by Dr. Terrence Nollen
Dear Readers:
Recently, the Plum Creek Literary Festival was unexpectedly cancelled. This festival is held each year at Concordia University in Seward. It is a delightful and engaging event. Writers and illustrators across the Midwest come to the Concordia campus and give talks and presentations on their works.
Having attended the festival, I can attest to the high level of excitement and literary sophistication that the participants receive from the inspiring speakers and displays. As well, the fields of children’s and adolescent literature benefit from this conference throughout the region. Unfortunately, most of the event was cancelled this year.
As reported in the Lincoln Journal Star, one of the authors withdrew from the Festival claiming, among other things, that paragraphs in the Concordia University Student Handbook contained homophobic comments. He stated this was a great surprise to him, that the university would write its policies in this manner. The Journal Star’s article concluded with the author stating that Concordia University should apologize to the gay community for its code of conduct. It seems to me that being surprised that a conservative Lutheran university bases its sexual ethics policy on traditional Judeo/Christian values is disingenuous. What kind of policy did the author expect to find?
At times in the history of the United States, people with same-sex attraction have been harshly treated. These attacks are unjustified and sinful. No one should have to live with the fear of physical attack. That being said, no one has the right to impose their own value system on other people. Today, the cultural sense seems to be that nonacceptance of these emerging sexual mores is a form of bigotry. Tolerance seems to be a one-way street these days.
Concordia University, founded in 1894 by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, has the moral and legal right to define its mission. I applaud Concordia University for grounding its educational mission on the inspired Word of God. They have no need to apologize. People attacking or refusing to accept this viewpoint are denying both religious freedom and the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment of the American Constitution. Disagreement over sexual mores does not mean hate. It means that people are forming their consciences based on their religious convictions. To not allow this is the opposite of tolerance. It is religious bigotry.
