Hope College Upholds Antigay Policy

Hope College trustees declined Friday to drop a policy that condemns homosexual acts and gay advocacy, but the Christian school, based in Holland, Mich., may eventually amend the policy in committee.

A challenge to the policy erupted last year when the college administration refused to allow gay, Academy Award winning-screenwriter Dustin Lance Black to host an on-campus screening of Milk.

According to The Holland Sentinel, "Alumni, student, and community groups in a coordinated effort each had petitioned the board of trustees to drop a 1995 policy on homosexuality that condemns homosexual acts and gay advocacy, but supports 'fair and kind treatment for people with a homosexual orientation' and the academic discussion of issues related to homosexuality.

"In addition to asking that Hope drop its policy, the alumni group also had asked that the college create an executive committee to help President Jim Bultman make decisions."

Following a closed-door meeting Friday, the board of trustees released a statement that said, "The college's current position on homosexuality is based on its interpretation of scripture. It is recognized that well-intentioned Christians may disagree on scriptural interpretation. Still, humbly and respectfully, the college aligns itself in its interpretation with its founding denomination, the Reformed Church in America, the orthodox Christian Church throughout the ages, and other Christian colleges and universities."

The board created a trustee committee to "expand the college's 1995 position statement in the larger context of all human sexuality," the Sentinel reported.