This is a long read, but it’s worth your time. Written by a student at my school, Baldwin-Wallace. It addresses the tension between a christian organization and the LGBT organization on campus.
Dear Allies-
My name is Nate Hubbard and I have been a part of the Alpha Course here at BW since it began a few weeks ago. Yes, this means that I am a part of Campus Crusade, and yes that means many of you might be turned off to this letter already, but I would ask that you please read this letter as it is a representation of many of the hearts of those who call themselves christians here at BW. I am not on the leadership team or anything like that, I’m simply a man that loves God and tries to love His people.
Let’s be honest—there is some definite tension between Cru and Allies. One of the biggest reasons for this was the night that Cru put on a few years ago where they brought in an X-lesbian to talk about her story. As many of you know, that night didn’t go over so well, and it left us all with more questions than we had before she talked. The Cru leaders and members had no intent for that talk to go wrong, and there is a lot of regret when we think about some of the outcomes of that night. I feel that night hurt those in the LGBTQ lifestyle and their supporters, somehow proclaiming that anyone who’s gay cannot find out who God is. I repeat more emphatically; there is definite tension between Cru and Allies, and honestly it’s my fault. I had four years to try to mend this hurt between the christian and LGBTQ groups on campus. I should have gone to Allies meetings and shown my support as an example of the type of love that I believe comes from God. But I didn’t and now I’m on the brink of leaving this campus when there is some unfinished injustice to attend to. Therefore, I decided to write this letter to say I’m sorry and to recognize that there are plenty of stupid, judgmental, hurtful christians out there but most of us here at BW aren’t like that.
I wanted to extend another invitation (I say another because I’m sure at least some of you have already been invited to the Alpha Course!) to you all to come and see what this Alpha is all about. It is a perfectly safe place for anyone—no matter what lifestyle or belief you have have—and it’s a chance to simply talk about the deeper questions of life. But, more importantly, I truly believe it would be a chance for you to all see the openness of God. I don’t know if you have read or heard any of the reviews on the course, but apparently people are raving about it—not because of “religion” or anything like that, but because it’s a chance to just talk and ask questions and take a real, no-strings-attached look into this being called God.
I feel that we can get rid of this tension between Allies and Cru. I have already talked to a handful of Cru members that want to come to your meetings. I wish we could have done that before I wrote a letter, but alas, there are only two more weeks left of Alpha and I wanted to extend the invitation before it was over. But Cru’s open heart and listening ears don’t stop with Alpha. It is my hope that they continue to spread love and hope after Alpha and into the years to come. I cannot control what they do, and I cannot control what you do. But I can control myself—and that is why I write this letter. First and foremost I am sorry for the hurt, second and also foremost I want to see it mended. The invitation is open, and it’s not to convert you it’s an opportunity for you to say what you’ve always wanted to say, and it’s a chance for us at Cru to meet you all in a more personal and loving way.
The Alpha Course is Tuesday night at 9:00pm, and it begins with a free dinner, then there is a talk by Bruce, a local pastor who presents some thoughts, and then the night ends with about a 30-45 minute discussion at small tables about these thoughts or anything else that may be on your hearts. It is my hope that at least one person comes; for the last time Allies left Cru, on that unpredicted night, you all left hurt and unresolved. I think we should fix that together.
In love and sincerity-
adios
nate
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