Students bravely continue to lead the Charge for Equal Rights at Religious Colleges and Universities. Seattle Pacific University Students held a three-week-long sit-in at Seattle Pacific University to protest the school’s traditional views on human sexuality and its policy against hiring full-time faculty who violate it, including those who engage in homosexual behavior.
On May 23, the board of trustees of Seattle Pacific University issued a statement, saying, “After careful consideration of multiple and complex concerns, the Board of Trustees has reached the decision to retain Seattle Pacific University’s current employee lifestyle expectations regarding sexual conduct.
“The decision means SPU’s employee conduct expectations continue to reflect a traditional view on Biblical marriage and sexuality, as an expression of long-held church teaching and biblical interpretation.”
On May 24, the student protest began. The university’s director of public information, Tracy Norlen, confirmed the sit-in is continuing in its third week in front of the president’s office.
“The sit-in has not affected the university’s ability to do business,” she wrote in an email to MinistryWatch.“The President’s Office and all offices and classrooms in Demaray Hall remain open. Summer classes are now in session.”
A group called Associated Students of Seattle Pacific has set up an Instagram account with updates on the protest. In addition, a Twitter account called “Engaygetheculture” claims, “Select members of the SPU Board of Trustees are holding our campus hostage with homophobic policies,” and that the protests won’t be ending “any time soon.” And set up Go fund me to Hold the SPU Board Legally Accountable.
SPU was founded by Free Methodists in 1891. Other colleges affiliated with the Free Methodist Church are Azusa Pacific University, Central Christian College of Kansas, Greenville University, Roberts Wesleyan College and Spring Arbor University.