TORONTO, ON-A group of Bible college and seminary faculty are collecting signatures from higher education professionals on a statement opposing the federal government’s proposal to redefine "marriage."

"The blurring of boundaries of the marriage relationship has rent a deep fissure in the edifice of our society, as has widespread promiscuity," states the one-page document. "The expression of human sexuality is clearly not merely a private act, but a covenant relationship. It affects the whole of society."

Citing a "responsibility as scholars and teachers to publish our views on the subject," the statement (see "On the Record") highlights the biblical foundations of marriage and of celibate singleness, and declares that attempts to distort this understanding of marriage "will prove disastrous."

Affirm marriage

"While the state may and, we believe, ought to affirm the importance of marriage, it lies beyond the scope of its sovereignty to define it. That is the prerogative of the Creator."

The carefully-worded statement is largely the work of Scott Masson, assistant professor of English Literature at Tyndale Univeristy College and Seminary. "It is important to assert the importance of marriage in a brief, thoughtful theologically-informed and pastorally-sensitive manner. It’s also a sign to our churches that our Christian institutions have not abandoned them.

"It seems to me that those involved in institutions of higher learning, where academic freedom is part of our privilege, have a responsibility to speak out on such a vital issue. We have a gospel to proclaim," he says.

The idea was born at Tyndale University College and Seminary. After writing an article on the topic for Faith Today, seminary professor Victor Shepherd spoke with Tyndale president Brian Stiller. "I said I was writing as an individual, and asked why we as an institution haven’t weighed in on this," recalls Shepherd. Historically, he discovered, it’s not what Bible colleges and seminaries do.

Nonetheless, a well-attended faculty forum discussing Shepherd’s paper spurred the idea along. Masson was asked to prepare and circulate a draft. At press time, about 50 educators from Tyndale and a variety of other institutions including Heritage College and Seminary, Providence College and Seminary, Atlantic Baptist University and a smattering of others had signed on.

"More from the college faculty signed than from the seminary," observes Shepherd. "I’m a little surprised by some that didn’t appear. I don’t know why. No one who didn’t sign has told me why not."

Masson, who is concerned about the relative silence of the evangelical community on what he calls a matter of monumental importance, believes "it is vitally important that Christian scholars are heard on such a seminal issue.

"A display of unity, with a large number of names, will be a powerful witness."

Please visit www.christianweek.org/ Stories/vol17/no16/record.html to read the complete statement and for a link to the current list of signatures.