The girls and Finn had to room together during the entire time that the Fall 2018 China Cross Cultural group was abroad.

Finnian Wengerd is a senior Computer Science major. Wengerd is a guy; his pronouns are he, him, his. On his cross-cultural, Chinese English majors would ask how many guys were in the group, almost as if they are testing everyone.

“Three.” The answer was always three: Andrew, Sam, and Finn.

Mennonites, and EMU in particular, have historic strong differences and conflict regarding LGBTQ+ issues. Yonat Shimron, in the article “In the Mennonite Church USA,” notes that congregations realign based on sexuality. “The Mennonite realignment— at least on the issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion—cuts both ways: Conservative as well as liberal congregations are breaking away and coming together in new ways,” Shimron says.

Article 19 of the Mennonite “Confession of Faith” states: “We believe that God intends marriage to be a covenant between one man and one woman for life.” However, the church also passed a resolution in 2015 on “forbearance in the midst of differences” in which it vowed “to offer grace, love and forbearance toward conferences, congregations and pastors in our body who, in different ways, seek to be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ on matters related to same-sex covenanted unions.”

In her article, “Largest group of Mennonite churches leaves denomination,” Kimberly Winston states, “The Mennonite Church USA officially views homosexual activity as a sin and defines marriage as between one man and one woman, but there has been pushback against that from within as several pastors have performed same-sex marriages (and been censured or resigned) and smaller regional conferences that affirm LGBT relationships have departed.”

The split within the Mennonite Church on the basis of sexuality spread to EMU long ago. In 1998, an off-campus group called Open Door was established for faculty, staff, and community members. This group was created in order to support the LGBTQ+ EMU students.

It wasn’t until 2009 that Safe Space was approved by the Student Government Association. This group provides, “an open and loving space affirming people of all sexual orientations.” They, “long to engage respectfully with students, faculty and administrators as a presence in our community for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning community, creating safe dialogue regarding the issue of sexual orientation.”

In 2013, EMU’s Board of Trustees authorized a “Listening Process” to determine whether or not the hiring policy should be altered in regard to faculty and staff in covenanted same-sex relationships.

This discussion was organized following growing community concern about employment decisions based on sexual orientation. EMU changed the hiring policy in 2015 to include non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, ending the “Listening Process,” and eventually causing EMU to withdraw from the CCCU (Council of Christian Colleges and Universities).

“Some people left because the new policy was seen as too liberal, or unChristian,” says Matthew Hunsberger, Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life.

Wengerd came to EMU soon after Mennonite Church USA resolutions and EMU’s own shift in hiring policies.

“There were two times that I came out,” Wengerd says. “I first came out to my friends in my senior year of high school as bi.” Finn’s family supported him, and during his sophomore year of college he “officially came out” via email one night to his parents while he was at EMU.

“In 2015 EMU had just changed their hiring policy to allow queer professors teach and be openly queer. Super good people were running Safe Space. I was always told, ‘yeah, you’re welcome here,’ but I never felt it. I had to find people who were okay with me dating girls. Being bi wasn’t considered as taboo as being trans,” Wengerd says.

As far as exclusion is concerned, Wengered has experienced issues with individuals one-on-one. “If my pronouns get messed up, I cannot focus on anything. I can only hear every time the professor mis-genders me,” he adds.

Professors could be some of the individuals who need this training most.

Junior Anali North Martin says, “I know people who aren’t out to the campus because of various reasons. I know people whose professors have not been accepting. That has not been my case, and really the main struggle I’ve had is invalidation of pain and plain ignorance.”

There are opposing views in regard to how much EMU helps the LGBTQ+ community and how much further there is to go.

Some students believe that EMU is already accepting enough of the community. Sophomore Blake Schaar says, “I think EMU does enough with regards to the being accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.”

Junior Victoria Barnes adds, “I think that EMU has made many improvements in the past few years to provide acceptance to the members of the LGBTQ+ community. I think in continuing to display Christ-like love on this campus, we will have no other choice except to be accepting.”

According to the EMU Diversity and Inclusion statement, “Diversity and inclusion matter at EMU because they align with the diversity in the kingdom of God.” Additionally, “We are responsible for critiquing dominant narratives and being willing to listen to and learn from counter narratives. We must strive for a welcoming community of hospitality that educates about diversity and inclusion and includes practices that foster respect, equity, restorative justice, and dignity for every person.”

“EMU wants diversity in terms of race,” Wengerd says. In order to help improve LGBTQ+ acceptance at EMU, Wengerd suggests relabeling “Gender Neutral” bathrooms appropriately. “It’s only a ‘Family Bathroom’ if it has a changing table or a mommy-me toilet. Mark these ‘Gender Neutral’ or ‘All Gender’ because that’s what they are.”

Paying attention to pronoun usage is also important. “It takes three weeks to form a habit. There is absolutely no reason for them to be messing up pronouns because it really absolutely hurts me more than it is an inconvenience to them,” Wengerd says.

Martin adds, “Diversity does not mean allowing for beliefs that rank some humans as lesser than others.”

Hunsberger notes the importance of listening to LGBTQ+ individuals on EMU’s campus. “EMU is not only an institution, but it’s many individuals as well,” he says. “I think for all of us it’s a challenge to include people who we perceive to be different from us in some way.”

Hunsberger continues, “I do think it’s incredibly important to recognize the difference between feelings of being excluded or even unsafe because of who you are and feelings of being unheard or even disrespected because of what you believe. I’m also not suggesting that I think it’s okay to be unheard or disrespected. I think the scales are a bit unbalanced.”

“People will only be educated about these topics if they want to,” Hunsberger concludes. He adds that hearing the stories of others can be more educational than having a required class.