Wings of the Wind

So why am publishing a third post on this issue? For me, this story represents the worst of what is happening in our nation.  We can blame the secular world all we want for the problems we face.  In truth, the churches are failing and have failed.  It is not only happening at this “Christian” college in Minnesota.  It is happening everywhere.  I’ve heard stories about public colleges, but can they be as bad as this “Christian” college?

The following is the only statement issued by the president of Gustavus Adolphus College so far.  Frankly, I can’t articulate my thoughts well. Disappointment doesn’t even come close.

You can read the statement for yourself.  It seems that two bad things happened.  Someone took videos that misrepresented the freshman orientation process. And equally “troubling,”  someone painted a slur of some kind on a rock in the middle of the night.  According to the president, the incidents “threaten our core values.” The videos “portray the College’s mission and values in a negative way.”

That is my understanding of the statement made by the president of the “Christian” college.

WHAT?????

How could this be possible?  Did the president not see the content of the videos?  Where is the criticism of the “orientation?”  Just what are the core values of this college? Faith is mentioned.  Faith in what?  How is it possible that the president of a “Christian” college can equate some spray painting on a rock, in the middle of the night, to the videos I have seen?

No wonder we’ve got problems.

Chris Reimers

The statement:

October 13, 2010

To: Gustavus Students, Faculty, and Staff

From: President Ohle

My message today is one I wish was not necessary for me to write. At Gustavus, we pride ourselves in being a community open to all and rooted in the core values of excellence, community, justice, service, and faith. For most in the community, civility is a virtue. Unfortunately, I must write today to share with you incidents that have taken place over the last few weeks that are in conflict with and threaten our core values.

First, however, I feel it is important for you to know my views and the institution’s position regarding these incidents. Be assured, the incidents mentioned below are being addressed by me and discussed with many of those involved. Members of the President’s Cabinet, Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, and our extended community of alumni and friends have all weighed in with their concerns.

I realize that many of you may not be aware of these incidents. The first incident portrays the College’s mission and values in a negative way due to the fact that two videos of this year’s new student orientation have been circulating on the Internet. The two videos are edited excerpts from the presentations during orientation designed to encourage discussion about many issues all college students may face regarding differences in lifestyles and social issues. The clips only show the harsh and difficult issues students may face but do not indicate in any way the depth of discussion that takes place following the presentations. The second incident is more recent and involves some in the community who have openly disrespected others by painting over the rock that had been painted this week to express support for those celebrating “Coming Out Week.” Both incidents are troubling and unacceptable in our community.

I hope we will find better ways to share divergent perspectives and that all of us will take time to pause and think about the importance of our community and how everyone adds value to the Gustavus family. In that light, I have asked Provost Fienen and Vice President Stocco to work with faculty, students, and staff to find a time to have an open forum on these two incidents. I anticipate we will have a campus-wide forum to talk about civility and respect for others before the fall break.

Regarding the painting of the rock incident, I want to commend the Student Senate for its prompt response. Be assured, both incidents are being addressed by those of us who have responsibility for the Gustavus community.

Jack R. Ohle

President

Gustavus Adolphus College

800 West College Avenue

Saint Peter, MN 56082 507-933-7538

president@gustavus.edu <mailto:president@gustavus.edu>

…………………….It appears the controversy surrounding the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America College is “Gathering Steam.”

Thankfully, students at Gustavus Adolphus College who don’t approve of the sexually explicit freshman orientation have started a campus blog.  It is a fine blog with links to the videos that have created such fervor.  And rightfully so.  The link to the blog is at the bottom of this post.

I am waiting to see a press release from the president of the college located in St. Peter, Minnesota.  It will be noted on the Wings of the Wind as soon as it becomes public.

Here is one of the email responses that can be found by clicking on “Texts of Emails about Orientation” at the Campus Majority blog site noted below.

—– Original Message —–

From: Scott Grorud
Subject: FW: [Boardtalk] Fw: “Rated R” at ELCA Gustavus Adolphus CollegeOrientation

Dear Friends,

This e-mail has been making the rounds this weekend, but if you haven’t yet seen them, the two videos linked at the bottom of the message below are a tragic witness to the theological vacuum that has entered so many ELCA and other mainline Christian institutions. They are not easy to watch, but the saddest part is at the very end of the second one.

What I find most troubling about them is not the material presented. Sadly, our young people hear such messages constantly from the culture. What is most troubling is the complete lack of any Christian convictions or any moral context to analyze, critique or oppose this cultural rot. (The videos are excerpts, but they give little reason even to hope that a countering message was also presented.) The individual and his/her desires/thoughts/ideas have become idols. Plenty of this concerns the Sixth Commandment (adultery), but much more of it concerns the First (no other gods). That this can be presented at a college that still claims to be Christian and Lutheran reveals just how big a battle we’re fighting for the soul of Christianity today.

As the parent of a college student, I can’t help but wonder, too, about the tens of thousands of dollars being shelled out by faithful Christian parents who are taking false comfort from the fact that their children are attending a “Christian” college. Where is the obligation of the college to live up to its own mission and claims about itself? If you are an alumnus/a, a parent of a student or a donor to GAC, I hope you will make your convictions known to the administration.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott

(The part of the second video that saddened Pastor Scott so much was a proud statement from one of the students about how he came to the college and became an atheist.)

Gustavus’ Orientation “Controversy” Gathering Steam

THE ORIENTATION

I went back to the month this blog debuted.  An article ran about a dramatic production on campus.  It’s obvious that sexually explicit productions have been accepted at this college for some time.

What happened to “Oklahoma?”

I greatly appreciate it that a few students cared enough to take a stand for righteousness.  Not only are they brave, God has talented them in my view.

CR

Just last month I posted a story about the acceptance of gay marriage in Mexico and now this.  It is increasingly clear that the United Nations is an anti-Christian organization, and that mankind is becoming like it was in the days of Noah. Read this and try not to weep. – CR

By Terrence McKeegan, J.D.

LEON, MEXICO, Sept. 3, 2010 (C-FAM) – Last week at the World Youth Conference, organized primarily by the Mexican government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the main event for most of the estimated 5000 “participants” was the Interactive Global Forum, a massive expo with hundreds of booths and exhibits.  A tour of the booths revealed what passes for “age-appropriate” sexual education in some UN circles.

Because the venue for the World Youth Conference had considerably more exhibit space than most UN conferences, it was a unique opportunity for organizations focusing on youth to put their best face forward.  But in the expo hall, there were dozens of booths with pornographic or sexually explicit materials or presentations.

At the International Planned Parenthood Federation (the largest provider of abortion services in the world) booth, their table featured the sexually explicit brochure: “Healthy, Happy, and Hot”, which garnered headlines last March due to its distribution at a Girl Scouts side event at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

At a booth by an organization named “RECREA,” there was a table with a bowl of condoms and a wooden phallus.  The walls of the exhibit booth were covered with pornographic and sexually suggestive photos.  Nearby there were two glass cases featuring rubber models of male and female genitalia, as well as a bright assortment of condoms.

At the Fundacion Collectivo de Mujeres Jovenes booth, which was staffed by two middle-aged men, the presentation largely consisted of a collection of thong underwear hung up around the booth, as well as a “snakes and ladders” floor game with puffy dice.

The Quilombolas e Gays organization booth was unmanned, but included several official UNAIDS posters.  One poster proclaimed, “Create a world… with access to comprehensive sexuality education.  A world where health services are always available and affordable.  Where all young people have access to condoms.  Where confidentiality is respected.  Where young people are celebrated for who they are.”

Other highlights of the expo included a live demonstration showing how to put a condom onto a phallus, an organization whose only “literature” consisted of pornographic post cards, and a booth with a large Twister-like floor pad, with cartoonish depictions of human genitals replacing the familiar colored circles of the classic game.

The scene described here was documented at the same time that the First Lady of Mexico toured the expo, guided by Purnima Mane, the Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA.  A UNFPA conference dispatch stated that “reallocating existing resources, especially those spent on ineffective programmes such as ‘get tough’ policies against violence, and ‘abstinence only’ programmes against teenage pregnancy, can provide enough funds to make a positive impact.”  The dispatch also recommended that UNFPA,  “[shift] investment from its current emphasis on the age-groups 25-60 and those 61 and older to a much stronger emphasis on those between 6 and 17 years of age, and also those between 18 and 24.”

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/sep/10090303.html

Some of the contents of “Healthy, Happy, and Hot:”

http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/day-11-happy-healthy-and-hot-planned-parenthood-and-sexual-freedom

The Supreme Court of Mexico has decided that all Mexican states must accept the validity of same-sex marriages (SSM) contracted in Mexico City, where such ‘marriages’ were legalized in December of last year.   The vote was 9-2.

Canada gave SSM Nationwide approval in August of 2005.

On the North American continent, America’s decision over the definition of marriage is the only one left uncertain.

“As it was in the days of Noah…”

CR

Mexican Supreme Court Imposes Homosexual ‘Marriage” on Entire Country

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10081003.html