B.C. College of
Teachers takes
TWU back to court
Last fall’s victory is being appealed
From a TWU release
LANGLEY, BC–On June 15-17 the British Columbia College of Teachers (BCCT) will appeal the B.C. Supreme Court ruling ordering them to approve Trinity Western University’s (TWU) teacher education degree program.
At issue is a legal dispute in which the BCCT has denied approval because of TWU’s "community standards" policy, which requires students to refrain from extra-marital sex, including homosexual behavior. The BCCT maintains that TWU graduates may be intolerant of gay students.
The controversy dates back to TWU’s 1996 request for approval to operate a "professional" year to complete its four-year teacher education program. Two BCCT academic review committees evaluated the program and recommended approval. However, the governing council of the BCCT overruled those recommendations and rejected the application.
Last September, Justice William Davis ruled there was no evidence of intolerance among TWU grads and that the BCCT decision violated fundamental principles of administrative law in Canada. He directed the BCCT to grant approval. But the BCCT chose instead to appeal.
"By appealing the ruling the dispute has taken on increased significance with implications for the rights of all Canadians to hold their beliefs and not be sanctioned from public life," says TWU executive vice president Guy Saffold.
"If evangelical Christians can be denied approval because of their beliefs, who might be next?"
TWU is appealing to churches across North America to designate Sunday, June 14, as a day of prayer for TWU and its legal team. To keep supporters informed, as of June 1 the university will set up a Legal Challenge hotline (1-877-801-2494). Information is also available on the internet (www.twu.ca/challenge).
