JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 13, 2015 — Union University has announced its withdrawal from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities because of the organization’s failure to respond appropriately to two member institutions that have endorsed same-sex marriage.
In an August 3 letter to Shirley Hoogstra, president of the CCCU, and Charles Pollard, chairman of the CCCU Board of Directors, Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said he was grieved to make the decision, since Union has been a member of the CCCU since 1991.
“We hope we have contributed much to the Council during these years,” Oliver wrote. “The Union community has certainly benefited from the student programs, professional development, and advocacy offered by the Council, as well as our fellowship together.
“Even still, our faithfulness to the authority of Scripture takes precedence,” he continued. “While there are other associations with whom we affiliate related to our work in higher education, our advocacy for Christ-centered higher education means that we must stand with institutions that share our commitments. Regrettably, that is no longer the case with the CCCU.”
Oliver referenced two CCCU member institutions – Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University – that changed their policies regarding benefits for same-sex couples. Those institutions “abandoned fidelity to God’s Word when they endorsed same-sex marriage,” Oliver wrote.
“Even more, I am grieved that the Board of the CCCU was not ready to deal with this issue,” he continued. “Since October of 2013, members of the CCCU have known of the trajectory of Eastern Mennonite University in regard to same-sex marriage. There have been several gatherings where the Council could have been clear about our expectations of membership. The Council could have even deliberated and voted on such matters. We did not. As a result, we appear unprepared to state our commitments, much less take action.”
Because the CCCU board was not definitive, Oliver wrote, the collective voice of CCCU member institutions was weakened. He cited a July 28 news release from the CCCU stating that the “vast majority” of CCCU members hold to a historic, orthodox understanding of marriage between a man and a woman.
“The fact that this is not unanimous damages our witness,” Oliver wrote. “The reason we are passionate about this is because what we are talking about is not a secondary or tertiary theological issue – marriage is at the heart of the Gospel. To deny the Bible’s concept of marriage is to deny the authority of Scripture.”
Since the government, court cases and legislation will likely threaten constitutional guarantees of religious liberty in the days ahead, Oliver said it was important that institutions like Union maintain a consistency and unanimity with their faith family’s commitment on issues like same-sex marriage.
“We certainly understand that the CCCU is a voluntary organization,” he wrote. “We want to stand with other colleges and universities who share our commitments and will contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Oliver announced the decision to the Union faculty in an Aug. 12 email, saying that the university’s Executive Council has been discussing the matter for the past couple of months and has spent a great deal of time and prayer on the decision. He stressed that Union was not seeking to draw others away from CCCU membership and that Union was not moving to an alternate organization at this time, though he added that the university would be open to being a part of a new coalition of like-minded institutions.
“Union will continue to rely on the strong and effective advocacy work of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission as well as a growing partnership with the Family Research Council as we seek to advance our mission and vision,” he told the faculty.