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Official crest of Union University (Trademark of Union University) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Is the nature of marriage an “agree-to-disagree” issue for Christians ? Earlier this week, Scot McKnight commented on the decision of Union University to withdraw from the CCCU ( Council for Christian Colleges and Universities ) because no action had yet been taken regarding two Mennonite faith-based colleges that opened the door to same-sex marriages among their faculty. Anticipating that other Christian colleges will soon follow Union’s lead, Scot explains why he agrees with Union on the biblical teaching of marriage, but disagrees with Union on withdrawing from the CCCU. The Gospel and Marriage Scot believes it is problematic for evangelicals to consider one’s teaching on marriage as more central to the gospel than other issues that divide Christians (baptism, for example). He critiques Union’s president, Dub Oliver, for saying that division on marriage damages our Christian witness...

Mennonite Church USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) has announced it will suspend a policy against same-sex relationships for faculty, as the school enters a “listening period” to review its stance on homosexuality. If the policy change becomes permanent, EMU would become the first member institution of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities ( CCCU ) to allow practicing gays and lesbians to serve as professors. The school’s board of trustees unanimously approved the review. EMU President Loren Swartzendruber said that the period of reflection would allow the school “to engage in community discussion and discernment over issues that Mennonite congregations—indeed almost all denominations in the United States today—are wrestling with.” The board also reaffirmed EMU’s relationship with the Mennonite Church USA —but that denomination’s “Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective” states that “God intends marriage to be a covenant betwee...