The signs of movement at Seattle Pacific University continue, with nearly 100 faculty members signing an open letter to the school's students in response to SPU's marginalization of its LGBT group, Haven.
Here's a student newspaper article about the faculty letter, and here's the letter itself:
To our students, present and former:
The recent events concerning Haven’s status prompt us to redouble our commitment to express our deep, abiding love and care for each and every precious one of you—with whatever cares, concerns or questions you have as you come into our classes, offices, labs, performance halls and library carrels.
As faculty, we are proud to be the voices of SPU’s ecumenical spirit. We come from diverse perspectives on issues of sexuality, but we all share a common pastoral concern for the safety of your heart, your mind, your body and your spirit. You are the reason we have been called to Seattle Pacific University. We have a deep sense of responsibility toward your genuine growth as unique human beings of inestimable worth. Sometimes, these encounters change you and us forever, for the better. Sometimes, we fail to meet our own standards. Forgive us for our lapses of this duty to you.
We commit ourselves anew to make a safe place for you to live, learn and grow. And we take heart, like Paul, that nothing—nothing unwise we say, nothing shortsighted we do, nothing unthinking we do—will be able to separate each of you from God’s love that is in Jesus Christ.
We share your hope for a rich and gracious dialogue on issues of human sexuality that trouble the church and that have too often been neglectful of the minority voices among us. Therefore, as faculty, we commit to partnering with you to promote those conversations on SPU’s campus.
Sincerely,
Christine Chaney, English
Stamatis Vokos, Physics
Priscilla Pope-Levison, Theology
Kevin Neuhouser, Sociology
Gaile Moe, Family and Consumer Sciences
Jeff Keuss, Theology
William Purcell, Communication and Journalism
Jennifer McKinney, Sociology
Michael Hamilton, History
Kerry Dearborn, Theology
Lane Seeley, Physics
Tina Schermer Sellers, Marriage and Family Therapy
Patrick McDonald, Philosophy
Jack Levison, Theology
Robbin O’Leary, Mathematics
Kathy Stetz, Nursing
Andrew Ryder, Theatre
Greg Fritzberg, Education
Ben McFarland, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Sharleen Kato, Family and Consumer Sciences
Luke Reinsma, English
Don Holsinger, History
Susan VanZanten, English
Sharon Young, Mathematics Education
Christopher Sink, Counselor Education
Shannon Scott, Communication and Journalism
Eric Hanson, Music
Rod Stiling, History
Sara Koenig, Theology
Don Yanik, Theatre
David Diekema, Sociology
Ruth Ediger, Political Science and Geography
Mícheál Roe, Psychology
Kevin Bartlett, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Elaine Scott, Engineering
Eleanor Close, Physics and Science Education
Sandra C. Hartje, Family and Consumer Sciences
Carlene J. Brown, Music
Jennifer Maier, English
Laura Lasworth, Art
George A. Scranton, Theatre
Brian Chin, Music
Doug Thorpe, English
Owen Ewald, Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics
Kimberly Segall, English
Elaine Weltz, Computing Sciences
April Middeljans, English
Tom Trzyna, English
Denise Daniels, School of Business and Economics
Roger Feldman, Art
Margaret Diddams, Center for Scholarship and Faculty Development
David Nienhuis, Theology
Dana Kendall, Psychology
David Stewart, Clinical Psychology
Don Peter, Engineering
Amy Mezulis, Clinical Psychology
Ed Smyth, Educational Ministry
Kathy Fitzsimmons, Nursing
Gary Fick, Library
Cindy Strong, Library
Baine Craft, Psychology
Rick Jackson, Communication and Journalism
Liz Gruchala-Gilbert, Library
Scott Beers, Education
Frank Kline, Education
Thane Erickson, Psychology
Tracy Williams, Education
Evette Hackman, Emerita Family and Consumer Sciences
Timothy A. Nelson, Biology
Doug Strong, Theology
Lorelle Jabs, Communication and Journalism
Cindy Fitch, Biology and Pre-Health Advising
Ursula Krentz, Psychology
David Leong, Theology
Stephen Michael Newby, Music
Sharon Hartnett, Education
Melani Plett, Engineering
Raedene Copeland, Family and Consumer Sciences
Rebekah Rice, Philosophy
Bob Drovdahl, Educational Ministry
JoAnn Atwell-Scrivner, Physical Education and Exercise Science
Karen Snedker, Sociology
Ross Stewart, School of Business and Economics
Phil Prins, Computing Sciences
Al Erisman, School of Business and Economics
Jim Rand, School of Business and Economics
Randy Franz, School of Business and Economics
Rick Eigenbrood, School of Education
Heidi Monroe, Nursing
Bryce Nelson, Library
Janet Bester-Meredith, Biology
Steve Johnson, Mathematics
Daniela Geleva, Family and Consumer Sciences
Don Summers, School of Business and Economics
Steve Layman, Philosophy
Wayne Johnson, Music
Lynette Bikos, Clinical Psychology
Don MacDonald, Marriage and Family Therapy
Bryce Nelson, Library
Lyle Peter, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Jon Deming, School of Business and Economics
Mike Langford, Theology
Charlotte Pratt, Biology
Michelle Beauclair, Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Rainer Seitz, School of Business and Economics
Karisa Pierce, Chemistry and Biochemistry
(This is a partial list of signers as of Feb. 21 — a complete list will be published in the next issue of The Falcon in a full-page advertisement.)
