NASHVILLE — The executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (TBC) is expressing support for Belmont University in Nashville following the departure of a lesbian coach whose exit has sparked a nationwide debate. Randy Davis, in his first year as TBC executive director, made the comments although the state convention and Belmont reached a settlement in 2007 severing ties following a 50-plus-year relationship. While Belmont is no longer Baptist, its mission statement describes it as a “Christian community.”
“Our relationship is broader than merely a denominational relationship,” Davis told Baptist Press. “I would be applauding them if they were affiliated with another denomination because of the stand they’ve taken.”
Neither Belmont nor former women’s soccer coach Lisa Howe have disclosed the specific reason she is no longer with the program, although she left soon after she told her players that her lesbian partner was pregnant. In a Dec. 6 statement, though, Howe seemed to imply that her sexuality was an issue, saying that her dedication to the program and school did not change “when I acknowledged that I am a lesbian and that my partner and I are expecting a baby.” Belmont’s non-discrimination policy does not mention “sexual orientation,” a term that includes homosexuality. In the past, Belmont has denied official recognition to a homosexual student group called the Bridge Builders.
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