Christian university rejects $3 million offer from organization that requested removal of LGBT student group

A Christian university in Birmingham, Alabama has rejected a $3 million donation from the Alabama Baptist State Convention because the offer came on the condition asking the school to remove an LGBT student group.

Samford University, an institution founded by Alabama Baptists, turned down the donation and refused to shut down the student group called Samford Together, which describes itself as an organization dedicated to studying "an array of ideas and opinions" related to "sexual orientation and gender identity."

The Alabama Baptist State Convention, which has donated to the small school for many years, had asked the school to rescind Samford Together's provisional group status and eliminate its chances for permanent status as conditions for the $3 million donation.

The College Fix reported that the private Christian university still denies full recognition of the group, but it has promised to support its "worthy goals."

The students applied for permission to form Samford Together earlier this year, and it was approved by the university's faculty in April.

Alabama Baptist State Convention President John Thweatt and State Board of Missions Executive Director Rick Lance said in a statement following the faculty vote that they were "saddened" by the school's decision, noting that recognition of the group is "contrary to biblical teachings on sexuality."

"In the days to come, Alabama Baptist leaders will be in dialogue with the leadership of Samford as to the serious implications this action has for the relationship between Samford University and the Alabama Baptist State Convention. We request your prayers as this situation is handled in a Biblically correct way," they said, as reported by Metro.

Thweatt and Lance warned the university that the convention would withdraw the $3 million funding offered if the board of trustees approved Samford Together.

The decision to reject the convention's offer was approved the university's executive committee, the school said in a statement.

Samford President Andrew Westmoreland clarified that he does not intend to seek formal recognition for the student group from the trustees.

"I will involve these students and others across campus in taking essential steps to create new and ongoing opportunities for robustly engaging these and other important issues," he said.

"Our actions at Samford, irrespective of financial considerations, must demonstrate fidelity to God's truth, abiding compassion and respect for all people, and solidarity with the timeless ideals of a strong university," he added.

According to Inside Higher Ed, the university has eliminated "anti-LGBTQ" language from its policies about a decade ago. The school does not expressly prohibit same-sex relationships, but both same-sex and opposite-sex intercourse outside of heterosexual marriage are banned.

Samford University, which was founded in 1841, is the 87th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, according to the school's website.