Tennessee Christian College Criticized For Promoting Traditional Christian Values

Photo: The Paul Conn Student Union (PCSU) and Dixon Center at Lee University in Cleveland, TN Photo Credit: Hkeely / CC

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

Lee University, located in Cleveland, Tennessee is facing criticism from the LBGTQ+ community over a proposal for new policies that promote and require its students to adhere to certain traditional Christian values while on the campus grounds and in their personal lives.

Should the new policy go into effect, students at the university will be prohibited from dressing in a way that differs from their biological sex and will be addressed by the pronouns associated with their biological sex.  

The new proposed policy also states that heterosexual sex outside of marriage is prohibited as are public displays of affection in same-sex relationships.

In response, the LGBTQ+ community is publicly decrying the policies as discriminatory claiming they will have a “devastating effect” on the school’s LGBTQ students.

The Affirming Alum Collective, a Cleveland, Tennessee-based organization for the LBGTQ community and allies, decried the new proposed policy and states that it is in violation of Title IX, a civil rights law protecting students from discrimination on the basis of sex and gender.

The collective said in a statement, “ The university receives the majority of its funding from the federal government and is thus pursuing religious exemption retroactively, claiming that it is “controlled by a religious organization,” in order to receive government support in spite of such institutionalized discrimination.”

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Highlights from the 8-page proposed “Statement on Beliefs Concerning Human Sexuality and Gender” from Lee University include:

• As a Christ-centered institution under the auspices of the Church of God denomination, Lee University’s beliefs concerning human sexuality and gender arise from the context and commitments seen as timeless truths written in God’s Word, the Bible.

• In alignment with the Word of God, Lee University acknowledges that God created humans as male and female in his image (Genesis 1:26-27)…Genesis declares biological and physiological distinctions between the two sexes are integral to God’s created order for humanity.

• Rather than embrace and celebrate God-designed differences between the two sexes, male and female, the Fall has caused humans to reject these differences, and even seek to identify as a gender other than the one rooted in biology at conception.

• We commit to hold students accountable for disregarding the sexual limits of Scripture, yet we will also work with them to support repentance as well as restoration in their relationship with Christ and others.

• We commit to upholding the values of a Christ-centered community, asking students to adhere to the Community Covenant and policies set forth in this Statement of Belief and the Student Handbook in order to benefit the entire institution.

• Every member of the Lee University Community should diligently seek to embrace and live consistent with their God-given biological sex.

• No member of the Lee University Community may publicly identify or behave as a gender that does not correspond to his or her biological sex.  

This includes actions taken for the purpose of identifying as a gender other than biological sex such as using or requesting a pronoun or nickname that differs from the individual’s biological sex, dressing as the opposite sex, requesting a change to the individual’s sex/gender on any university or government issued document, or receiving gender-altering medical procedures.

The document also states that campus dormitories and restrooms will be labeled as women’s or men’s and may only be used by individuals with the matching biological sex.

Regarding heterosexual relationships, the document states that no member of the Lee University Community may stay overnight in a dormitory designated for the opposite sex or reside in off-campus housing with a member of the opposite sex unless the individuals are married, children of the married couple, or siblings or other close relatives.

Under the policy, athletics team members must also only participate in teams designated to their biological sex.

And finally, the policy states that no member of the Lee University Community may display banners or signs, wear clothing, or make other public displays using graphics or messaging that is contrary to Scripture, the University’s Statement of Belief, or any other University policy.

To read the complete document, click HERE.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com