I heard about this story last week but I'm still shocked. A student in
Georgia, Jen Keeton, was faced with the choice: be expelled from the graduate program in Counseling at
Augusta State University or give up being a Christian - changing her worldview and convictions regarding
Christianity. All she is reported to have said in public was :
she asserted homosexuality is a behavioral choice, not a "state of being" as a professor said
It's an opinion. I agree with her, but that besides the point. Since when should you be kicked out of school because you disagree with your professor especially over an issue that is hotly debated and far from resolved?
Keeton understands what her faculty was trying to do:
"At times you said that I must alter my beliefs because they are unethical. ... Other times you said that I can keep my beliefs so long as they are only personal and I don't believe that anyone else should believe like me. But that is just another way of saying that I must alter my beliefs, because my beliefs are about absolute truth. ... In order to finish the counseling program you are requiring me to alter my objective beliefs and also to commit now that if I ever may have a client who wants me to affirm their decision to have an abortion or engage in gay, lesbian or transgender behavior, I will do that. I can't alter my biblical beliefs, and I will not affirm the morality of those behaviors in a counseling situation," she wrote.
So, nice as they are they did give her an out so she could graduate:
"Anderson-Wiley confirmed that Miss Keeton will not be able to successfully complete the remediation plan and thus complete the (Augusta State University) counseling program unless she commits to affirming the propriety of gay and lesbian relationships if such an opportunity arises in her future professional efforts," it continued.
Faculty members had demanded she "attend at least three workshops … which emphasize … diversity training sensitive toward working with GLBTQ populations." They also wanted her to "develop" her knowledge of homosexuality by reading 10 articles and increasing her exposure to homosexuals and lesbians by attending "the Gay Pride Parade."
Thankfully, Keeton is using this to send a message. She is suing them. She obviously has a case. I can't even believe that this is necessary but I do think it will continue to worsen. we should pray for this young woman who is standing up for what is right and what she believes in when should could have easily caved to the intimidation and persecution.
'Lose Christianity or face expulsion'
Mike Felker's post
