Church Members Unite to Speak to Students on Homosexuality by Kelly Waks

One of the biggest debates of today is the controversy over homosexuality and its place in churches all over the US.

At SPU, this has been a trying conflict this year, but one group is trying to inform others about the pros of acceptance.

On November 6, SPU Haven, an unofficial school club dedicated to keeping conversations going on LGBTQ issues on campus, hosted a panel of 6 pastors and ministers, straight and gay alike, to speak on the pastoral ideas behind homosexuality in the church.

The panel was hosted by SPU Haven members Caleb Richmond, Joy Bethune, and Aaron Roberts with their faculty advisor Kevin Neuhouser from the SPU Sociology department.

The speakers, Rev. Dan Conklin, Pastor Sarah Klaassen, Pastor Doug Early, Rev. Jim Carter, Rev. Ray Neal, and Rev. Karen Ward spoke to students and faculty alike.

After a small movie-like disclaimer was given by SPU Haven member Caleb Richmond, explaining that the views given were not that of Seattle Pacific University, the panel introduced themselves and their churches. 

Rev. Dan Conklin of the Saint Mark Episcopal Church was one of the first members of the panel to express a strong standpoint to the debate topic.

“[homosexuality’s] not a matter of issue but of people.” Rev. Conklin said.

Many of the speakers shared more of their personal stories rather than facts about their churches and congregations.

Pastor Klaassen of the Seattle Mennonite Church discussed the “struggle and trauma of coming out” but also the comfort she found in her new congregation.

Along with Klaassen, Rev. Neal of the Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church spoke of his history from being a married in Tennessee to the reverend of one of the leading gay churches in the Northwest.

After introductions from the speakers, the panel opened up questions to the audience, which caused more debate than most would have thought.

Many audience members asked questions involving where the reverends and pastors draw the line, or how they treat their gay congregation members verses their straight members.

While Queen Anne Presbyterian Pastor Doug Early explained that through his pastoral style of following the scripture that homosexuality does not come up often, Rev. Ray Neal gave a different idea that sparked some debate.

“I don’t hold [my homosexual congregation members] to the same level as [straight congregation members] because society doesn’t” Rev. Neal said.

Rev. Neal’s comment led to a debate amongst audience members about what gay culture really is, with no real decision being made.

While the panel was open to its controversial moments, many of those who attended where surprised at the outcome and understanding that was found by audience and panel members alike.

With the openness of the panel to answer all questions as best they could, it was Rev. Karen Ward that left everyone with an idea to remember.

“We love Jesus and Jesus loves us and that what’s important.”