Worlds could not collide at greater speeds or with more disparity than they have in the evangelical community today. I’m reminded of the cataclysm projected by Neil deGrasse Tyson on Cosmos last night, when in four billionish years our Milky Way will careen into the Andromeda galaxy, completely reorienting both in a spectacular million-year-long light show. I’m sure that’s what it feels like to many faithful churchgoers today.
On the one hand (oh, let’s say the “right” hand), Cedarville University continues its trajectory toward a reclaimed fundamentalism. As reported by Christianity Today over the weekend, the school will now restrict female faculty members in the Bible department to teach only female students. In addition, selected courses in the ministry program will be reserved for women exclusively.
The point may be moot. In the last few months the school’s only fulltime female biblical studies professor was forced out, just another in a long succession of teachers and administrators who were considered too liberal and asked to leave. Of the 20 biblical studies faculty listed in the CU catalog, none are female.
Several schools have taken a decidedly right turn in recent years, often amending their confessions of faith to include statements about complementarianism (submission of women), the doctrine of a literal six-day creation (and opposition to all forms of evolution) and the assertion that marriage is restricted to a man and women (denying all forms of same-sex expression). Cedarville University, Bryan College and Shorter University are just three of the more well-known institutions that have made recent conservative, but controversial changes.
On the other hand (which many will assert is the “left” hand), there was a watershed moment in Evangelicalism today as World Vision announced it would now allow the hiring of gay and lesbian Christians. President Richard Sterns indicated in a Christianity Today article that the U.S. branch of the world-wide relief agency will not limit employment to heterosexuals, but that they will still require abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within.
Sterns’s perspective is a unique one, citing that, as a parachurch agency, they are to remain neutral on all kinds of theologically controversial issues, including divorce/remarriage, evolution, women in ministry and modes of baptism. Same-sex marriage can be viewed as another of the volatile topics evangelical Christians have argued about. Whether for or against any of these divisive issues, theologians have routinely debated the intended message and meaning of the Bible and claimed biblical authority.
World Vision understands their mission to be one of networking among all denominations, with a purpose to promote unity. Affirming the sovereignty and lordship of Jesus, the Apostle’s Creed and a Trinitarian confession of faith still remain prerequisites for employment. But Sterns notes that the controversial issues, especially same-sex marriage, are “tearing churches apart, tearing denominations apart, tearing colleges apart.” World Vision hopes their neutral position will promote unity and conversation within the larger church.
So, galaxies continue to collide. What will be the final outcome? No one knows. Some predict that, in the end, it will be historic orthodox expressions of the church that survive. That may not be such a bad thing, but they are experiencing contention around similar issues as well.
There are a number of ways to describe the era in which we live: weird, scary, fascinating, heartbreaking, bold, exciting. In some ways, the adjectives collide as completely as the issues themselves. Irony abounds. Without a doubt, we are moving through a time of liminality—discontinuous change that disorients us in ways that cause fear and panic in some, hope and expectation in others. Maybe the best thing to do is to stop trying to forecast the outcome. The Spirit is up to something, and the church of the future will look different than anything we can imagine. There is no doubt about that.
Hey Tim, just to clarify, the article doesn't say that WV will now allow the hiring of gay and lesbian Christians. They have never asked about sexual orientation and therefore have likely been hiring gay and lesbian persons all along. It does say that WV has now gone even further and will hire gay and lesbian Christians in married same sex relationships. Wow.
Posted by: Larry Dunn | March 24, 2014 at 06:02 PM
Great point, Larry. I agree with your interpretation. -Tim
Posted by: Tim | March 24, 2014 at 07:58 PM