By Sarah Carillo and Joann Groff
Assistant News Editors
Two years ago, the issue of homosexuality was debated within the pages of the Graphic opinion section, instigated by a Convocation on how a church tackled the issue of homosexuality. Within days of that paper’s distribution, feedback came pouring in, and in the weeks that followed, and several editorials ran in response.
Reactions ranging from surprise to absolute outrage ran through the campus, as one of Pepperdine’s first forums to discuss homosexuality was offered within the pages of the student newspaper.
Now, just 19 months later, Pepperdine is introducing a new forum to explore these very issues — not in a special interest group or student publication — but a three-part Moral Compass series that will include speeches and question-and-answer sessions sponsored by Seaver College beginning Oct. 14.
Dr. Rick Marrs, associate dean of Seaver College, will open the series with his presentation, “Homosexuality: A Biblical Perspective.” Marrs said these presentations could help offer new perspectives to the Pepperdine community.
“If you remember a bit of the history on this discussion, there was a forum that occurred a while back in which a clear divergence among participants regarding the ‘Biblical view on homosexuality,’ Marrs said. “I was asked by those who coordinate the Moral Compass series to provide some insights about the biblical materials and homosexuality.”
Ken Durham, a minister of the University Church of Christ, has spoken to the Pepperdine community twice on the subject of the presence of homophobia on campus. He will close the series on Oct. 21 with “Why Homophobia is not a Christian Value.”
“We have a right to disagree about issues, but we don’t have a right to use derisive language,” Durham said. “I hope to encourage more healthy conversation on campus about the issue. I think there is more (of that) today than there was a couple years ago. I think the series will build on that and discuss and examine the issues.”
Examining the issue of homosexuality hasn’t always been at the top of the University’s agenda.
“The issue exists and we (the University) tend to not talk about it,” said visiting professor of Humanities Jeff Banks. “That’s why I see this program as healthy. The University is a place where things should be openly discussed. This is a very appropriate thing to do.”
Students say they are surprised the administration is offering up the topic for discussion.
“I can’t believe there are going to bring speakers in to talk about homosexuality,” junior Stephanie Andrews said. “As long as the panel is open-minded and not one-sided, then I believe the series will be beneficial and of interest to students.”
Tabatha Jones, associate dean of Student Affairs and coordinator of the series, confirmed there would be a variety of viewpoints presented during the series.
“It’s my sense that an orthodox view, among other perspectives, will be discussed by the various lecturers and panelists throughout the entire series,” Jones said. “In that regard, the University’s position will be echoed by some, but not all, of the individual presenters.”
Dr. Randall Maddox, professor of mathematics, who responded to the Graphic’s debates on homosexuality in February and March of 2002, is happy to hear about the series.
His editorial on March 14, 2002, sparked conversation across campus when he encouraged the theory that there is no clear message to as whether homosexuality is right or wrong in the Bible.
“I am very happy to see the representation of various points of view,” Maddox said. “It is dangerous if formal discussions are merely a rubber stamp for the view of the controlling members of the community. Christians have different views on lots of important moral issues, and we must all remember that we have no reason to fear others’ views and no excuse for silencing them.”
Some are not too keen on the idea of an open forum on the subject. Sophomore Rob Galloway said he knows there are extreme views on either side of the issue and he thinks there are very few people who will stay silent if they have an opinion.
“I’m against it, but it may just be the way I was brought up,” Galloway said. “I am from the Midwest, from an extremely homophobic town. Two people came out — one was beaten and one was murdered.”
Maddox said the best way to create a healthy environment is to talk honestly with one another.
“If we cannot talk openly, talk will still happen, but the effects of that kind of talk will be negative,” Maddox said. “Rumors about people will spread, people will listen only to the voices that say what they want to hear. Both of these are real and serious problems here at Pepperdine and there are quite a few members of this community who need the opportunity to heal from the damage that such talk has done to them personally.”
Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Mark Davis said the focus is not on backing down from personal beliefs, but exercising tolerance.
“We can hold firm convictions on moral issues while at the same time respecting the views of others,” Davis said. “Everyone, regardless of their viewpoints, should be treated with dignity and respect.”
The series, which has been resurrected after a stint in the late-90s, has covered such topics as abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. The topic of homosexuality, because of its generation of feedback both at Pepperdine and in the United States, was planned as the topic of the series last year. But because of the timing and the state of our country, the morality of war replaced the subject for the 2002 series.
Davis said the series will include a presentation on what the Bible says about a particular topic, and then include an overview of the various interpretations of related texts. There will also be a forum in which “thoughtful Christians who hold different viewpoints share their perspectives, drawing upon insights from Scripture, experience, research and the various disciplines,” Davis said.
October 02, 2003
