As a former Seventh-Day Adventist I am interested in the interactions between groups of LGBTQ Adventists and their allies and the Seventh-Day Adventist Denomination and its institutions. The Church holds firm to the belief that same-sex sexual activity is always a sin, even in the context of a long-term mutually monogamous relationship including those in legal civil marriages.
In this particular case AULL4One, the unofficial Gay Straight Alliance at Andrews University, (considered to be the flagship Seventh-Day Adventist institution of higher learning), wanted to hold a bake sale to support homeless LGBTQIA youth. They chose Fierce Chicago as the group to raise funds for. The University refused to allow the bake sale to be held if Fierce Chicago would be the beneficiary. They appear believe that any actions to support LGBTQIA youth must be funneled through an organization that doesn’t endorse the rights of LGBTQIA people which they infer as endorsing same-sex sexual activity.
Here’s the response of the Intercollegiate Adventist GSA Coalition to this controversy as it appears on their Facebook page:
The official logo of The Intercollegiate Adventist GSA Coalition
The members of our group at Andrews University, AULL4One, has been through a lot this week. We’ve heard many opinions this week, and want to emphasize that love and respect are key to creating spaces that are safe for everyone. IAGC’s purpose is to build mutual understanding and respect; without love and respect, progress is not possible. We want each of our student groups to know that their sister groups stand with them to make a change for the better in our church and world.
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Since its formation in 2011, the Intercollegiate Adventist GSA Coalition has established all-inclusive gay-straight alliance student groups on seven Seventh-day Adventist college and university campuses across North America: AULL4One (Andrews University), PRISM (La Sierra University), SHIELD (Southern Adventist University), Students for Equality (Walla Walla University), Queers & Allies (Washington Adventist University), GASP (Pacific Union College), and Beacon (Union College).
Though these groups have experienced a variety of setbacks, they have flourished every year, and they have proven to be vital resources for students who oftentimes feel marginalized on Adventist campuses, but still seek the quality of spiritual and professional education that these institutions offer. However, the work these groups are doing is controversial, commonly receiving more harsh criticism than support from administration and peers. Yet this criticism doesn’t stop them or other students from working through the issues.
This week, the members of our group AULL4One at Andrews University experienced a harsh reality check when it comes to partnering with their school and church ministries to make a difference in the community. While the Adventist denomination and its members continue to disagree on topics and issues regarding the LGBT community, AULL4One prayerfully committed to taking action that would improve real people’s lives. AULL4One and Campus Ministries began working with the Student Life Department in 2014 to find a way to raise funds for homeless LGBT youth in the Chicago area. However, once the students chose Project Fierce, all the meetings and emails were for naught, and the university denied AULL4One’s request to fundraise on campus for that organization. On 10 March, the office of the president released an official statement about the fundraising request denial. The final portion of this Question/Answer styled statement states:
“Providing care to LGBT homeless youth is compatible with our institutional mission to demonstrate God’s love to all people, and reflects our denomination’s specific call to exhibit compassion for LGBT persons. At the same time, Andrews University has declined a student request to officially endorse a fundraising effort to raise money for an organization that may have a perceived LGBT advocacy role. This decision was made in the context of our student fundraising policy in the Student Handbook, which states that funds may be raised for non-profit organizations ‘whose mission and practices do not conflict with those of the University.’”
Although it is expected that administration would have reservations, it is disappoint that these reservations ultimately led to the hindrance of aid to those in need. “Not everything always agrees or perfectly aligns with ideals. What matters is, Does an action work against the core mission?” Eric Anderson writes, a student at Canadian University College in contact with the IAGC, working to form a group on his campus. “Service to others and love for all is the basis for all that Christian people do.” Just as working with marginalized students on Adventist campuses is vital, so is the need to serve and house LGBT homeless youth. More individuals have contacted us as well to ask how they can form similar groups to increase safety, respect, and reconciliation on their Adventist campuses.
In her article, LGBT Youth Homelessness? Not The Time To Argue, Dr. Keisha McKenzie writes, “[LGBT homeless youth] represent 20-40% of the homeless youth population: more than 320,000 people every single year.” AULL4One chose to serve this population because these youth are at risk. It is very unfortunate that, even with AULL4One’s track record on campus and relationship with the university administration, its members were still denied the chance to move forward on campus because the university assumed Project Fierce had an “LGBT advocacy role.” Daneen Akers, producer of the film Seventh-Gay Adventists, responded to this week’s events with this statement: “LGBT homeless youth are a group of extremely vulnerable youth who are in crisis. If ever there was a modern-day equivalent to ‘the least of these’ of Matthew 25, it’s this group.”
This week has more than tried members of AULL4One, yet, they have shown courage and willpower in working for a community that has been ignored too long by the Church. Jonathan Doram, president of AULL3One and secretary for the IAGC, says: “Regardless of SDA administrative decisions and actions in the future, I and AULL4One are committed to creating safe spaces for everyone and helping those in need.” When told that they could not hold a fundraiser on-campus, AULL4One launched an IndieGogo fundraising campaign online, doubling its initial goal in a mere two days. Rebby Kern, Director of Youth Engagement for SDA Kinship writes, “Our generation stands behind action to implement change, which speaks louder than any discrimination faced from the church.” Dave Ferguson, Director of Church Relations for SDA Kinship, writes, “I applaud AULL4One’s work to select a project that supports one of the most ignored groups in the U. S.—homeless LGBT youth, many of whom became homeless when they were kicked out of their homes because of religious-based homophobia… I hope that other IAGC member groups can find [similar] organizations in their area.”
“When learning of the recent events at Andrews University, I could not help but think of when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath,” Daniel Perez said, treasurer of the IAGC. “The actions taken by those at Andrews University reminds me of the Pharisees who withheld good because of wanting to abide by rules and regulations. I’m grateful that AULL4One did not waver from their mission. I can only imagine how many homeless youth’s lives they have touched.”
We’ve heard many opinions this week, and want to emphasize that love and respect are key to creating spaces that are safe for everyone. IAGC’s purpose is to build mutual understanding and respect; without love and respect, progress is not possible. We want each of our student groups to know that their sister groups stand with them to make a change for the better in our church and world. Sydney Portela, president of Queers & Allies at Washington Adventist University writes, “I hope that someday, as a result of our hard work, we can have higher expectations of the leadership in Adventist establishments.”
The IAGC officers are continuing to work with the student leaders in planning ways to improve Adventist campuses and ministering to others. “We want AULL4One and our other IAGC-member groups to know that we fully support them in reaching out in service to their communities on or off campus,” writes Jefferson Clark, president of the IAGC. “To you, the marginalized individuals, you are not alone in your journey and we are here to help. And to you, our leaders and allies, continue to reach out and show our students the love and support they deserve.”
Written 12 March 2015 – For more information about the IAGC, visit www.IAGCAdventist.com, or contact the current president, Jefferson Clark, at IAGC.Southern@gmail.com
AULL4One's official logo
The AULL4One Indie Go Go fundraising efforts has been a huge success. The total donated to homeless LGBTQIA youth through Fierce Chicago is now $12,875. Far more than the original hope if $2,000 and even more than the expanded goal of $10,000. If you want to contribute AULL4One would greatly appreciate it. Here’s their response to the outpouring of support.
Wow! Thank you so much to everyone who’s already donated! Please keep sharing this link with your friends, family, churches, communities so that we can send a message to LGBT homeless youth that they are valued, loved, and supported!
Donate here: https://life.indiegogo.com/fundraisers/aull4one-raising-money-for-project-fierce
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