For the Deseret News
In recent parallel actions, accreditation bodies in Massachusetts and British Columbia moved toward threatening Christian universities because they believe sexual relations are only proper between a married man and woman.
In Massachusetts, the accreditation body known as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education has required Gordon College to submit a report on whether “the College’s policies and processes are non-discriminatory.” Since the college has a policy of upholding marriage and sexual relations as described by Christian theology, the message is clear: weaken the policy or have your accreditation stripped. Such a move would diminish the ability of graduates of Gordon College to find placement following graduation. Gordon College will presumably have limited legal recourse should it lose its accreditation.
Likewise in British Columbia, an accreditation body is refusing to accredit Trinity Western as a new law school. The objection to the law school? Stating sexual relations are only proper between a married man and woman as a school-wide value. As one commentator summarized, “approval from the legal profession in B.C. [requires ending] discipline or expulsion of students and staff for private sexual activity is unacceptable.” In other words: to teach law, you have to leave your religious views out of it. With the reputation lawyers have, one would think they need more religion, not less. Without the Law Society’s endorsement, the law school’s students will likely be unable to practice law.
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