THE WORD OF GOD EXCLUDED
THESE WERE "LISTENING"
TO THE "WISDOM OF MEN", INSTEAD OF THE WISDOM OF GOD, AND ARE NOW APOSTATE
1 Corinthians 1:25- "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
1 Corinthians 3:18-20-"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless."
Jeremiah 17:9-"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?
________________________________________________
QUOTE: The EMU board of trustees passed a motion on November 16, 2013, to engage in a six-month listening process around hiring practices and covenanted same-sex relationships, beginning January 2014.
QUOTE: The president’s cabinet invited a wide range of constituents – including students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, church leaders – to fill out survey forms giving their views on the hiring policy. “More than 7,000 people responded to our survey,” according to BJ Miller, director of institutional research. In addition, 20 “dialogue sessions,” including approximately 300 individuals on campus, were held. At least one president’s cabinet member was present at each session to listen and anonymously report perspectives to the rest of the cabinet. The president and cabinet members also engaged leaders across the church. “The listening process was extremely valuable in enabling the president’s cabinet to gain a deeper understanding of the range of feelings, hopes and fears about extending university employment to persons in same-sex covenanted relationships,”
JAMES BRENNEMAN, PRESIDENT
GOSHEN COLLEGE
LOREN SWARTZENDRUBER, EMU PRESIDENT
KAY BRENNEMAN NUSSBAUM, BOARD CHAIR, EMU
TWO MENNONITE COLLEGES ALLOW EMPLOYMENT OF “MARRIED” HOMOSEXUALS
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
(Friday Church News Notes, July 31, 2015, www.wayoflife.orgfbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “Two Mennonite Colleges,” Christian News Network, Jul. 22, 2015:
“Two American colleges that identify as Mennonite institutions have announced changes to their hiring policy to now allow the employment of homosexuals who have ‘wed’ their partners. Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia and Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana announced the alterations on Monday, while claiming to still hold to the biblical principles as Christian schools. EMU’s decision followed a two-year ‘listening process’ to ‘review current hiring policies and practices with respect to individuals in same-sex relationships.’ ... On Monday, Board Chair Kay Brenneman Nussbaum and President Lauren Swartzendruber stated that they believed the compromise was satisfactory. ‘[EMU] is grounded in Mennonite/Anabaptist values, and we believe people in same-sex covenanted relationships are valued members of our learning community with equal rights to standard benefits,’ Nussbaum remarked in a statement. ... Goshen College made similar statements, remarking that there is a ‘diversity’ of opinions on whether or not biblical law prohibits sexuality between those of the same gender. ‘As an institution rooted in the Anabaptist tradition, we reaffirm our strong relationship to Mennonite Church USA, and recognize the diversity of interpretation of Scripture on this issue within our denomination and the broader Christian church, a diversity reflected within the board of directors and on our campus as well,’ said President James Brenneman.”
ARTICLE CONTINUED FROM ORIGINAL SOURCE:
“We seek forbearance and grace amidst our differences,” he continued. “We deeply affirm the goodness of marriage, singleness, celibacy, sexual intimacy within marriage, and a life of faithfulness before God for all people.”
In a special FAQ section on the decision, Goshen also asserted that the “decision is in keeping with our commitment to non-discrimination and our Christ-centered core values.”
The announcements come just weeks after the Mennonite Church USA rejected a proposal to allow same-sex “marriages” within the denomination, but agreed to a resolution stating that Mennonites will tolerate those who believe homosexual behavior is not sinful.
“We acknowledge that there is currently not consensus within Mennonite Church USA on whether it is appropriate to bless Christians who are in same-sex covenanted unions,” it reads.
“Because God has called us to seek peace and unity as together we discern and seek wisdom on these matters, we call on all those in Mennonite Church USA to offer grace, love and forbearance toward conferences, congregations and pastors in our body who, in different ways, seek to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ on matters related to same-sex covenanted unions,” the resolution continues.”
While EMU and Goshen have spoken favorably of the policy changes, others are not so pleased with the development.
“Please read 1 Corinthians 6:9, [which declares], ‘Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers or anyone practicing homosexuality.’ How can you hire someone who will not inherit the Kingdom of God and teach students what the Bible says?” one commenter stated.
