Jordan Rodgers
Jordan Rodgers, quarterback at Vanderbilt University and the brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was among students speaking out against the school’s nondiscrimination policy as it applies to student groups, especially religious ones. Rodgers is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is opposed to homosexuality and whose website talks about “saving” gays from their “lifestyle.”
The policy at Vanderbilt came into being after the Christian fraternity BYX allegedly kicked out an openly gay brother in 2010. From the Nashville city paper:
Under the “all-comers” nondiscrimination policy, Vanderbilt requires that all organizations’ membership and leadership positions be open to every student on campus regardless of “race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or genetic information.” Several student organizations, most of them religious, have been deemed as non-compliant because of religion-centric qualifications for leaders.
The university put five Christian groups, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, on “provisional status” after they ignored the nondiscrimination policy when filling leadership positions. The school defends the policy, saying, for example, a non-Christian should have the right to run for a leadership position of a Christian group. It’s a policy that seems rather non-controversial since the members ultimately decide whether they want that person to lead them or not. But Rodgers disagrees:
“If someone [running for leadership] doesn’t share the faith that is being taught, what’s the point of having these organizations?” asked Rodgers, an active member of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes. [Vanderbilt administrator David] Williams responded by saying members of the FCA could collectively choose not to elect a non-Christian — but that person should at least have the opportunity to run for office. Rodgers conceded that a non-person-of-faith wouldn’t be elected.
“If we’re jumping through the hoops of your policy as a facade, what’s the point?” Rodgers said. Williams acknowledged that the school wouldn’t make exceptions to the policy for faith-based organizations and that he understood the opposition.
For the record, I could find nothing where Jordan Rodgers stated his views on gays, pro or con. (Update: Read the thorough comment below from reader PJMc who watched the whole debate and noted: that Rodgers “openly said that he does not think gays should be allowed in ‘his Christian group.’ “)
As an organization, though, FCA’s application for leadership includes this “sexual purity” clause:
God desires His children to lead pure lives of holiness. The Bible is clear in teaching on sexual sin including sex outside of marriage and homosexual acts. Neither heterosexual sex outside of marriage nor any homosexual act constitute an alternative lifestyle acceptable to God.
The FCA’s website also has a story by a female college coach who writes about how she “was delivered from homosexuality.” It’s safe to say that FCA is not pro-gay, even if some of its members are.
We ran a story in 2010 by a cross-country runner who was gay and also an active member of FCA, who wrote about how he was accepted by fellow athletes:
My relationship with Christ has been growing stronger since I came to terms with my sexuality because there is no place in the Bible that condemns homosexuality. Just because I am gay does not mean that my interpretation of Christianity is any different from another’s. The Bible says the same message to all who open up to the Word, and just as Christ does not change, the Bible never changes. I am no different from any other Christian in my beliefs. I am just different in my personal life, which should not have anything to do with my faith.
Then there’s this from the great website Post Secret, where people send in their deepest secrets on a postcard:
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
This makes me like Tim Tebow even more.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 12:12 PM
I have to agree with him. Jumping through hoops for political correctness is nonsense.
Why would a self-respecting queer want to be part of a group that wants nothing to do with him?
FCA is just another one of these Christian groups that spends more time judging others than accomplishing anything meaningful.
But ND policies like this, while well-meaning, take away common sense.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 2:39 PM
I always knew Aaron Rodgers was a douche bag after he ignored the fan with cancer. I guess it runs in the family.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 2:56 PM
It’s discrimination that’s really the lifestyle — based on lies that people tell themselves and one another. Poor Jordan Rogers! He needs to be saved from his lifestyle, ditch the twisted lies of FCA, and go ethically straight for a change.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 3:23 PM
The thing that I’ll never understand – maybe someone can educate me – is how seemingly intelligent people can ignore large parts of the bible and follow others.
EVERY edition of the bible says ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ Is Aaron Rodgers and other anti-gay Christians following that teaching? If not, why not?
I realize that you can’t make a logical argument for following one scripture and ignoring many others. I just don’t get how people like Aaron Rodgers don’t get, or don’t care, how thoroughly hypocritical and unfair they are being with their selective discrimination.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Rick, you can’t explain logic to some of the faithful. Reason and logic don’t compute with many of them.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 3:47 PM
So what is it John that motivates them to throw out logic? The only thing I can think of is a desire to hate. Or is there something else?
I don’t (honestly) know the answer to this because these type of people aren’t asked these pointed questions in a public forum, or they are allowed to provide evasive answers.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 5:52 PM
Yet, he doesn’t speak out against his brother Aaron’s revolving door of girlfriends. Methinks Jordan is a closet case.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 6:45 PM
The thing that I’ll never understand – maybe someone can educate me – is how seemingly intelligent people can ignore large parts of the bible and follow others
There’s the “lets highlight the bits that benefit me/reinforce my prejudices” part, but it’s also that the Bible is a huge mess of a book, contradictions everywhere. Since it was written by numerous people over hundreds of years, long after the events it’s describing took place, there’s wildly different takes on the same issue all over the place; the Old and New Testaments are rife with that.
It has some nice stories and some beautiful poetry in it, but as a guide to living modern life? Not so much.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 8:29 PM
It is important to note that the only reason this story is publicized is because of who his brother is. It’s obvious that if a major college quarterback has so much time to fight the administration, that he is athletically irrelevant. He’s a RS JR and isn’t even playing, so he won’t amount to much.
on Feb 9th, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Extreme fear of the “unknown” motivates most people to seek out some group that (falsely) promises them certainty. Fear blinds us to scientific facts, too. Many people even marry evidently hateful folks who have yet to steer their hatred toward their betrothed – yet. People take on allegiances for all sorts of inane reasons, fearing loneliness; or even worse, fearing their own uniqueness in the scheme of a vast universe. Most of the ever effusive Christians I’ve met could not refrain from literally frowning at me when I questioned their baseless beliefs, baseless in the sense that some amalgamated text drafted in the Bronze Age by numerous unknown authors and editors can provide nothing but mere metaphor at its best, and then monarchical obsequiousness at its worst. An ongoing apologia for the patriarchal monarchies (even if momentarily ruled by Queens) that blamed the disenfranchised for their miserable plight and then offered “Heaven” after their death if only they’d “render unto Caesar” while the monarchies held their finely crafted boots on the necks of those too inconsequential in this life to have a say in their own affairs and futures. The philosophers of the Enlightenment eventually eroded the intimidation of the masses, but many former slaves always miss the security of being kept in their inferior places. Some released prisoners long to return to the certainty of prison life. Why else would modern citizens brought up in democracies who look for a means of solemn introspection and prayer address their focus on a “Lord” or “Master?” Abiding with the unknowable complexities of this marvelous world is way beyond the capabilities of most people, and that is also why some Christian friends of mine have told me about true Christian Humility that admits a limit to humankind’s understanding of this world, and is a rarely pursued goal even by self-professed Christians!
on Feb 10th, 2012 at 1:26 AM
Great post, Tom! Well said.
on Feb 10th, 2012 at 6:13 AM
I actually agree with those protesting at Vanderbuilt… saw this story originally on GMA last week… it doesn’t make any sense having someone who doesn’t believe in the basic premise of the group to be able to be a leader of it… I was never part of FCA but I don’t have a problem with the group as a whole…
At no point was homosexuality discussed in the above until the policies of the group were mentioned by the author…
This also goes towards greek life too… Vanderbuilt is saying that instead of pledging, you have to take the first 20 people who walk in the door…
It is not just the religious groups, but groups across the board at Vanderbuilt that are protesting… including faculty!!!
on Feb 11th, 2012 at 5:28 PM
I am an alumnus of Vandy, I live in Nashville, and I know everyone in the Vandy administration very well. The decision by the administration was to uphold the “all-comers” (i.e. “Non-Discrimination”) policy for ALL student organizations at Vanderbilt- religious and otherwise. Religious groups were previously free to discriminate under the guise of their “Christian principles” (which we all know is a raging contradiction since the idea of Christianity is to love everyone and not judge, etc.). This meant that they could unabashedly discriminate against gay members, kick them out of their group, and even try to “convert” them as a last ditch effort to purify these deplorable gay sinners.
Tobey you have no clue what you’re talking about. The ONLY groups who protested were Christian groups (with predominately white members- a point I bring up b/c the Asian and Black Christian groups did not oppose the all-comers policy). There are 387 groups, and only four of those groups are throwing a hissy fit and protesting this policy, which really doesn’t change much of anything about how they function. Those four groups are FCA, BYX, Christian Legal Society, and Graduate Student Fellowship. As the postcard above demonstrates, I’m sure they’ve had gay leaders in the past and not even been aware of it. And that exhibit was actually at Vandy 2 years ago and Vandy students took part in contributing postcards, FYI. And the only faculty who have openly opposed the policy are from the divinity school and the Dean of the Divinity School is actually a Presbyterian minister and FULLY SUPPORTS the policy. As far as the Greek life claim you make- WRONG. All Greek chapters do not have to pick the first 20 members who walk in their door. Check you sources, my friend.
There was a town hall meeting held by the Vandy administration last week, out of courtesy, to answer any questions/concerns by anyone opposing the policy (and supporting it). I watched all 4 hours of this town hall event. Four long hours of Christian students asking the same asinine questions over and over, some damning the administration as “sinners” and ‘unfit to follow in God’s path,” many storming out of the meeting, crying, saying they’re going to pray for the administration (so patronizing). The best part of the meeting was hearing the administration render the Christian kids speechless with exchanges like this:
Admin: “as a Christian do you judge and discriminate?”
Christian kids: “no”
Admin: “do you allow gay students in your group?”
Christian kids: “no”
Admin: “so…do you get it now? What would make your group fall apart by becoming more accepting of others?”
Christian kids: (silence)
These kids are nothing more than brainwashed products of Christian zealots/bigots who don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. One of these kids, Jordan Rogers, was particularly rude and unprofessional- he insulted both vice chancellors leading the meeting, was abrasive, repeatedly interrupted them when they were trying to answer his questions, and openly said that he does not think gays should be allowed in “his Christian group.” He then stormed out of the meeting like a spoiled brat when they moved on to ask the next person’s question since he had monopolized their time for close to 10 minutes. He, and all of the other poorly guided souls kept stating that they didn’t want to have someone “unfit” leading their group. Basically Rogers and all of the other Christian idiots who oppose this policy have created this strange idea in their fucked up minds that the administration is forcing them to pick their leaders be gay atheists or something frightening like that.
I’ll say this once (pay attention Tobey): NO ONE IS TELLING ANY GROUP WHO THEIR LEADERS MUST BE! THE GROUPS VOTE ON THEIR OWN LEADERS. ALL THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING IS GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE TO BE ACCEPTED INTO YOUR GROUP, IT’S VANDY POLICY. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, MOVE OFF CAMPUS FOR MEETINGS AND SUPPORT YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN FUNDS. And these funds, by the way, are paid by every student upon admission. So if they want to receive said funds they need to follow the policy. It’s that simple. If you are gay Tobey, wake up and smell self-hatred buddy- FCA openly discriminates against gay people…it’s in their bylaws. They think all gay people are sinners. So why would you not have a problem with that group?! Do you also not have a problem with the Ku Klux Klan even though they are openly racist towards black people? It’s the SAME THING.
Finally I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to the administration at Vandy. They are a private institution in the south, funded by plenty of conservatives and republicans and despite all of that they have chosen to support human rights and not bow down to the almighty dollar. It’s decisions like these that are helping to fuel the gay rights movement and move our society that much closer to equal rights for all LGBT people. History will look kindly upon their initiative. We should, too. This policy does not infringe upon anyone’s religious freedom. Christians need to realize that discrimination dressed up as a religious belief is still discrimination.
on Feb 11th, 2012 at 5:38 PM
Thank you, PJMc! I’m a current graduate student at Vanderbilt and I back up everything you said.
on Feb 13th, 2012 at 2:10 PM
This guy is probably a closet-case. He looks gay to me. He has gay face. Some gay men physically look gay in the face.
Aside from that, he may be pushing for a Tim Tebow kind of career. You’re probably going to see a lot more exploitation of Jesus Christ in the name of fame and publicity from athletes.
Which is a shame.
on Feb 13th, 2012 at 2:14 PM
“Finally I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to the administration at Vandy. They are a private institution in the south, funded by plenty of conservatives and republicans and despite all of that they have chosen to support human rights and not bow down to the almighty dollar. It’s decisions like these that are helping to fuel the gay rights movement and move our society that much closer to equal rights for all LGBT people.”
If there is anyway that Outsports could reach out to these indviduals and thank them, that would be really great. I would love to read story about members of the administration.
on Feb 18th, 2012 at 1:10 AM
PJMc is right in his facts. I just don’t think he stressed one thing enough, and that is that the only groups who have to follow this rule are ones supported by Vandy money.
If any group at Vandy wants to discriminate in its membership/leadership, it is free to do so (including FCA). The university is simply refusing to subsidize any group that discriminates. The university has an absolute right to do this, ethically, morally, and legally. Anyone who fails to understand this simple concept has problems.
Jordan Rogers and his ilk are just whiney little beyatches wanting to have their cake and eat it, too. They are not true Christians as I understand Christianity. I’m a church-goer and firm believer in Christ, and I don’t believe he would approve of these idiots.
on Mar 9th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
‘This guy is probably a closet-case. He looks gay to me. He has gay face. Some gay men physically look gay in the face.’
I love people who use gay as a pejorative to bash people in the name of gay causes. It’s so liberal. And, some gay men ‘physically look gay in the face’? That’s asinine.