Two members of Emergence International, Nancy Bernard and Sue Wilson, were invited by Principia College in November of 2024 to participate on a panel marking the 10-year anniversary of a significant change to their policies regarding who is welcome and accepted at Principia as a student, faculty or staff member. This policy can be found on The Principia College website under General Information. It reads:
Equal Opportunity Statement
“Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.
In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.”
The week, following the panel discussion, The Principia Board of Trustees issued this landmark statement:
LGBTQ+ Faith in Action
Friday’s Faith in Action event, “LGBTQ+ and a Life of Faith,” featured a panel discussion marking the 10-year anniversary of Principia openly welcoming LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. All Trustees were grateful to be able to support this event and to recognize the progress made in the last decade. No one is outside of God’s expansive love, and everyone is included in Principia’s embrace.
As the Principia-wide Belonging and Mattering Statement puts it so beautifully, “We are a community based on prayer, integrity, respect, trust, and love. Together, we foster and sustain inclusive learning, living, and working environments where everyone feels they belong and are valued.” Principia’s LGBTQ+ community members are valued, loved, and appreciated.
It was inspiring to hear from this panel of LGBTQ+ Principians who shared their journeys of living their Christian Science faith openly and courageously. Being part of this healing event and bearing witness to the decade of progress at Principia was meaningful and profoundly important. We are aware that there were too many decades in which Principia did not welcome and support our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff. This Board deeply regrets the harm done during those years and wholeheartedly supports the inclusive work taking place on both campuses today.
The EI Board is extremely grateful for this significant step of progress for LGBTQ+ Christian Scientists and an important institution aligned with the Christian Science Movement.
