At about the halfway mark of a bus tour laden with conflict, Soulforce, a group of homosexual activists, arrived on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham March 30.
The stop was part of Soulforce’s second nationwide Equality Ride, in which 50 of its members split up on two buses, one traveling on an east route and the other a west route, to visit more than 30 Christian colleges and universities in a two-month period.
At Samford, 27 riders engaged in organized discussions with students and faculty, a sharp contrast to previous stops that have resulted in trespassing charges.
Members of the group have been repeatedly arrested during the tour, including multiple arrests at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; Baylor University in Waco, Texas; Mississippi College in Clinton; and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.
No arrests were made at Samford. When Soulforce first announced its plans to stop at the school, President Andrew Westmoreland and other Samford administrators elected to allow Soulforce members to dialogue with students in a controlled setting rather than bar them from campus.
“Our hope was that this day would provide an opportunity for the Samford community to exemplify our Christian witness and mission without rancor and without compromising the foundations of our faith,” Westmoreland said. “I am pleased that we were able to accomplish those goals.”
Samford’s student handbook lists homosexual acts in the definition of sexual misconduct, along with all sexual activity outside of marriage. In 1992, the board of trustees affirmed this stance by passing a homosexuality resolution.
Several hundred students attended discussion sessions with the Soulforce group throughout the day, culminating in an afternoon prayer service held in Reid Chapel.
Matthew Kerlin, Samford’s university minister, said the day went extraordinarily well.
“Our students demonstrated grace and truth consistently throughout the day, showing maturity and Christlikeness,” he said. “They saw it as a chance to be a gospel witness, and they were articulate and compassionate in communicating those truths.”
Jake Reitan, founder of Soulforce’s Equality Ride, said the day was marked by honesty and respect.
“We all (both Samford students and Soulforce riders) entered into the conversations in love, seeking truth,” Reitan said. “At the end of the day, we might still disagree on what that truth is, but the conversation is too important to turn away.”
(TAB)
Share with others: