Eastern Mennonite University is among the first colleges associated with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities to change its hiring policy to include same-sex faculty.
Two Christian universities announced on Monday, July 20 that they have changed their hiring procedure by adding sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination policies to allow the hiring of faculty who are in same-sex marriages.
Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia are members of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), an association of Christian institutions that aims to "advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education" according to its website. Goshen and Eastern Mennonite University are the first in the organization to adopt a rule in the direction of hiring same-sex married faculty.
Kay Brenneman Nussbaum, chair of EMU's board, said in a statement that "our education is grounded in Mennonite/Anabaptist values, and we believe people in same-sex covenanted relationships are valued members of our learning community with equal rights to standard benefits."
Both Goshen and Eastern Mennonite University are strongly associated with the Mennonite Church USA, which has recently rejected a proposal to permit same-sex marriages. Instead, the assembly has resolved to adopt a "forbearance resolution" that focuses on tolerating the differing views on these issues.
Goshen College President James Brenneman says the school still has a "strong relationship to Mennonite Church USA," and recognizes "the diversity of interpretation of Scripture on this issue within our denomination and the broader Christian church, a diversity reflected within the board of directors and on our campus as well. We seek forbearance and grace amidst our differences. We deeply affirm the goodness of marriage, singleness, celibacy, sexual intimacy within marriage, and a life of faithfulness before God for all people," in a statement.
EMU President Loren Swartzendruber spoke of EMU's "strong commitment to our relationship with Mennonite Church USA even while the denomination continues its discernment," during an employee gathering on July 20.
The two school's decision comes a month after the Supreme Court's decision legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states in June. Both presidents say that the ruling influenced, but did not determine, the change in policy.
For Goshen College, the question of how to relate with LGBTQ students, faculty, and alumni is a matter that the college has been trying to address on and off for over 40 years.
EMU had a "listening process" during the 2013-2014 academic year during which students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors discussed the university's policy on hiring faculty in same-sex marriages. While the majority of students and faculty supported the change in policy, the alumni and church leaders who participated in the conversation expressed more differences in opinion.
"As always, EMU's hiring processes will continue to focus on hiring individuals who are the best fit for the position for which EMU is recruiting, and who are committed to EMU's mission and core values," said Nussbaum in a statement.
"We affirm the equal value and worth of each unique member of our community as a beloved child of God, and we seek to be a hospitable community for all "” including those who disagree with this decision "” as Christ modeled to us," said Goshen President according to a statement.
The CCCU responded to Goshen and EMU's decision in their policy-change in a statement, saying that, "Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen College have made the CCCU aware of the change in their employment policy," and that they are "grateful for the transparent process engaged by both of these institutions." The CCCU says that the board of directors plans to discuss Goshen and EMU's policy changes during its regular meetings.
