"Drown out the noisy gongs and clanging cymbals of 'Biblically orthodox beliefs'."

President Taylor, Vice President Kimrey, and Rev. Gatlin,

When I arrived at Samford, my faith journey instilled a deep sense of shame, fear, and internalized homophobia. I chose to attend Samford because I thought it’d be an excellent place to “re-orient” my life. Praise God, it was! By the grace of God through Jesus Christ, a tenured professor told me that I wasn’t going to hell. Talk about Good News and peace beyond understanding!

When Paul exhorts us to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” that is not hyperbole for gay Samford students. I spent my time at Samford doing so with the support of beloved friends, loving professors, The Episcopal Church, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The first place I felt the all-encompassing love of Jesus was at an Episcopal church. (To this day, that church does not celebrate gay marriages, although many others do.) Grieve not the Holy Spirit. Let God speak to Samford students—don’t pick and choose who he can work through. Samford students are intelligent enough to discern a Gospel-filled community: love over fear, peace over discord, dignity over shame.

Pope Francis said this week, regarding The Roman Catholic Church and The Eastern Orthodox Church partnering with The Episcopal Church to help young adults live, work, study, and pray together:

The future of faith in our world passes through Christian unity. Yes, we do not agree on everything. Yes, we have convictions that sometimes seem incompatible, or are incompatible. But that is precisely why we choose to love each other. Love is stronger than all disagreements and divisions.

Samford University and The Episcopal Church are where I found faith, hope, and love. Drown out the noisy gongs and clanging cymbals of “biblically orthodox beliefs.” No church, ministry, or institution in the world practices them, including The Episcopal Church or Samford University.

The final question of the baptismal covenant in The Episcopal Church asks each believer, “Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” I did. I do. I pray you will too.

Choose Peace. Choose Dignity. Choose Gospel.

With a grieved heart,

Alan Taylor, Class of ’10