Recently, I attended a colloquium entitled “Live in Peace with One Another.” Dr. Heather Clements, professor and theologian, spoke on human gender and sexuality as it relates to the Christian community. Having come from an evangelical background, I found what Dr. Clements had to say on human sexuality a breath of fresh air. In my transition from high school to college, I resolved my beliefs on homosexuality and the church. I was told homosexuality was wrong, but never fully agreed this was true. It took me a while to be comfortable in saying this, but now I feel I have reached a point where I am sure in my beliefs. I took Dr. Clements course on Church History because I had heard from friends she was progressive in her theology. I pulled this quote from her talk addressing homophobia in the church: “Perhaps we would be less sure that we could judge the state of a person’s soul by their sexual behavior. Such an attitude of humility would be helpful in slowing, if not preventing, the division of congregations and even the global Christian community over matters of sexuality and gender.” I approached her about an interview a few weeks ago.
What brought you to Azusa Pacific University (APU)?
My mother-in-law at the time went to church with APU Haggard School of Theology professor Don Thorsen, and so my husband at the time had a very positive view of APU. After I got my Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University and had started teaching Hebrew and Church History at Scholars’ Bible College in Moreno Valley, he suggested I put in an application to teach as an adjunct at APU. It so happened that both full-time Practical Theology professors had just stepped down, and so my combination of academic background in theology and position (at the time) as the pastor of a small church was a good fit for the university.
In your paper, A constructive Wesleyan theological proposal: Redemption and sanctificantion of human gender and sexuality, you reference Craig Keen. Did he have part in bringing you to APU? Or visa versa?
I was on the search committee that helped to hire Dr. Keen. I have been here about six years longer than Dr. Keen, though overall he has been teaching theology many more years than I have.
How does your background in Appalachian religion inform your work at APU? Would you consider teaching a special topics class about the religious practices you studied?
I think my background in Appalachian religion makes me more open to exploring regional and cultural differences in the practice of Christianity, but I have not found a lot of interest in this topic among students at APU, so I don’t think there would be enough demand for an actual class on the subject.
Considering the climate at APU, is your validity as a woman professor questioned by other faculty or students? If not, why?
When I started at APU in 1998, I taught in what was then the Christian Ministry program. I was at times questioned for teaching ministry as a woman, but when I switched full-time to teaching in the theology program instead, this did not seem to be as much of a concern. Since then, I have seen several other women teaching ministry, biblical studies, and philosophy at APU quite successfully. Part of the earlier problem may have been that there were only one or two women total (including me) on the undergraduate Religion and Philosophy faculty in those earlier years.
On the other side of the spectrum, are you looked down upon in “secular” circles for working at APU or for being a mother?
In my earlier years at APU, when I was only on one-year contracts, I did look for work elsewhere, and found that working at APU caused me to be seen as a less attractive candidate at secular universities due to assumptions that I would have a strong evangelical Christian orientation in the classroom that would not be considered appropriate at such institutions. I think that would remain true.
Do you find students agree with your views on sexuality and gender?
Students at APU seem somewhat divided on the issue of sexuality, but many seem to feel that gender issues are no longer a problem for their generation. So I would say that while I don’t go out of my way to bring this issue up in the classroom or in one-on-one discussions with students, when it does come up, I find that students are often at least accepting of diversity of opinion on the issue among sincere Christians. I especially try to make it clear that I will respond to questions about my opinion when asked but in no way consider it appropriate for me to use the classroom to try to convert others to my view, and students seem to understand that.
