Christian University Rejects Liberal Nonprofit Grant Meant To Turn Church Gay

Baylor University announced Wednesday it has returned a $643,401 grant from a liberal nonprofit meant to foster “inclusion and belonging in the church” for LGBT individuals after receiving backlash from the university’s supporters.

In a now-deleted June 30 announcement, Baylor said the grant, awarded by the left-leaning Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, would “help us better understand the disenfranchisement and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women within congregations to nurture institutional courage and foster change.” The Christian university is now saying it has entirely rescinded its acceptance of the grant after witnessing “concern and confusion” from the school’s community, partners and supporters.

“We remain committed to providing a loving and caring community for all – including our LGBTQIA+ students – because it is part and parcel of our University’s mission that calls us to educate our students within a caring Christian community,” the university’s Wednesday announcement reads. “As we reviewed the details and process surrounding this grant, our concerns did not center on the research itself, but rather on the activities that followed as part of the grant. Specifically, the work extended into advocacy for perspectives on human sexuality that are inconsistent with Baylor’s institutional policies, including our Statement on Human Sexuality.”

The Eula Mae & John Baugh Foundation “supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ,” according to its website. The grant was intended to go to Baylor’s Center for Church and Community Impact.