Comments on: A Plea for Healing: Open Letter to IVCF

By: Rich Gutowski

Rich Gutowski — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 17:51:00 +0000

IVCF voted it’s conscience and performed it’s function in the body to the the best of it’s ability, Redletter, as always, is courageous in it’s convictions and did what God has designed them to do with grace and love. I would encourage those grieved by IVCF’s decision to not pour their wine out onto the barren ground and into hard hearts but rather into the new Wine Skin God has given us in the Open Network and Converge movements, and others like it, as we embrace and grapple with the growing pains of a maturing faith. We all have a place in the body and trust that God will open our eyes and hearts and/or convict us in His good time. In the meantime lets love and pray for each other and focus on what we have in common. Be encouraged. Phillipians 4:8

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 00:50:00 +0000

I’m glad to see IVCF stand by their supported beliefs and require their employees to do the same.

By: Snoring

Snoring — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 19:47:00 +0000

The church is seeing the light amen

By: redletterchristians

redletterchristians — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:33:00 +0000

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By: SamHamilton

SamHamilton — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:12:00 +0000

I’ve read a few opinions on this matter and while I share the concern about the seeming inflexibility of IVCF’s policy, I understand why they’ve taken it. They’re being forced into it by the legal situation and potential for lawsuits. See this blog post and the legal implication explained at the bottom of the post,

http://www dot theamericanconservative dot com/dreher/the-courage-of-intervarsity-christian-fellowship/

Here’s the legal opinion presented in the blog post:

This is a smart legal move on their part. Federal law makes it pretty much impossible to take a stance along the lines of, “This is what we believe, but out of compassion and pragmatism we’re willing to be flexible for a certain amount of time, with certain people, and/or in certain situations.” Either you have a blanket policy that applies to all people in all instances, or federal courts will rule that you don’t “really” have a principled position and invalidate the broader policy because of the exceptions. Personally I think that’s unfortunate, because it encourages polarization and an unyielding one-size-fits-all approach to disagreement. But InterVarsity is certainly making the right decision here based on how its commitment to its values and beliefs will be judged in court.

By: SamHamilton

SamHamilton — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:10:00 +0000

We understand that conversations related to marriage, sexuality, and gender are critical for Christians, but we also recognize that Christians of mutual goodwill can have those conversations and arrive at various conclusions. While we do not all share the same theological or political views, we are united in our concern for the dignity and care of our fellow Christians whose jobs are threatened by your policy.

Someone who signed this letter needs to have this conversation with David Gushee.