At a Bible study Monday co-hosted by Rainbow Alliance, Rev. Julie Windsor Mitchell did not look like an agitator. But her mission as the director of University Christian Ministry — to open the Bible to gays and lesbians — is challenging students to think about Christianity and sexuality in provocative ways.

After an hour, the discussion at UCM stalled on the question of tolerance. Mitchell said Christianity is ultimately about recognizing God and “renouncing evil.”

But even the fundamentals rest on shaky ground, Britta McNair answered.

“One person could think homosexuality is evil and one person could think homophobia is evil,” said McNair, Weinberg ’04. “Can we even reconcile?”

The room fell silent. Mitchell quietly stated, “I don’t know if agreement will ever be possible.”

The history of gays and lesbians in the Christian community has long been one of contempt and discrimination. But this quarter at UCM, Mitchell joined Rainbow Alliance to lead a Bible study directed at reconciling Christianity and homosexuality.

The close relationship between the two groups is rare in the current debate between religious doctrine and sexual orientation in the United States.

Mitchell said the Bible study provides an important opportunity for the two groups to combat anti-gay arguments some Christians derive from the Bible.

“When you have conservative Christians arguing why gayness is wrong, they immediately point to the Bible,” Mitchell said. “We want to put the Bible in historical contexts.”

Kelsey Pacha, the outreach and education chairwoman for Rainbow Alliance, led the Bible study program this year at UCM. Pacha said the symbiosis between Rainbow Alliance and UCM changed her moral and spiritual outlook.

“I came from a tradition where if you don’t believe in Jesus, you’re going to hell, and (Mitchell) challenged a lot of my assumptions,” Pacha said. “It makes me optimistic that anybody can be changed to see that eventually the church will reconcile with (the gay and lesbian community).”

Religion Prof. Cristina Traina said the fight over gay rights in the church is part of a larger battle over interpretations of Scripture.

“What this turns into is a convenient way for people to talk about what is the most appropriate way to interpret (Scripture),” she said. “In one way it’s not about homosexuality. It’s about interpreting the Bible.”

Some members from NU’s largest Christian group — Campus Crusade for Christ — take issue with UCM’s interpretations of the Bible.

Members of Campus Crusade such as Melissa Tague interpret the Bible literally. Tague, who went to three Bible studies at UCM, said she didn’t agree with the group’s selective interpretations.

“It’s dangerous to start having a liberal interpretation of the Bible because you take away the authority of scripture,” said Tague, a Weinberg junior. You’re just picking and choosing what makes sense based on human reason.”

Drew Dragstrem dismissed the argument that examining the Bible in a modern context could validate homosexuality.

“We don’t believe that homosexuality is right,” said Dragstrem, a McCormick junior in Campus Crusade. “That’s an Old Testament law that’s reaffirmed in the New Testament … I’m not sure I see how a law that’s held up across thousands of years is relevant to and changes with culture.”

Campus Crusade member Kevin Cowart said although his group would consider homosexuality wrong, gay and lesbian individuals are still welcome to their meetings and events.

“We would say the Bible indicates that homosexuality is a sin,” said Cowart, a Weinberg sophomore. “We would want to engage and be friends with (gays and lesbians), but we don’t condone that kind of lifestyle just like the Bible doesn’t condone sex outside of marriage.”

The motto at UCM is “Open hearts, open minds”, and the group has welcomed Christian homosexuals since before Mitchell came to Northwestern. But, as Communication senior Matt Hall asked during the study session, how does an “open” ministry accept more conservative Christians, and seek its own idea of justice at the same time?

“Do we tolerate intolerance? Do we accept homophobes and racists?” Hall asked. “Or do we ostracize the people that would ostracize (gays and lesbians)?”

For Mitchell, openness is essential. She said the Bible study was not about converting homophobic Christians to see her side, but about starting a dialogue.

“This is a question we ask a lot: How do we stay in communion with people that don’t agree with us?” asked Mitchell as she sat in front of a cross made of beads showing the spectrum of a rainbow. “I think gay folks should have the same rights as straight folks … but I don’t presume to tell everybody what to believe.”

Reach Derek Thompson at [email protected].