Monday, May 21, 2012

Vanderbilt, the BCM, and a Bummer

Vanderbilt University recently ousted Christian ministries from campus that would not allow "non-Chrisitans" to be a part of their leadership.  They said it was exclusive, etc.  Their hypocrisy is unsurpassed, as they let the sororities and fraternities keep their exclusive leadership, but that's a different blog for a different day.

The Baptist group on campus (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) along with Reformed University Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church of America were two of the larger groups on campus and the main two who did not leave in protest.  Their basic reasoning was no non-Christian was going to be elected to leadership in their institution and so they weren't going to worry about it.

It's ironic to me that the BCM chose not to take a stand on this church-state issue.  The leadership of Vandy is clearly interfering with church-related work.  It's a bad precedent they're setting and the response from the BCM and RUF couldn't be more short-sighted.

Let's pretend a little scenario is going to play out.  Vandy next says you can't say anything bad against GLBT students, like calling their lifestyle a sin.  Instead of staying on campus now (because they have to "worry about it" since it's directly affecting their doctrine and practice), they leave.  And now the BCM is leaving because of the gay issue and not the church-state issue.  Guess who looks bad?

Universities and those who run them should stay the heck out of the practices of religious groups on campus unless there is physical harm involved.  And religious groups should have better perspective than to simply say, "Well, it's not hurting us now."  Because that kind of waiting hasn't gone particularly well in days gone by, has it?

But that's just me thinking thoughts...

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