Ohio Christian University Statement on Human Sexuality
As an evangelical Christian university established in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, Ohio Christian University believes that Holy Scripture, interpreted through the lenses of Christian orthodox tradition, reason, and personal experience, occupies a privileged position as the final authority for the faith and practice of the people of God and thus, for all aspects of the Ohio Christian University community. As members of this community, we are committed to living into the fullness of salvation as taught in Scripture, characterized by holy love, reaching into all aspects of our lives, including our sexuality.
We affirm that humans are beings created, in the image of God, male and female, and are of inestimable worth. As a result, we affirm that human sexuality is intended by God to include more than the contemporary cultural emphasis upon the physical experience and is a gift of God designed to reflect the whole of our sensual and relational createdness. We believe that it is only within the context of the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman that the full expression of sexuality is to be experienced and celebrated. This understanding of covenantal marriage, and the practice of celibacy within singleness, are the means by which we may experience a life of full human flourishing while glorifying God and honoring his Word.
A faithful interpretation of Scripture affirms the principle that sexual purity honors God and that all forms of sexual intimacy that occur outside the covenant of heterosexual marriage are sinful distortions of the holiness and beauty for which God intended. As members of a larger community, we recognize that stewarding one’s expression of sexual intimacy is a trust that reaches beyond ourselves, extending even to those who may disagree with our beliefs. Therefore, we understand our responsibility to uphold biblical truth in our belief and practice, but in a way that reflects the grace that holiness produces.
We believe that the sin of sexual immorality (e.g., pre-marital sexual behavior, adultery for the heterosexually married person, polygamy, polyandry, pornography, incest, and all forms of same-sex practice) is about the behavior. As sinful fallen creatures, we are all tempted to sin, however, we do not claim those areas of temptation as right and good – and worthy of embrace and celebration. Rather, we unashamedly insist that by the grace of God we are called to live within the biblical boundaries of our sexuality and are empowered to live in obedience with God’s will and alignment with His purposes as revealed in Scripture. We do not surrender the biblical standard of sexual purity to the prevailing secular culture, nor the definition of “male” and “female” to mean something more or different than an individual’s sex at birth. At the same time, we do pledge to extend compassion and care, providing accountability and assistance as we support all members of our community— students, staff and faculty—in their desire to live consistently with the Christian teaching on human sexuality as described above.
Accordingly, Ohio Christian University will not recognize or support campus groups whose aim by statement, practice, or intimation is to promote a vision of human sexuality that is contrary to this understanding of biblical teaching. Further, we believe the above affirmations to be consistent with the ancient and historic teaching of Christian scriptures around the world and remains the guiding light for our practice.
(Adopted 11/11/20 by Board of Trustees)
