By Lori Bredemeyer, Managing Editor

Two members of the ACU community are addressing homosexuality and relating their own experiences with same-sex attraction during the last two Thursday Chapels of the year.

This Thursday, Dr. Sally Gary, assistant professor of communication, and Darren Curry, senior marketing major from Oklahoma City, will continue their discussion from last week about same-sex attraction and how they have struggled with and overcome it.

Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said this is an issue that the Christian community no longer can ignore.

“I think for our students, for our university, for our churches, this is a very misunderstood topic about which people have very little education and very little awareness,” he said. “I think education about this topic is extremely important because it is skewed and out of perspective with other topics that are very similar.”

Last Thursday was the first time Curry had openly talked about his struggles to such a large audience, and he said he wanted to be candid about his past to help others who have dealt or are dealing with the same feelings and isolation he felt.

“I know that there are a lot of students here on campus who struggle with same-sex attraction,” he said. “It’s really been an issue that’s been taboo in the church-I felt so much condemnation all throughout junior high and high school because I knew that I couldn’t tell anybody in the church. That’s really backwards of how it should be-the church should be a place where people can go for healing.”

Gary, who has spoken previously in Chapel about her struggles, said much has changed since she was a student at the university 25 years ago, and she wants to help make it more of a place where all students can feel they have someone to talk to.

“We have to remove the stigma that this is a sin above all sins because it’s not-it’s just a sin among sins,” she said. “Until we remove the stigma and make this a safe place, we will continue to have people say, ‘why are we talking about this.’

“As long as we keep it in the dark, keep it where the truth cannot shed light on that sin, we will continue to lose the battle. So that’s why we’ll talk about it.”

This week in Chapel, Gary and Curry will talk about how Christians should reach out and react to those struggling with same-sex attraction, and from 7:30-9 p.m. in the lobby of Smith and Adams halls, they’ll lead a coffeehouse discussion and take students’ questions.

Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said he’s glad students are discussing homosexuality, regardless of those who think ACU as a Christian university should avoid the topic.

“They’re a bit out of touch with reality because this is a universal human struggle, and ACU students are not immune,” he said. “It is essential that we get in the discussion. … I think it is a great opportunity to present a compassionate but firm biblical view of homosexuality.”

Mark Lewis, director of Spiritual Life and Student Ministries, and Kurt Boyland, counselor at the University Counseling Center, served as moderators during the Chapel discussion.

Lewis is also adviser of the Spiritual Life Core that helps plan Thursday Chapels in Moody Coliseum, called 18:38 after John 18:38 where Pilate asks ‘What is truth?’ He said many students suggested the topic when they were surveyed in Chapel before spring break, and they also said they wanted real people representing the viewpoints. He said this discussion not only has focused on same-sex attraction but also on other struggles in people’s lives.

“It’s very easy for people to become judgmental and focus on folks who may have this struggle, and in the midst of that, overlook their own brokenness,” he said. “One of the things we’re wanting to help people realize is not only do we want to talk about the issue of homosexuality, but we also want to talk about the brokenness and how all of us are broken, and all of us have our issues.”

Gary said she had to work through her own brokenness to overcome her struggle.

“I know for myself, the pain stemmed from the brokenness, and when the brokenness healed, then the same-sex attraction went away,” Gary said. “I would encourage people to examine the brokenness in their lives, and I know that I sure feel a whole lot better now than I did 10 years ago. There’s a peace that I literally can’t put into words.”

Gary and Boyland have led a support group for ACU students who are struggling with same-sex attraction for a couple of years, and Steve Rowlands, director of the counseling center, said he hopes students will know the counseling center is always open to them to discuss topics such as this.

He said most universities have support groups for students who admit they’re homosexual, but he doesn’t know of any in Texas that offer support for those who want to overcome those feelings. He also said the counseling center doesn’t try to force those struggling to change but instead works with them in a professional and confidential setting.

“We’re kind of different in that we don’t want to try to convert anybody,” he said, “but if as a Christian you’re struggling, and you don’t want this to be a part of your life, there’s a support group to help you. I think that’s totally different from most schools.”

Addressing homosexuality on a Christian campus and embracing those who seek help can be difficult, Money said, but he hopes the ACU community will continue the discussion.

“Topics that people struggle with in their Christian walk should be discussed periodically rather than relegated to one particular time or place,” he said. “… It is difficult to know how to treat an individual in a situation like this-compassionately but firmly-but I think that’s what God calls us to do. We’re all sinners doing the best we can to follow God’s will.”

Curry said ultimately, the goal of these discussions is to make students aware and show them it’s all about a relationship with God.

“He longs for a relationship with us,” Curry said. “He’s not such a bad father that he would want to see his kids in bondage. He wants to see us walking in the abundant life that he has ordained for us to walk in. He’s got plans to prosper us and not to harm us and to give us a hope and future. Once we realize who we are, we can really start living the abundant life.”