Christian college uninvites speaker after students rally against 'hateful' comments
A private Christian college in Wenham, Massachusetts, canceled its invitation to Marvin Daniels, who was scheduled to be the main speaker for its annual “spiritual emphasis week” after students held a rally against what they claimed were “misogynistic” and “transphobic” comments delivered in his sermon on campus.
Gordon College President Michael Hammond announced that Daniels, executive director of The Hope Center in Missouri, who was to be the featured speaker for a three-day event at Deep Faith Chapel, would not speak at any of the remaining sessions after some students organized a “Solidarity Rally” against what he preached in the first session.
Daniels delivered his message last Monday on 2 Corinthians 5:21, about Christian living, the Gospel, anger, lying, sexual ethics and identity.
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The verse reads, "God made him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
“It’s amazing to see that even in the church, my Christian brothers out there (are) treating young ladies like they’re urinals and I am concerned about that. And I’m concerned about my Christian sisters who dress like they (were) desserts on a menu and then they get upset when a brother wants to place an order,” Daniels said in his address, according to the transcript published by Gordon’s student publication, The Gordon Review.
“There are some things that we got to deal with in our own sexual behaviors. We got a culture in chaos. And they trying to redefine sexuality for us. Always crossing lines left and right. What was appropriate before is no longer appropriate. We got individuals that say, ‘I feel like I’m a female,’ and they get a chance to participate in female activities. Back in the day, I wish that would work. I would have been saying ‘I feel like a female,’ so I can get into the girls' locker room. Come on now,” he added.
A few hours later, an anonymously run Instagram account, “gordon.gossip.girl,” encouraged students to join in a walk-out protest that evening, the publication said.
“We want to show Gordon that they cannot continue inviting someone who will spread more hate than love,” the Instagram story said. “The words Daniels chose to make his point were hateful to both women and the trans community and as well as many others on Gordon’s campus.”
Students, it added, “should feel welcome and encouraged, especially on a day Gordon has devoted to love. We will be peaceful, but impactful with our actions.”
The rally was held by ALANA, Gordon’s club for “inclusivity.”
After the students’ protest, Hammond emailed them, saying, “Our scheduled speaker, Marvin Daniels will not be speaking this evening, and I will be taking this opportunity to personally address some concerns within our campus community following this morning’s opening session.”
