February 19, 2007

Dear Students,

Messiah College was recently notified by a national organization named Equality Ride that it plans to visit our Grantham campus on Friday, April 13. Equality Ride is an organized bus tour of activists, typically college-age, who schedule unsolicited visits to private and religious colleges, universities, and academies that they consider to have policies that create a disparity between treatment of heterosexual and homosexual students. Last year, Equality Riders visited approximately 25 campuses. In March and April of 2007, Equality Ride will visit nearly 40 institutions, including, in addition to Messiah, other schools in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) such as Gordon College and Calvin College.

The Equality Ride initiative is sponsored by Soulforce, a national advocacy organization which, according to its mission statement, seeks “freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.” In Messiah’s case, Equality Ride is protesting the College’s inclusion of homosexual behavior, among other behaviors, as a “sinful practice” in its Community Covenant and student handbook.

Though we did not invite Equality Ride to visit our campus and they did not seek our permission to visit, we know from Equality Ride's past practices and their communication with us that they are planning to come to Messiah whether we grant them permission or not. Equality Ride's presence on campus provides an opportunity for us, asa Christian institution of higher education, to address a difficult issue through civil debate and discussion. The College is committed to equipping all of you to think critically about human sexuality from a biblical perspective. For instance, during the past several months, the Division of Student Affairs, in partnership with other campus departments, has been planning a week of educational programming in March which will provide a breadth of learning experiences related to a biblical perspective of sexual identity.

Accordingly, the College has decided to respond to Equality Ride’s visit as an opportunity to model gracious Christianity and hospitality to those who express different viewpoints, to encourage meaningful campus conversation about a complex social issue, and to equip each of us to better understand human sexuality from a biblical perspective. I know that issues related to human sexuality and identity can be deeply personal, and I encourage you to seek intellectual, emotional, and spiritual support as you need to from caring faculty and professionals in student affairs, residence life, college ministries, and the Engle Center.

In preparation for Equality Ride's visit, Kris Hansen-Kieffer, vice provost/dean of students, and Carla Gross, director of public relations/special assistant to the president for communication, will co-chair a campus committee of students, faculty, and administrators to coordinate the visit and develop opportunities for educational dialogue. Jeff Reczek, Student Government Association president, is the student representative on this team. College leadership has already been in conversation with Equality Ride organizers regarding the details of their visit. We are aware that Equality Riders might directly contact student leaders on campus. To ensure a well-coordinated day, we request that you forward any requests from Equality Riders to Jeff Reczek, Kris Hansen-Kieffer, or Carla Gross for consideration in the day's events.

I will continue to keep you informed about the planning for Equality Ride’s visit. It is my hope that during Equality Ride’s visit all members of the campus community will exhibit maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith. By modeling gracious and compassionate conversation, Messiah has an opportunity to distinguish itself as an authentically Christian college in the face of challenging circumstances. As we prepare for Equality Ride’s visit, I invite you to join me in praying for God’s wisdom and guidance.

Warm regards,
Kim S. Phipps
President