Okay Ohio Northern—What's the Plan?
So, as I am sure all of us are aware, Ohio Northern is a Methodist affiliated church and I feel like it is something shoved to the forefront that really doesn't affect anything—until now. Lately, realistically ever since the legalization of gay marriage, the Methodist church (and many universities that are affiliated with such a congregation) have run into a lot of issues. What do you do when a church is essentially taking a stand that gay people shouldn't exist when clearly conflicts with the guaranteed (and deserved) protection that a university (public or private) must provide?
Within the last week, the Methodist Church voted to double down on their gay, lesbian, transgender (or any other identity other than strictly straight) ban, still holding the stance that homosexuality is entirely incompatible with the Gospels and teachings of the church. While this was an extremely close vote (53%-47%), it is another extremely poignant reminder of the current state and views of both the Methodist Church as well as the future American Christianity.
So again, what should Ohio Northern do?
I think that Ohio Northern should leave the United Methodist Church in the dust. As someone in the LGBT community, the fact that ONU feels some sort of deep affiliation with an organization that is blatantly saying that they don't want gay people is worrying. If anything, it could potentially be viewed as reflective of the university (and although I don't think it necessarily is) that won't stop potential students from relating a homophobic church to this college.
This will certainly be an issue Northern will have to make a stance on and hopefully they choose better than 53% of the United Methodist Church.
Within the last week, the Methodist Church voted to double down on their gay, lesbian, transgender (or any other identity other than strictly straight) ban, still holding the stance that homosexuality is entirely incompatible with the Gospels and teachings of the church. While this was an extremely close vote (53%-47%), it is another extremely poignant reminder of the current state and views of both the Methodist Church as well as the future American Christianity.
So again, what should Ohio Northern do?
I think that Ohio Northern should leave the United Methodist Church in the dust. As someone in the LGBT community, the fact that ONU feels some sort of deep affiliation with an organization that is blatantly saying that they don't want gay people is worrying. If anything, it could potentially be viewed as reflective of the university (and although I don't think it necessarily is) that won't stop potential students from relating a homophobic church to this college.
This will certainly be an issue Northern will have to make a stance on and hopefully they choose better than 53% of the United Methodist Church.
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