin off and become an independent non-profit, in which Nicole Sweda--the staffer who was married, and whose marriage led the CRS to break off, could still remain employed.

Sweda was confused and hurt. She told the Calvin University newspaper, "If they had fired me that day, that would have been fine with me."

As for the Director of the CRS, Neil Carlson, he though the split with the University was amicable. "We still have a desire to stay in social and economic proximity with the community; it's not a bad breakup, more of a 'let's just be friend,'" he said in February. 

As for Kuilema, who was not reappointed, he said this: My personal faith is stronger than ever,” he said. “At the same time, I am increasingly disillusioned with organized religion.”

Here's a link to the article in religionnews.com:https://religionnews.com/2022/04/22/a-calvin-university-professor-officiated-a-same-sex-wedding-it-likely-cost-him-his-job/

And from the Advocate.com: https://www.advocate.com/religion/2022/4/28/same-sex-wedding-likely-end-professors-job-christian-school

In the long run, in time, love always wins out, even at conservative Christian institutions of higher education and major Christian denominations. In the mean time, people will continue to be hurt as the "old guard" fights hard to maintain the status quo of the world in the 1950s. Sometimes, God chooses to work from outside the institutions to change the nature of the institutions. After all, we are all in God's hands.

Forward together, not one step back.