By Ed Stetzer, The Exchange.
InterVarsity is an Evangelical Christian organization, and people who work at InterVarsity are, not surprisingly, expected to hold evangelical beliefs.
Or, you could state it as Elisabeth Dias of TIME Magazine did:
One of the largest evangelical organizations on college campuses nationwide has told its 1,300 staff members that will be fired if they personally support gay marriage or otherwise disagree with its newly detailed positions on sexuality starting on Nov. 11.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA says that it will start a process for “involuntary terminations” for any staffer who comes forward to disagree with its positions on human sexuality, which holds that any sexual activity outside of a husband and wife is immoral.
In other words, InterVarsity now has the same policy of most evangelical churches.
Furthermore, InferVarsity provided a statement explaining:
The Time article buries the most relevant info, which is that this was a four-year process that was telegraphed and communicated to staff. No one was caught flat-footed or surprised. Recognizing that some staff felt this was theologically contested ground, we opened up a time of 18 months for them to research and discern their convictions on this issue, as well as learn about our convictions. The goal was to clarify our position while also providing ample time for those whose convictions differed to seek out better-fitting ministry opportunities.
Parts of this process were hard and painful, but it was not abrupt, or a shock.
So, why is this news? Well, the Internet is abuzz with outrage and now stories are hitting the mainstream media.
But why is it news that Evangelicals think their ministry staff should hold mainstream evangelical beliefs?
It’s becuase there is a new orthodoxy, and the old one just won’t do for many.
The New Orthdoxy
The new orthodoxy says that you have to bend your beliefs to fit it.
But InterVarsity has a different view—the mainsteam evangelical view. And, such views do cost you today.
And, ultimately, every organization with the beliefs of old orthodoxy will face a moment like this.
Related link: InterVarsity’s Fidelity to Orthodoxy Deserves our Appreciation
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Re: “One of the largest evangelical organizations on college campuses nationwide has told its 1,300 staff members that will be fired if they personally support gay marriage or otherwise disagree with its newly detailed positions on sexuality starting on Nov. 11.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA says that it will start a process for “involuntary terminations” for any staffer who comes forward to disagree with its positions on human sexuality”
IOW, ‘Shut up or get out.’ Just what Jesus would do. (Not.)
As a ‘private organization’, they’re entitled to set their own policies. But such a ham-fisted approach will be to their detriment. About 60% of Americans (and growing) support equal marriage, and whether IVCF accepts that fact or not, it is bound to include a LOT of their staff/employees.
Something about doing to others what we would have done to ourselves doesn’t seem to be sinking in to the IVSC ‘leadership’.
So very, very sad. And what a poor ‘witness for Christ’.
And they wonder why membership is dropping.
I belong to a PCUSA church, have been involved since 1974, and I can assure you that PCUSA churches are not growing exponentially. The latest membership statistics show a 50% decline over the last 20 years. Any corporate environment would consider this a catastrophe and immediately change out the executive leadership. Check out the statistics yourself at http://www.pcusa.org. IV has taken the courageous –albeit increasingly unpopular, road of orthodoxy.
Which was my point, ironically (and unintentionally anonymously) put.
The matter of LGBTQ policy of any faith based organization is only a proxy for a far deeper discussion on Constitutional protections afforded by the 1st Amendment and the implied freedoms of associations and religious free speech. Liberals by and large are more than happy to pretend that the Constitution does not exist, or if it does, only applied to the ACLU. They are more than happy to treat non-conforming Christians are less than human and not worthy of protections of speech or association. You see this selective demonetization as applied currently to police and 1st responders.
As to “Anonymous” I wish the Laymen would require full legal names associated, but it is what it is. I do miss Pres-child, person, duex in their various incarnations, at least some facts were always brought to the table. Rather than the inane nature of the last entry.
When I was in the Air Force at NORAD in Colorado Springs, my family and I were members of First Presbyterian Church whose Pastor at that time was the Rev. John Stevens. Inter/Varsity personnel were actively involved in the mission and leadership of the Church. They were wonderful!! Good for them to maintain and uphold the truths of Christ’s Gospel!!!