Anderson University has been been a place of positive spiritual, personal and community involved exploration for a little over a century.  Recently, administrators have made the decision to add a statement titled "Statement Regarding Human Sexuality." This statement includes negative and unnecessary rhetoric condemning the LGBTQIA+ faculty and students of Anderson University. The goal of this petition is top redact said statement from the current and future editions of the Anderson University handbook.

By signing this petition, you show your support and let your voice be heard to the administrators of Anderson University.

The entirety statement is as follows: 

STATEMENT REGARDING HUMAN SEXUALITY

Anderson University is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that was established and remains rooted in both the Wesleyan Holiness Revivalist and the American Pietist streams of Christianity. We believe that scripture is authoritative and provides the key lens for understanding the faith and practice of God’s people, and thus for all aspects of the Anderson University community. 

We value our relationship with and responsibility to the Church of God (Anderson). This covenantal relationship informs our curriculum, mission, Community Standards, moral expectations, and faith perspective in pursuing knowledge. The beliefs of Anderson University are consistent with the beliefs of the Church of God.

Our policies and practices, implemented through a posture of love, are in alignment with the biblical belief that human beings are created in the image of God. Because of this belief, we faithfully care for all students, staff, and faculty with respect, humility, courage, and discernment when addressing any issue, including those issues related to identity and sexuality. Our scriptural understanding is that God has created us as either male or female, and this belief regarding human sexuality is foundational to our understanding of creation itself.

We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers image-bearers to live transformed lives in obedience to God’s desire for sexual purity. God created man and woman to enjoy a consensual sexual relationship together solely in the context of marriage between one man and one woman. All intimate sexual acts between individuals that occur outside the covenant of heterosexual marriage are a distortion of the holiness that God intends. We believe that “male” and “female” are immutable characteristics that are present at birth.

We recognize that as a campus we are made up of individuals who may hold differing positions on various matters. Individuals who do not agree in all particulars with the position articulated in this statement are welcome in our community. There is a community expectation that the official position of the University be enacted through a posture of love. We understand our responsibility to uphold biblical truth in belief and practice, and to do so in a way that is a reflection of the grace we have received.

Institutional policies and practices will be in alignment with the beliefs described in this statement. These policies include, but are not limited to, personal romantic relationships, residence life housing assignments, use of restrooms and locker rooms, competition in intramural and intercollegiate athletics, the recognition or support of campus groups and activities, academic responsibility with respect to curriculum, and advocacy in one’s capacity as an employee of Anderson University.  It is expected that all employees of the University will engage in behaviors consistent with the understanding of human sexuality in this statement.