 Duke University Chapel to allow same-sex unions By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, December 14, 2000
The Duke Chronicle said in its Dec. 6 issue that the decision to allow same-sex unions was made jointly by Duke President Nan Keohane and Dr. William Willimon, dean of the chapel. For years, Willimon, an evangelical, had opposed allowing ministers to conduct same-sex unions in the chapel while Keohane was in favor of them. They ended their standoff with a joint statement saying, "Our major rationale for this change is our conviction ... that Duke has a wonderful tradition of rich religious diversity. We ought to allow these unions to be celebrated by those clergy who are allowed by their religious communities to officiate at such ceremonies." Willimon told The Presbyterian Layman that he does not agree with those who would participate in gay unions or conduct the services. He also said the chapel may never be used for homosexual union ceremonies because of the restraints in scheduling its use. Duke Chapel is booked for weddings more than any other university chapel in the nation. Currently, Willimon said, there are no available dates for more than a year. The cost to use the chapel is $1,500. All arrangements must be approved by the chapel's wedding director. Willimon said that the new policy should not be interpreted to represent his endorsement of same-sex unions. "I don't see it as a theological judgment," Willimon said. As dean of the chapel, Willimon said he is obligated to recognize the religious diversity on campus and make facilities available to a range of groups, including Islam, Judaism, Roman Catholics and others. He said he is pained by friends who accuse him of caving in, but, even so, "I sometimes feel like I've let them down." He said he assures them that he will continue to preach "orthodox, evangelical sermons." The new policy has some restrictions. It permits ministers to conduct services for gay couples in the chapel only if the ministers' denominations allow such practices. But Willimon, a United Methodist, says that may be tough to police because he has no authority over other ministers. Duke has a historical relationship to the United Methodist Church, but Methodists exercise no control over the university. The Methodists' Book of Discipline prohibits Methodist ministers from conducting same-sex unions, although several have done so in rebellion against the denomination's policy. Bishop Marion Edwards of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church issued a press release about the decision, urging clergy members of the church not to perform same-sex unions. The statement also recognized that the chapel is not bound by the denomination's rules. The Duke Chronicle cited some opposition from students, including senior Jenny Lee, a member of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. "It's funny that the policy purports to foster toleration of divergent religious views while it doesn't acknowledge the need to be free from sin," she said. "I don't know if Jesus would be more concerned about being hospitable than he would be about being righteous. I'm really glad that God chose not to be hospitable in his dealings with Christ, but rather righteous." |
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