The invitation of N.T. Wright as the speaker for the annual Augsburger Lecture series has caused hurt on campus within EMU’s LGBTQ+ community. Wright is a leading New Testament scholar, a Pauline theologian, and, as of 2010, a former bishop of the Anglican church. He has produced writing and participated in interviews with controversial opinions about the LGBTQ+ community based on Biblical interpretation, especially through the Apostle Paul’s writings.

Assistant Director of Housing and Student Life and Safe Space sponsor, Matthew Hunsberger, said, “There are a lot of strong feelings by LGBTQ students and faculty that indicate there is hurt about him coming. I feel like N.T. Wright is a symptom of a larger issue.”

Hunsberger suggests that this “larger issue” is the lack of an official or strong statement of support from administration after the change in EMU’s hiring policy in 2015. is alteration to the hiring policy means that EMU now does “not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status” when hiring for staff and faculty positions, as noted on EMU’s official statement.

Emily Powell, president of Safe Space, said, “When speakers like [Wright] are invited who not just have a negative perspective, but a derogatory one, [are] extremely hurtful and feel dangerous… Inviting someone that denies the existence of our identities and that we can be worthwhile Christians as well as being ourselves—that makes me feel unsafe and it makes others feel unsafe. It puts allies in a tougher positions.”

There has been dialogue circles between a variety of administration, such as Campus Pastor Brian Burkholder and Associate Dean of Students Rachel Roth Sawatsky, and students to facilitate conversation and make plans for Wright’s arrival to support students.

This was important to help give a voice to those who have been hurt. Roth Sawatsky said, “This is about us. is should not be about [Wright]. This is about us. We are capable of talking about hard things. We are able to do that in ways that seek to learn and understand.”

Burkholder said, “One of my hopes is that we can commit to growing our capacity to engage across differences while offering dignity to all people involved.” Concerns from students about the invitation has “prompted the Convocation Committee to review the Academic Free Policy and Procedures to better clarify guidelines for inviting resource people to speak and lecture on campus,” Burkholder said.

“The argument has been made for academic freedom,” said Powell. “[Wright’s] done really great academic work and has been progressive, but unfortunately I don’t think that outweighs the damage.”

N.T. Wright will be speaking on campus Nov. 13- 14 at several different events, and Safe Space is hosting four alternative options throughout the week. The first event will be held on Nov. 12 at resident director Scott Eyre’s apartment, where a movie will be showing.

Then, while N.T. Wright is speaking at campus worship on Nov. 14, a convo break- out group, “Queer and Christian,” will be hosted by Roth Sawatsky and Matthew Hunsberger, faculty sponsor for Safe Space. Hunsberger will share about his experience and o er ways for the EMU community to be more welcoming to its LGBTQ+ members. In addition to this, protesters with duct tape over their mouths to indicate being silenced, will protest outside at the beginning and the end of the campus worship.

Safe Space has also reserved Common Grounds on Nov. 15, when stories of discrimination will be shared anonymously by allies with those who are present.

As students are hurting during this time, there are ways to show support. Hunsberger said, “Listen. Make space for LGBTQ+ students to share their stories and experiences and believe their stories and experiences. Find ways to make sure that your peers know that you care about them, and that you are a safe person for them to be who they are around. Anyone who identifies as something other than cis-straight, we often assume that a person or a place is unsafe until proven that it is safe. Little signs of support can really make a big difference.”

“Other direct support,” Powell said, “would be participating in the events we are planning.”

Wright will be speaking Nov. 13-14, and Safe Space is hosting events at the same time and later into the week.