Baylor University, a Baptist school in central Texas, announced in a letter Wednesday that it has decided to rescind its acceptance of a $643,000 academic research grant aimed at studying LGBT inclusion in the Christian church.
Baylor President Linda Livingstone stated in the letter that returning the grant is “the appropriate course of action and in the best interests of Baylor University” but added that the university is “committed to providing a loving and caring community for all — including our LGBTQIA+ students.” She said that the commitment to building a welcoming environment stems from the university’s mission, which aims to educate students “within a caring Christian community.”
However, Livingstone stressed that the grant required the university to advocate for viewpoints that are inconsistent with Christian teaching on human sexuality. She also noted that it goes against Baylor’s own policies, as Baylor’s statement on sexuality affirms “marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm” and prohibits students from advocating for other ideas of sexuality.
“Please be assured that Baylor’s institutional beliefs and policies remain unchanged. Our commitment to our Christian mission and our historic Baptist identity continues to guide our approach to academics, student life, and spiritual formation,” Livingstone wrote.
Livingstone acknowledged the confusion among the Baylor community that the grant has caused, calling it a “learning opportunity” and emphasizing the university’s commitment to being a Christian research school that aligns its work with its values. Her letter did not explain what factors motivated the school to rescind its acceptance of the grant.
According to Daily Citizen, the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation awarded the grant to Baylor last month for the purpose of understanding “the disenfranchisement and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women within congregations to nurture institutional courage and foster change.” In a since-deleted press release, Baylor reportedly said the grant was to “foster inclusion and belonging in the church.”
Daily Citizen reported that Baylor has supported LGBT ideology before, including beginning to recognize LGBT student groups on campus in 2021 and chartering Prism, an LGBT resource organization for students, in 2022.
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