Nine days after sharing that it had accepted a large grant to study LGBTQ+ inclusion in churches, Baylor University announced it has rescinded that decision. As ChurchLeaders reported, the Baptist research institution in Waco, Texas, received more than $643,000 for a study titled “Courage from the Margins: Inclusion and Belonging Practices for LGBTQIA+ and Women in Congregations.”
The grant was from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, which “supports progressive, inclusive nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ.” The foundation awarded the money to the Center for Church & Community Impact (C3I), which is part of Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.
RELATED: Baylor University Accepts Grant To Research LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Churches
News of the grant and the LGBTQ+ inclusion study sparked controversy due to Baylor’s ties to Texas Baptists. The university’s Statement on Human Sexuality affirms “purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman as the biblical norm.” But in 2021, the school’s board of regents permitted the formation of an LGBTQ student group.
Baylor President: ‘This Has Been a Learning Opportunity’
In a July 9 letter posted to the university’s website, President Linda Livingstone explained the reasoning behind returning the grant money.
“As we reviewed the details and process surrounding this grant, our concerns did not center on the research itself, but rather on the activities that followed as part of the grant,” Dr. Livingstone said. “Specifically, the work extended into advocacy for perspectives on human sexuality that are inconsistent with Baylor’s institutional policies, including our Statement on Human Sexuality.”
C3I had said it would use results from its LBGTQ+ inclusion research to develop “trauma-informed training resources” for churches.
The university president offered assurance that Baylor’s “institutional beliefs and policies” haven’t changed. “Our commitment to our Christian mission and our historic Baptist identity continues to guide our approach to academics, student life, and spiritual formation,” wrote Livingstone.
She acknowledged that the grant award “has caused concern and confusion” and that the controversy “has been a learning opportunity.”
