A lesbian student, who was only a semester short of receiving her degree in sports management, was recently expelled from Southwestern Christian University for marrying her girlfriend.
Upon joining the university, which is associated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bethany, Oklahoma, 22-year-old Christian Minard, was made to sign a lifestyle covenant that prohibits homosexuality as well as many other “sins”. When Minard, member of an Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, decided to marry her girlfriend Kadyn Parks, it clearly put her in conflict with the university’s lifestyle covenant.
Minard and Parks were married in March, after which Brad Davis, the university’s Vice President of Student Life, dropped in for a visit to Minard’s house, telling her that she was being expelled.
“I was informed that you recently married someone of the same sex and saw a few pictures from Facebook. Of course, this is opposing to our view as an International Pentecostal Holiness denominational university as well as the Lifestyle Covenant that all students must agree and sign,” said Davis.
Minard was clueless about what to do next as she claimed she would have to change her program of study because no nearby university offered the same or similar one.
“And, being one semester from graduation means I have taken all my electives. I’ll lose all those credits if I transfer,” she said.
The International Pentecostal Holiness Church is known for opposing same-sex marriage. Its lifestyle covenant clearly states that students will have to withdraw their application if they violate certain provisions of the document, including prohibitions on harassment, pornography, sexual misconduct, homosexual behavior, tobacco, alcohol among other “sins.”
Even though Minard was aware of violating the covenant at the time of her marriage, she feels she has been singled out in the university, as she is not the only married lesbian on campus.
“Students violate parts of that covenant all the time, but they don’t get expelled. I didn’t even get a hearing, just a letter to my parents,” she said.
A few days after Minard’s expelling was reported by various news agencies, the university told local media that it stands by its decision to have her expelled.
“Our handbook is very clear. Our Dean of Students is empowered with the ability to issue an immediate dismissal,” said Reggies Wenyika, the university’s President.
Even though students are free to appeal their dismissals at the university, Minard has decided to let bygones be bygones and look at other options where she can complete her senior year.
“Just because you are homosexual, you can still have faith in God. You can still be a member of a religious community. They’re still hurting others, they’re still affecting others, they’re still impacting the lives of other people with this discrimination,” said Minard.
