Former Baptist college OKs same-sex union The Layman Online from news sources Tuesday, November 2, 1999 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The chaplain of Wake Forest University, once a conservative Baptist school, has agreed to schedule a same-sex union for two women in the chapel on the campus. The service will be conducted by Wake Forest Baptist Church, which has been using the chapel for nearly 50 years. Although university trustees decided they would not allow the use of the chapel for gay or lesbian unions, President Thomas Hearn said that he would not stand in the way of action by an independent congregation. Earlier this year, Wake Forest Baptist Church formally severed its ties to the Southern Baptist Convention and agreed it would drop its membership with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina because of differences on the issue. Wake Forest University became independent of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Southern Baptist Convention more than two decades ago. Chaplain Ed Christman said he took his cue from the president. "The university will not interfere with a local, autonomous Baptist church which uses the university facility," Christman said. "It can make decisions for itself." Last November, Wake Forest Baptist Church paved the way for the ceremony in a contentious vote affirming the right of members to make personal decisions on the basis of their faith. The congregation has long been supportive of the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church. "We don't publish that information for anybody else," Christman said. "The couple can choose who they want to participate. There's no religious requirement for an ordained minister."

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