Baylor University’s recent back-and-forth over accepting a grant funding research on LGBTQ people in the church exposed a wider issue in Christian academia. Are Christian universities compromising their commitment to traditional Christian teaching on sexuality?
Further research shows that LGBTQ-affirming ideology has influenced Christian higher education across America. Here are examples of LGBTQ-affirming programs and funding housed in historically Christian universities.
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University affiliates with the Churches of Christ and supports the traditional Christian view of marriage and gender. The undergraduate student code of conduct condemns any sexual activity outside of marriage between a man and a woman.
Despite this, Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology promotes LGBTQ affirmation. Aliento, a Spanish-language wing of the graduate school, celebrated Pride Month with a newsletter informing readers about mental health issues faced by LGBTQ people.
The newsletter directed readers to pro-LGBTQ videos and online articles. One infographic advised friends of LGBTQ people to “do away with the stigma surrounding gender nonconformity,” to “use gender inclusive language” and to “support and validate their experience.”
Another initiative housed in Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Education and Psychology is the Language, Culture and Gender Lab. The lab’s research openly employs a “social justice framework” and draws from feminism and liberation psychology.
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University, a Dallas-based school founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, which later became part of the United Methodist Church, has openly embraced LGBTQ affirmation. SMU’s Women and LGBT Center hosts a pop-up clothing swap program that “provide[s] an opportunity for students to acquire clothing that aligns with their current gender identity and/or gender expression.” The center also provides HIV tests, condoms, lube and dental dams to students on campus.
The Texas university’s Baptist House of Studies (BHS) receives funding from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation—the same foundation behind Baylor University’s recently rejected LGBTQ grant. BHS lead advisor George Mason actively supports “efforts toward full inclusion of LGBTQ ministers in Baptist life.” The BHS has also sponsored events from liberal groups like the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and the nonprofit organization, Nevertheless She Preached.
SMU’s UMC-affiliated Perkins School of Theology also sponsors the Wild Goose Festival, an annual meetup for liberal Christians that involves drag queen performances, yoga sessions and speaking topics as far-ranging as “Erotic Self-Care for Spiritual Leaders” and “Psychedelic Liberation Theology.” The festival schedule also includes partaking in the Eucharist and in “Liberation Liturgies.”
Whitworth University
The Presbyterian-founded Whitworth University shifted its policies to allow the hiring of LGBTQ faculty in 2023. Since then, the university’s enforcement of LGBTQ policies has been murky. Last fall, a student organization sponsored by Planned Parenthood attempted to host a “Sex in the Dark” panel which university policy caused the group to postpone and ultimately cancel. The university requires any event discussing sex to have someone present who “explicitly shares God’s design that sex is a gift to be enjoyed by two persons in the context of a life-long covenant relationship (typically marriage).”
The informal policy—revealed on the student organization’s Facebook page—frustrated the event organizers while failing to clarify whether the “two persons” in a marriage must be of opposite sexes. The “Sex in the Dark” panel originally aimed to provide sex education to both straight and LGBTQ students.
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) faced division in 2015 when two member schools allowed the hiring of LGBTQ faculty members. However, the CCCU has since stipulated that voting members cannot employ LGBTQ faculty.
Controversially, the CCCU also backed the Fairness for All Act, a more conservative alternative to the Equality Act, which would have threatened religious institutions that refused to hire LGBTQ individuals. The move prompted backlash, since the Fairness for All Act would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of federally protected classes. Some schools disassociated themselves from the CCCU due to its advocacy. Neither the Equality Act nor the Fairness for All Act have passed Congress.
Catholic Universities
Dennis H. Holtschneider, former president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, has expressed support for LGBTQ accommodation on campus. Holtschneider argued that using Genesis 1:27 to affirm binary sex is “Not exactly the stuff of convincing rhetoric, much less moral theology.”
Holtschneider established the first Catholic LGBTQ studies program at DePaul University, the largest Catholic university in the U.S. measured by total student enrollment. The program offers courses like “Sacred Texts (Through Queer Eyes)” and “Contested Bodies”—a class which promises to leave students “questioning the dominant norms that promote ‘normal’ bodies.”
In California, Santa Clara University houses the Rainbow Resource Center, which hosts events such as “Fluidity Fashion Shows” and on-campus drag queen performances. The Jesuit-founded university has also awarded its ethics in sports award to You Can Play, an organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion in athletics, including allowing transgender people to access restrooms and locker rooms of the opposite sex.
Overall, theologically conservative Christians may be dismayed to learn of some Christian universities’ affirmation of LGBTQ ideology. The infiltration of LGBTQ ideology should spur conservative Christians to keep a more vigilant watch over their universities.
More from IRD:
Should Calvin University Divorce its Denomination?
Institutions Don’t Maintain Themselves
Baylor Reverses Course on LGBTQ+ Grant
Comment by Diane on July 21, 2025 at 10:09 pm
In July of 1692, four women were hanged for witchcraft in evangelical Salem, Massachusetts. Since then, most Christians reject the traditional witchcraft ideology of that era. In 2025, your article makes the point that increasingly, Christians are rejecting traditional Christian sexuality and gender ideology. Some Christian teaching and beliefs change overtime. In the end, Jesus tells us that on judgment day, sexuality and gender are disregarded…the bottom line, according to Jesus, is whether we fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick and in prison. That’s it.
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on July 22, 2025 at 12:34 pm
“In July of 1692, four women were hanged for witchcraft in evangelical Salem, Massachusetts” — I was unaware that evangelicalism existed in 1692, Diane. Perhaps you meant to write Puritan?
Comment by Mike on July 22, 2025 at 8:31 am
“In the end, Jesus tells us that on judgment day, sexuality and gender are disregarded…the bottom line, according to Jesus, is whether we fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick and in prison. That’s it.”
You wish. Better read the first couple chapters of Romans for God’s view on how mankind has come short of doing what is right. “Sexuality” plays a big part in God’s condemnation of sinful humanity.
Comment by Mike on July 22, 2025 at 8:34 am
” In the end, Jesus tells us that on judgment day, sexuality and gender are disregarded…the bottom line, according to Jesus, is whether we fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, visited the sick and in prison. That’s it.”
You wish it was so. Better read the first several chapters of Romans. Paul shows God’s view of the shortcomings of mankind, including “sexuality”.
Comment by Different Steve on July 22, 2025 at 2:16 pm
The question of whether sexual sin will be disregarded on judgment day is complex and varies depending on how different Christian traditions understand sin, grace, and judgment. The Bible speaks to sin and judgment in various places, but it also emphasizes God’s mercy and grace, especially for those who repent. Let’s break this down:
Key Bible Passages on Judgment and Sin
2 Corinthians 5:10:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (NIV)
This verse shows that everyone will be judged for their actions—both good and bad. So, sexual sin, like any other sin, is something that will be accounted for.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11:
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral… will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (NIV)
Paul specifically mentions sexual immorality here as something that prevents people from inheriting the kingdom of God. However, the passage also emphasizes repentance and forgiveness—those who have been washed and sanctified by Jesus are no longer in that category.
Romans 6:23:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
While this verse speaks to sin in general, it underscores the seriousness of sin, but also the hope of eternal life through Jesus. Even sexual sin, like other sins, has consequences, but forgiveness is offered.
Will Sexual Sin Be Disregarded?
No, sexual sin will not be disregarded in the sense of being ignored or overlooked on judgment day. The Bible makes it clear that sin, including sexual sin, has consequences and that people are accountable for their actions.
However, Jesus’ grace is central to Christian teaching. For those who repent and believe in Christ, their sins, including sexual sins, are forgiven and atoned for by Jesus’ sacrifice. This means that the final judgment for believers is not about condemnation for their past sins, but about the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.
What Does This Mean for Judgment Day?
For non-believers, sexual sin (and all sin) will be a serious matter on judgment day, as they will face God’s justice without the covering of Christ’s sacrifice.
For believers, their sins, including sexual sin, are forgiven if they have repented and put their faith in Christ. The focus will be more on their faith and relationship with Christ, not whether they’ve been sinless in their actions.
Repentance and Transformation: Christianity teaches that those who are genuinely transformed by faith will turn away from sin, including sexual sin, as part of a new life in Christ. While judgment won’t disregard the past, a repentant heart is key to the Christian hope of eternal life.
Summary
Sexual sin will not be disregarded on judgment day, but for believers in Christ, Jesus’ sacrifice covers all sin, including sexual sin, through faith and repentance. For those who have not repented or believed in Christ, there will be accountability for their actions, including sexual sin. Ultimately, grace and forgiveness play a central role in Christian theology, offering the hope of reconciliation with God, regardless of past mistakes.
Comment by SGH on July 22, 2025 at 2:23 pm
The idea of wilful refusal to understand one’s behavior being sinful ties deeply into both personal responsibility and the need for repentance in Christian theology. In short, willfully refusing to recognize or understand one’s sinful behavior can complicate the process of forgiveness. However, it does not negate the possibility of forgiveness—it just highlights the need for a change of heart and attitude for true repentance.
Let’s unpack this in more detail:
1. The Importance of Self-Awareness in Repentance
Repentance in Christianity is not just about acknowledging a sin in a vague or superficial way; it involves recognizing the sin for what it is and turning away from it. Willful refusal to understand or acknowledge one’s behavior can hinder this process. Here’s why:
Luke 5:32: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (NIV)
Jesus calls sinners to repent—but repentance requires self-awareness. If someone is unwilling to even admit they are sinning, their ability to genuinely seek forgiveness is hindered.
James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (NIV)
A prideful heart, which could include willful ignorance or refusal to face one’s faults, places a barrier between the person and God. Repentance is a humbling act, requiring us to face our failings honestly.
2. The Role of Free Will and Conviction
The Bible suggests that the Holy Spirit plays a key role in convicting people of their sin. Romans 8:16 says that the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children, and the Holy Spirit brings conviction when we sin. If a person refuses to listen to that conviction, they are resisting the guidance and transformation that God offers.
1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
Willfully ignoring God’s conviction, which could include refusing to recognize one’s sinful behavior, is something that the Bible warns against. In this case, quenching the Spirit can prevent growth, healing, and reconciliation with God.
3. The Heart of Forgiveness and the Need for Repentance
Forgiveness in Christianity is always available, but it requires genuine repentance. Matthew 18:21-22 illustrates this idea with Jesus telling Peter that forgiveness should be extended seventy-seven times (or “seventy times seven,” depending on the translation). God is willing to forgive an unlimited number of times if a person is repentant.
However, willful refusal to repent (or refusal to see one’s behavior as sinful) can create a barrier to this forgiveness. Forgiveness is freely given by God, but the individual must acknowledge their sin and turn from it.
1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
The key here is confession, which is not just about admitting actions but about an honest understanding of the behavior and a turning away from it. Willfully refusing to understand or confront one’s actions can prevent this process.
4. Hardening of the Heart
A willful refusal to understand can also be seen as a form of spiritual hardening. In both the Old and New Testaments, people who harden their hearts against God and His ways are warned of the consequences:
Hebrews 3:15: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (NIV)
Hardening one’s heart involves a refusal to allow oneself to be open to God’s correction, which ultimately leads to spiritual stagnation.
Matthew 13:15: “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.” (NIV)
This passage points to how spiritual blindness comes when a person refuses to recognize the truth of their behavior. The refusal to understand one’s sin can lead to a spiritual deafness that makes repentance harder.
5. Can Forgiveness Happen Without Repentance?
Jesus’ forgiveness is unconditional in the sense that He offers it to all. However, the reception of that forgiveness depends on the individual’s willingness to acknowledge their sin and repent.
Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (NIV)
Even while on the cross, Jesus asked for forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him. This highlights God’s desire to forgive, even in situations where people may not fully understand the gravity of their sin. However, the full reconciliation comes when individuals acknowledge their sin and turn from it.
Summary: Willful Refusal and Forgiveness
Willful refusal to understand one’s sinful behavior is problematic because it blocks the path to genuine repentance. Repentance requires a person to recognize and acknowledge their wrongdoing, which is essential for seeking forgiveness.
Forgiveness is always available, but it is contingent upon recognition and repentance. If a person is willfully blind to their sin, they are not actively seeking God’s forgiveness in a meaningful way.
Grace is abundant, but the heart needs to be open. Willfully ignoring God’s conviction or refusing to acknowledge one’s behavior limits the possibility of transformation. In Christian teaching, true forgiveness involves not only accepting the gift of grace but also a willingness to change and turn away from sin.
Comment by Curtis Nester on July 24, 2025 at 1:19 pm
When someone says, “Well that’s a complex issue, etc.” be on your guard. It is not complex. God made it simple so everyone could understand it. Man calls it complex to allow leeway for heretical interpretations.
Good advice is “KISS” Keep it Simple, Stupid!
Comment by Cal on July 25, 2025 at 10:43 pm
We’re living through a leftist cultural revolution, and passively dutiful organizations (like liberal denominations and colleges) go with the flow so they won’t be hassled by the cultural rulers. Read the parable of the greengrocer, by Havel.
Comment by Cal on July 25, 2025 at 10:45 pm
“When someone says, “Well that’s a complex issue, etc.” be on your guard. ”
.
I once read a comment, “The Bible is revelation, not a riddle”.