The continuous debate about homosexuality and how it should be viewed in the church has been a heated issue, and several campus groups, including the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Center, are presenting the campus with a new perspective on it — the disagreement between a husband and wife.
Tony Campolo, former president Bill Clinton’s spiritual adviser, sociology professor and nationally-known evangelical minister, will be presenting his views on the topic with his wife Peggy, an advisory member of the Council of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, who will be giving an opposing view.
Tony said this is his first time coming to N.C. State.
“I have no idea what to expect,” he said. “I don’t know much about the audience.”
According to Tony, he and his wife have given their “dialogue” at several universities and denominational gatherings.
He said it shows the audience that here are two people who disagree about such a heated issue, yet can still love each other and not get a divorce.
John Coggin, a senior in communication and member of the Presbyterian Campus Ministry that is helping to sponsor the event, agreed.
He said Peggy has been known to call Tony “an old fool,” but that “there is still an atmosphere of love behind it.”
“They have different religious opinions but can still live under the same roof,” he said.
According to Coggin, this event has been in the works since this time last year, but it’s a great time to hold it.
“There’s been so much controversy over the LGBT Center on campus,” he said.
Coggin said this event was originally planned because of the growing issue between legislators over gay marriage and even among the campus community, where Coggin said sometimes the LGBT students feel afraid and unaccepted at the University.
Tony said the presentation is more of a discussion than debate, but there is one point both he and his wife agree upon — homosexual orientation is not a choice and is something that happens early in life.