Opinion | Finding identity through intersectionality: progressive Christianity on campus

Religion can be a touchy subject, especially for those of us who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Stories of people being turned away from their religious communities simply because of their sexuality are not uncommon, leading many LGBTQIA+ individuals to swear off religion entirely. 

Isabelle Garcia, senior psychology major 

So, how do we find somewhere we can engage with our spirituality while feeling safe and loved?

When I came to Chapman University, I immediately found that place through Disciples on Campus. While I did come from the Disciples Of Christ denomination, I had long ago decided I was not religious after having many experiences where my morals and those of purported Christians did not match up. 

Though my yearning for the comfort of being a part of a community brought me back to church in the summer before I left for college, I still wasn’t sure where I stood. I knew I was expected to join Chapman’s Disciples of Christ community on campus, but the thought of doing so filled me with fears of being outed as a “fake Christian.” 

But the minute I saw Nancy Brink, the director of Church Relations, at the welcome dinner during orientation week I knew I was in the right place. 

From making sure I arrived in California safely to bringing me water and medicine when I had COVID-19 in July of 2020, Nancy and the rest of the Church Relations team, Kari Kempf and Cisa Payuyo, have always been there for me. And if you asked the other Chapman students who are a part of Disciples on Campus, they would say the same. The Disciples on Campus community creates an extensive support system, which is the perfect counter to the unfamiliarity of college. 

Through sermons, Bible studies and lectures, I learned how much interpretation matters when reading the Bible and speaking on it. Each scripture I thought I knew from my childhood was investigated from a different perspective. This, combined with my role as Children and Youth coordinator at First Christian Church of Orange, gave me the oppurtunity to relearn what christianity can look like, and how I can be both Queer and Christian without compromising any of my identities.

To give a bit of history on Disciples of Christ, the denomination became open and affirming in 2013, meaning it fully accepts gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals and explicitly celebrates them as beloved children of God.  If you turned on your computer and watched a livestream from First Christian Church of Orange, the church I attend, you would see Pastor Dayna explicitly state we are an open and affirming church. She would say this with pride, standing in front of the rainbow dossal. 

The move to progressive Christianity has offered a new outlook on religion. An outlook that includes racial minorities, those from the LGBTQIA+ community, poor people, and hurt people. As the Disciples on Campus have learned more about this cultural shift , there have been some people who have attended Wednesday Night Worship who do not understand how we can be progressive Christians when we are “Disciples.”

Some belive that as Disciples ー meaning“followers” ー it is not within our right as Christians to “twist the narrative” to fit our progressive views. This is an opinion we have continually come up against the  as we introduce progrssive Christianity to our fellow Christians.

Working in the church has allowed me to sharpen my responses to more conservative Christians, but this is a learned skill over time. That is why, during our Spring retreat, we will be learning about and discussing what those conversations look like. Standing up for your beliefs can be scary, but if we prepare and practice we can make a difference in Chapman’s Christian population. 

Fellow Christians have already seen a shift on campus, and the Disciples on Campus wants to encourage that shift. When we tabled during the student involvement fair, we weren't sure what to expect when we brought out our rainbow flag, progressive stickers and identity pins. 

What we received was excitement, both from new and returning students enthusiastic to see their identity represented with pins and a progressive Christian group explicitly accepting beliefs previously rejected by the church. 

We are so excited to encourage students to join us, whether it be for Wednesday night worship (at 5 p.m. in the Fish Interfaith Center), our semester retreat or just hanging around. I hope more Chapman students who came into college feeling the way I did can find a community that accepts them instead of trying to control or change them. 

Once you come to terms with your identity, conflicting as that may be at first, the weight on your shoulders melts off. I appreciate Disciples on Campus for giving me the space to grow into my faith and the information to practice my faith while still holding onto my morals and my identity.