Evangelical seminary in California considers changes that would make it more welcoming to LGBTQ students

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fuller Theological Seminary, an evangelical college in Pasadena, California, is considering becoming more open to LGBTQ+ students who previously faced possible expulsion if they were in a same-sex relationship, according to a draft of proposed changes to the seminary’s sexuality standards obtained by The Associated Press.

If the board approves these changes, Fuller could become the first evangelical seminary in the country to adopt standards that recognize the diversity of Christian views regarding human sexuality, according to Professor Emeritus John Hawthorne, an expert on Christian colleges.

Such a decision would take Fuller into uncharted territory, Hawthorne said. “It’s a bold move for a school that fended off lawsuits on this very issue several years ago.”

At the same time, several current and former students and faculty believe the move would preserve Fuller’s existing status as a “third place” that welcomes Christians with different views on sexuality – a place that is shrinking nationally amid increasing political polarization on the issue.

Fuller issued a statement Thursday saying deliberations on the issue are ongoing and drafts of potential changes have been prepared solely for discussion and consideration. It says no proposals have been presented to trustees for a vote and it is unclear when the board might even consider the matter.

Hawthorne, who argues in his forthcoming book that Christian colleges should focus on their students rather than worry about critics, expects “significant backlash” from conservative Christians if Fuller proceeds with the revisions.

“I hope they have a plan to deal with the aftermath, the storm, when it comes,” he said.

Fuller’s president, David Goatley, who came to the nondenominational seminary from Duke Divinity School in 2022, appointed a task force of administrators and faculty to examine the school’s sexual standards. The move came about a month after Ruth Schmidt was fired from her position as senior administrator in January for refusing to sign off on the seminary’s sexual standards.

In 2019 and 2020, two former students sued Fuller, claiming they were expelled for same-sex marriage. In October 2020, courts upheld Fuller’s right to enforce his sexual standards. The standards prohibit “homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct” and state that sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman.

The draft with the April 3 amendments states: “There are thoughtful Christians and churches that have different interpretations. Therefore, we expect all members of this global, evangelical and ecumenical community of seminary students and learners to live with the integrity consistent with the Christian community to which they belong.”

The document is less clear, however, when it comes to standards for trustees, administrators, faculty and staff. It requires them to “adhere to sexual standards regarding sexual intimacy within the boundaries of the traditional understanding of marriage.” It also says that members of Christian communities who deviate from Fuller’s stance on traditional marriage are still expected to support the seminary’s position. It does not specify whether faculty, staff and administrators would be penalized for same-sex marriage.

Schmidt, who identifies as queer and began studying at the college in 2016, said she would have been fired even under the proposed new standards.

“But if this passes, it means queer students can enter campus without fear of being kicked out,” she said, adding that as a queer student she has lived with that “visceral fear.” “This will change their lives.”

Schmidt, who currently serves as pastor of Claremont Presbyterian Church and is on track to be ordained in the United Church of Christ, said she would like to see Fuller faculty and staff given the same protections as students.

“We’re likely to see staff and faculty resign because of this,” she said. “It’s going to be a long road of education and compassion until staff have the same protections.”

The proposed standards would also protect conservative Christian students “who are not targeted or viewed as fanatics,” Schmidt said.

“It’s so rare these days to have a place where great theological diversity is safe,” she said. “It feels like holy ground.”

Former and current students say Fuller has historically been a rare “third place” that welcomes a variety of viewpoints. But for LGBTQ+ students, it has also been stressful.

Joshua Beckett, who earned his doctorate at Fuller University and co-taught a course on sexuality and ethics with Schmidt, said students and professors on campus were divided on the issue.

“They tend to be more open-minded and more willing to deal with nuance and uncertainty while tolerating different views,” he said. “The administration and board are very conservative and inflexible.”

Beckett, who is gay, said he didn’t date while studying at Fuller University because he was afraid of being kicked out, saying it affected his mental health and “added a lot of extra stress during an already difficult time.”

Dylan Parker, a doctoral student at Fuller in Arkansas, supports the proposed changes.

“Students would be able to live according to the standards of their own denomination and professors would be able to exercise their academic freedom as long as they support the institution’s stance,” he said. He suggests the changes would allow professors to approve or reject LGBTQ+ people.

The seminary has done a good job of remaining committed to interfaith dialogue, which can be challenging in itself, Parker said, but more needs to be done to foster a culture where different perspectives feel heard.

“Personally, I don’t feel that Fuller is hostile to any perspective,” he said. “But there is a general lack of clarity about which perspectives are welcome.”

The recognition of theological diversity is certainly lacking in Protestant seminaries, said Hawthorne.

“They have failed to recognize the legitimate diversity of opinion among committed Christians who have studied the Scriptures, who are believers and who are not trying to conform to what is culturally easy.”

Jeff Chan, who earned a doctorate in Christian leadership and a master’s in psychology from Fuller University in 2016, now specializes in working with LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, particularly those conflicted between their sexual and religious identities. Chan, who grew up in the Deep South, said Fuller was a breath of fresh air at the time.

“On campus, I was known as a gay man, and fellow students and professors appreciated hearing my stance as a gay Christian,” he said.

But after he graduated, the lawsuits changed the atmosphere, spreading fear and uncertainty among students, Chan said. He says his positive experiences at Fuller played a crucial role in helping him reconcile his sexuality with his Christian faith.

Chan is eager to see how Fuller’s trustees vote on the proposed changes. He says he would like to teach on a campus where he would be asked to formally recognize the college’s traditional view of marriage, but still be allowed to be himself.

“If I have a seat at the table, they can take any position they want,” Chan said. “That’s still sad, but if it allows that third space where people can come together, I think it’s still valuable.”

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Deepa Bharath, Associated Press