Northwest Nazarene University

There seems to be a certain theme running through many of the conversations at the schools that we visit. This is the idea that we all can agree to disagree on the issue of LGBT rights on college campuses. I have been part of so many conversations on these campuses that revolve around the idea that we can get to know one another, find out similarities and talk about our faith and still disagree on whether or not it is a sin to be LGBT. This was definitely the theme of many of the conversations I had at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

The day started with a quick briefing and breakfast with our hosts. My host’s name was Trish and she was great. We shared similar tastes in music and it was cool to hear of her future plans in the music business. After breakfast she gave me a quick tour of the campus. After the tour we moved back to the Brandt Center and watched “In God’s Image,” one of our presentation groups. Mike asked me if I would help out in the question and answer period. I agreed and this is when the theme of “agree to disagree” started. The man who was moderating the Q & A portion asked the question “Is it possible for two people in a relationship to disagree on subjects and still love one another?” My response was “Are you asking if it is okay for someone to love a LGBT person but ‘disagree’ with the fact that they are LGBT?” He responded, “No. I was just wondering if there can be disagreements and love in a relationship. My wife and I have disagreements and we still love each other.” Well obviously I wasn’t going to let him get away with this. “Of course it is possible to have a loving relationship with disagreements,” I responded, “but when it comes to the issue of being LGBT, you cannot love us and not accept all of our being.”

This was the answer I ended up giving two young women at lunch as well as a young man in the afternoon. It was the same answer we as a group gave to the chaplain of the college when he said that we need to agree to disagree on this subject so that we can have dialogue. No, we don’t need to agree to disagree. We need to agree to learn from one another. We need to agree to see each other as full humans. We need to agree to accept and love all of God’s creation regardless of our gender identity or sexual orientation. That’s what we as children of God need to agree to: equality.

In the evening we visited the UCC church in town and had supper. It was so refreshing to be around a group of people who not only said that they welcomed our visit but actually showed us this welcome through true hospitality and support. We were able to fill our bellies, have conversation and play Frisbee in the back. Eventually, some NNU students showed up and we went to the school across the street to play Ultimate Frisbee. Now, I haven’t worked out since Milwaukee but I was still able to keep up with most of them. Most, I say. The kids from NNU were really good at the game and definitely were welcoming of us. We had a great time and were able to connect as people. I must say that during our game of Ultimate Frisbee there was no need to agree to disagree. We needed only to see each other as human beings who are created in the image of God and loved by that God. We needed only to see each other as equal.

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