Show Baptist-Affiliated Baptist University Expels Students For Beliefs By Amy Reynolds cps Three students who were kicked out of a Baptist- Baptist affiliated university because o of their religious beliefs may seek legal action against the school for its actions which have kindled a theological dispute between the Rev Jerry Falwell and the United Pentecostal Church Seniors Chuck Groom 32 of New York Guy Redmer 2 21 0 of f New J Jersey e rs e y and Mohammed of Morocco co were expelled Sept 20 from Liberty University in Lynchburg Va after af er an appeals appeals appeals ap ap- peals review board upheld the recommendations recommendations' of the schools' schools deans and Falwell who serves as college chancellor chan chan- The students their attorney attorney attorney ney and a pastor say they were kicked out for worshipIng worship- worship Ing at the off-campus off United Pentecostal Church School officials say the students' students refusal to obey the rules was the real reason why they were asked to leave although they admit the students were asked to sign a form stating that hat they would not attend United Pentecostal church services They were not dismissed because of their beliefs but rather their refusal to stop proselytizing other students says Vernon Brewer vice president for student development Brewer says the students were pretty brazen in their approach to other students and that in their first hearing one of the men told Brewer he would go to hell for his actions against the students The students however say they were simply adhering adhering ing to their religious s beliefs They make it sound like we were standi standing g up on tables in the cafeteria and preaching says Groom a biblical counseling student not the case at all If someone asks me my religious beliefs I think I the have have the right to share them Two Twp of the students t Groom and attended 4 Liberty on full scholarships who was unavailable j for comment is an n international international international 1 s student who came to C the United States to study at Liberty his friends friends' say They are unsure if he plans to r return turn home j Groom says much of his alleged proselytizing c came came me I about because he is a religious counselor Douglas Klinedinst pastor of the United Pentecostal Church where the three worship worship worship wor wor- ship says the students were really dismissed because of the incompatibility of the United Pentecostal Churchs Church's doctrine to Liberty was founded as a Baptist college but has since touted itself as a private liberal arts school that adheres to a Baptist doctrinal position The proselytizing accusations accusations accusations that are coming out now are just to justify Liberty's religious differences ces Klinedinst Klin dinst says Dr Falwell Falwell Fal Fal- Fal- Fal we well l has publicly denounced the United Pen Pentecostal Church for being coltish and heretical Klinedinst says the United Pentecostal Church is different different different dif dif- ferent from other Pentecostal churches United Pentecostal worshipers do 40 not believe Inthe in inthe inthe the Trinity but rather believe that there is one God who has manifested himself in three roles The church also baptizes people only in the name of Jesus not in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost and worshipers believe that speaking In tongues is essen- essen ial to the salvation s of the soul I Falwell t told ld students and J faculty acuity about two weeks ago that hat the United Pentecostal f doctrine was was' not compatible with Liberty's and that they J were not permitted to attend 1 services at the United Pentecostal Pentecostal Pentecostal Pen Pen- C church i In a prepared statement 1 about the students' students dismissal Falwell reiterated his earlier stance We have a solemn obligation to parents and pastors pastors pastors pas pas- tors to see to it that their sons and daughters are exposed to mainline evangelical instruction instruction instruction tion and that they do not become become become be be- come victims of cultic or heretical influence he wrote Falwell also stated that much of the dismissal hinged o on nth the est students students' u den t s n noncompliance noncompliance non non- 0 n- n compliance with a university policy that requires students who want to permanently worship outside of Liberty University churches to have written permission from the school At the hearings Brewer says the students were asked to sign sign a form saying they would not attend United Pentecostal Pentecostal Pentecostal Pen Pen- Church services and that they would stop proselytizing but were not ot asked to renounce their beliefs Redmer disagrees They kept saying repeatedly that they weren't trying to challenge challenge challenge chal chal- lenge me for what I believe or orto orto orto to make me feel guilty yet all of their questions were about what I believe like Do you believe in the Trinity Then they handed me a form and an d asked me to renounce my beliefs The form involved me swearing I would not proselytize on or ff The off campus art was going too far Redner Redner Redner Red- Red ner says He reiterated Grooms Groom's toward allegations Df if f proselytizing I have never proselytized my religion on he the campus but if students ame came to me and asked me about out my church I brought t them here he says 1 Redmer adds that when I Ithe the hearings began about 20 j Liberty students attended the I United Pentecostal Church j He says only he Groom and nd decided not to sign the schools school's form The students' students attorney Owen Taylor is looking into legal options but says We Wesee We Wesee see this as Christian versus Christian and the students want w ant to avoid that Still Taylor says the students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents have a legitimate legal grievance against the school for many reasons He cites the lack of judicial process inthe in iIi inthe the hearings and possible freedom of religion viola viola- Alth Although ugh Liberty is a private university it is tax- tax exem exempt pt and is accredited by two large educational institutions institutions institutions that have standards for members Brewer would not comment comment comment com com- ment on a possible lawsuit against the school chool Taylor Tylor says he is waiting tot tor torsee t l see what avenue the students k want to pursue before he takes action Im not looking to cause problems Groom says I have no bitterness or resent resent- ment I wish they would've let me finish out the semester but I think they have the right to believe what they do I dont don't want this to smear Christianity |