Arizona Christian University Grants Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses While Maintaining Deeply Held Belief on Traditional Marriage

By Reuters
Grand Canyon University

A large, private Christian university in Arizona has decided to extend full spousal benefits to the married partners of its gay and lesbian employees despite continued adherence to religious principles reserving marriage solely for heterosexual couples.

Grand Canyon University officials said on Friday the benefits will now be extended to same-sex couples throughout the school's workforce following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June legalizing these unions nationwide.

In a statement, school officials said the decision was made out of respect for the individuals involved throughout the university, and for "the system of government and laws that exist today."

But the university, which has about 3,500 faculty and staff, said the decision does not alter its deeply held stance that marriage "is a sacred union between a man and a woman," and it said that belief will continue to be preached in its curriculum and classrooms.

"This belief is not negotiable from a biblical perspective," said the three-page statement posted on the school's website.

The interdenominational Christian university, which has about 16,000 on-campus students and another 60,000 taking online classes, came under fire from employees in recent months over its policy denying benefits to same-sex spouses.

The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union put the school on notice in August that it was violating federal law and harming employees and their families. A school employee filed a complaint.

"This is an important win for everyone involved," said Victoria Lopez, the ACLU chapter's legal director, adding that a same-sex worker at the university called her in tears to share the good news.

"People should not be discriminated against because of who they are, who they love and who their families are," she said.

The decision was made following an annual review of personnel policies and was announced three days before employees can enroll or change their benefit plans, university spokesman Bob Romantic said. He said the change becomes effective Jan. 1.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo

  • Woman pastor analyzes: How Chinese gender culture shapes female ministers’ roles in churches

    In traditional Chinese culture, deeply ingrained notions of gender roles, often expressed as "male strong, female weak," significantly influence the position of women in society and the church. This issue is particularly pertinent for female pastors navigating their roles in ministry. Rev. Dora Wang, Ph.D., from China Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), recently addressed this topic in a seminar, sharing her insights on the challenges women face in ministry and proposing strategies to su

  • 4th Christian art biennale in Hong Kong concluding with record reception

    The fourth Christian Art Biennale, titled “The Splendor of Beauty in His Land,” opened on December 22 at Tseung Kwan O Methodist Primary School in Hong Kong and will conclude tomorrow, January 1. The 10-day exhibition has drawn enthusiastic responses, surpassing previous years in attendance and impact.

  • 2024 report from Wycliffe Global Alliance shows status of Bible accessibility worldwide

    Wycliffe Global Alliance has published its 2024 Global Scripture Access Report, unveiling the latest status of Bible accessibility worldwide. The annual report is compiled using data from the Alliance’s partner organizations, including SIL International, the United Bible Societies, and others.

  • A Christian’s proper response to the sugar-coated bullet of influencer fame

    Today, I came across a thought-provoking story about a 2016 internet influencer from the U.S.. The case of Nicholas Perry raises a sobering question: Is it worth sacrificing oneself in the pursuit of views?

Top Stories