In a recent change to its values, Lipscomb University stated its institutional view of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
The update included two new sections: one section that stated every human has intrinsic value as a creation of God and the second that stated the university’s stance on marriage.
“We believe that from the beginning God designed marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman,” according to the university’s heritage section.
Lipscomb added the new language to its "Heritage" section on its website, which includes university values that correspond to its Church of Christ association.
It has recently come under scrutiny from some alumni, current students and Nashville residents. The university made the update without any announcement or press release.
“It just kind of puts one more nail in the coffin, or one more worry in my mind,” said an LGBTQ+ Lipscomb student who asked to remain anonymous for fear of being in conflict with the Church of Christ school’s values.
The student hasn’t had an issue with belonging on campus before but is concerned the change will make it even harder for an LGBTQ+ student to exist at Lipscomb.
“I think a lot of people, whenever they do stuff like this, they forget about the people that they are impacting, just because they're not in the same boat,” the LGBTQ+ Lipscomb student said. “I think having some good old-fashioned human empathy could be really beneficial to everyone.”
Belmont University, also a Christian school on the same street as Lipscomb, does not have any statement outlining an institutional stance on marriage.
“Belmont could always be better. However, I could not see Belmont today doing anything like this,” said Taylor Sanderson, the president of Bridge Builders.
Belmont’s nondiscrimination policy doesn’t discriminate in admissions, employment or administration of school policies and events based on sexual orientation.
Similarly, Lipscomb follows federal guidelines and “complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in its employment practices,” according to its website.
For students in the Nashville Collegiate Rainbow Coalition, an unaffiliated student-led organization for LGBTQ+ students at Lipscomb, the change in values is seen as another step towards exclusion on campus.
“They have attempted to ignore, silence and ostracize us for years, but this level of blatant homophobia is new,” the organization said in a statement on Instagram.
“They cannot state that all people, 'possess intrinsic dignity and are worthy of respect, care and love,’ while also demonstrating such a lack of respect for their queer students and faculty.”
A petition was also started by 2023 alumni Rachel Randolph, which has received over 600 signatures showcasing opposition to the change.
“The new statement defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. This goes against Lipscomb's student body which is filled with queer people and allies alike,” said the petition description.
Randolph has been outspokenly against the change and said she has had meetings with the provost and university President Candice McQueen.
“Rallying is hard when you have to constantly educate others along the way. I hope Nashville’s Allies and Queer community will continue to stand behind this cause and direct Lipscomb back to the love and inclusion they so loudly advertise,” she said in an Instagram post.
For some students, their Christian faith and LGBTQ+ identity are identities that can coexist.
“I'm Christian, and I do believe in God. I just don't believe in the God that is like, ‘I hate gay people,’ I believe in a God who is loving,” said the LGBTQ+ Lipscomb student.
Unlike Lipscomb, Belmont allows its LGBTQ+ students to meet on campus at Bridge Builders, the university-sponsored organization, and to host WELL Core events which are university approved.
Following more discussions on technicalities and details, Bridge Builders would welcome including its Belmont Boulevard counterparts.
“Lipscomb is just down the road. We are very similar schools, and so I do feel a certain amount of solidarity towards them and them being our neighbors,” said Sanderson.
For some, this addition to the values section reinforces that they cannot openly be their true selves at Lipscomb.
“I don't know how they're going to react,” the LGBTQ+ Lipscomb student said. “I don't think they could kick me out for being LGBTQ+, but also I think they could make my life harder.”
Lipscomb declined to comment or make any university official available for an interview.
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This article was written by Braden Simmons
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