- The Equality Act bill fails to consider or mention religious organizations and if it was to be passed in its current state, President Carol Taylor says, “it would strip all religious exemptions away from faith-based institutions.”
- The Equality Act that was introduced in March 2019 presents the LGBTQ+ as a protected class and it would make the Religious Freedom Restoration Act unusable when challenging protections that Evangel University would likely take such as the use of shared facilities, like locker rooms and restrooms.
- For most Christian universities, this bill would prohibit students from federal funding, in turn, forcing them to shut down.
- Despite these concerns, the bill is still being discussed in senate.
- In response to the bill, Shirley V. Hoogstra, president of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities supports the act as a solution-based approach and she said that it is principled, and a “clear and demonstrable way for people of faith to “love our neighbor in the civic context”.
- President Taylor, Professor Bartels and Vice President Sheri Phillips all agree that the best way for Christians to respond to these changing times is to reflect the love of Jesus and to be informed about what is happening around us.
- President Taylor said, ”There is no legislation and there is no government that can destroy the church, that can destroy Christianity.”
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