February 5, 2010

 

 

 

Dear friend:

 

Warmest greetings from the beautiful campus of Valley Forge Christian College!

My purpose for writing is to inform you that Soulforce, a gay rights organization, has requested that Valley Forge Christian College provide open access to the campus and our student body as part of its “Equality Ride” this spring. The group has been organizing “Equality Rides” for the past few years, consisting of a bus load of 30-35 people who stop at Christian colleges and universities to protest what they consider to be these institution’s anti-homosexual policies. The purpose of this correspondence is to share with you why Valley Forge Christian College has chosen to not host Soulforce.

According to the Soulforce website ( www.soulforce.org ), the mission of Soulforce is:

Soulforce, guided by the spirit of truth and empowered by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance, works to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people.

Previous “Equality Rides” have included Assemblies of God institutions including Central Bible College, North Central University, Northwest University, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, and Trinity Bible College. Predominantly, Assemblies of God institutions have chosen not to host the group. When I received the letter from Soulforce this past September, I discussed the matter with my administrative colleagues, with the Board of Trustees, with the faculty, and also consulted various Assemblies of God and higher education leaders. Following these discussions, the Board of Trustees voted to reject the invitation to host the “Equality Ride” at the college.

We have sent multiple communiqués to Soulforce and I have spoken directly with the organizers of the tour requesting that they remove the college from the “Equality Ride.” Despite our communications, Soulforce has alerted us that they intend to stop at the college on March 5, 2010. It is vital that the college prepare for the Soulforce riders and the possibility that they may engage in acts of civil disobedience. According to the Soulforce website:

Unfortunately, not every school chooses to host the Equality Ride. Voluntary redemptive suffering in the form of civil disobedience may become our avenue towards progress if, and only if, a school ignores the urgency and rejects dialogue.

In most cases, this means that members of the “Equality Ride” will trespass onto the campus and be arrested by local authorities. We are committed to maintain a safe environment for our campus community and the “Equality Ride” participants. To that end, here are the key ways that we are preparing:

1. A committee has been formed to prepare for the Soulforce visit. The committee includes representatives of the college administration, student body, faculty, Board of Trustees, and local clergy. In addition, the college’s legal counsel is available as a resource person.

 

2. On Friday, January 29, 2010 I shared during our chapel service with the student body about the Soulforce visit and the college’s rationale for denying their request. I emphasized that although some may disagree with the college’s decision, this is a wonderful opportunity to consider carefully how an organization thinks through its response to such an issue. An extended time of Question & Answer followed which gave time for the VFCC family to process the matter.

 

3. Information regarding a Biblical approach to homosexuality is being distributed to the VFCC community, along with expectations that the campus dialogue among students should occur in a healthy, positive atmosphere that is respectful of those with differing opinions.

 

4. Special elective chapel services on February 19 & 26 will feature VFCC faculty who will answer student questions regarding a Biblical approach to homosexuality. (These services are optional.)

 

5. College administrators are meeting with members of the local and state police to determine the appropriate steps that will be taken in the event that the riders ignore our request to remain off of college property.

 

6. College expectations regarding behavior will be shared with the student body as we near the date of the visit.

 

7. Access to the campus will be restricted to VFCC students, faculty, staff, vendors, and approved guests on March 5, 2010.

Let me assure you that our preparations are guided by the college’s Guest Policy, reflective of the “wisdom of a multitude of counselors,” and undergirded with prayer.

I shared with the student body that the college made its decision based on a two-part rationale: (1) items that did not factor into our decision, and (2) items that did:

Items That Did NOT Factor Into Our Decision

 

1. We are closed to consider challenging ideas.

Quite the contrary; challenging ideas belong on a college campus. Students and faculty wrestle with these issues frequently.

2. We are anxious about defending our Biblical position.

Not so! The Bible clearly teaches us about the sanctity and composition of marriage and healthy sexuality. We are unapologetically men and women of the scriptures.

3. We are trying to keep students from the real world.

Students wrestle with these and other issues constantly in and outside of the classroom.

Items That DID Factor Into Our Decision:

1. We are a private college and we have a legal responsibility/right to allow on our campus those whom we deem are appropriate for our mission.

Although we are open to consider ideas, we are not an open campus. We are denying the Soulforce visit in a manner that is consistent with our Guest Policy.

2. We have formed our position on homosexuality Biblically and we are not open to debate on their terms.

To respond favorably to their invitation for dialogue could infer that we believe there is room for negotiation on our Biblical position. We don’t want to send that message. We believe the process that Soulforce uses to promote “open dialogue” is contrary to that very goal.

3. We are concerned for our students’ safety.

We have a responsibility to promote a safe, healthy environment for our students – and we take that responsibility seriously. Although Soulforce has not engaged, to our knowledge, in acts of violence, no college can be too careful in this day and age regarding uninvited strangers.

On March 5, 2010 we are praying that, with God’s help, the “Equality Riders” will encounter a deeply caring community of believers who – while standing on the firm foundation of the Scriptures – also extend loving kindness toward them. Please join us in praying that God will be glorified on our campus before, during, and after the “Equality Ride” bus has left our neighborhood.

If you have any questions regarding this matter please contact me by phone (610-917-1402) or email ( president@vfcc.edu ).

Your friend,

Don Meyer, Ph.D.

President