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If youre a conservative evangelical Christian who feels called to ministry, youre welcome to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. But youre not worthy of honor there. Thats the message sent by PTSs president Craig Barnes today.

In an email to faculty and students, Barnes announced he reversed his decision to honor Pastor Tim Keller with the annual Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Witness. Doing so, Barnes said, might imply an endorsement for Kellers conservative views on womens ordination and same-sex relationships.

Im more progressive than Keller on these issues, but I disagree with PTSs decision.The American church is grappling with issues of gender and sexuality right now, and some on both sides have decided to declare their foes anathema. We must learn to make space with Christians of mutual goodwill who disagree with us on secondary theological issues.

To be clear, PTS has the right to honor whomever they wish. They are not obligated to let Keller speak, much less grant him this award. Setting this aside, we must ask, How does marginalizing Tim Keller make the world a better place? And since were talking about a seminary, we might add, How does it promote unity among disparate churches? The answer to these questions is the same: it doesnt.

Ive had the pleasure of being with Tim Keller on two occasions. Each time, I recognized areas where his theology and mine did not align. But I also walked away feeling I had been in the presence of someone who was eminently reasonable, thoughtful, kind. Tim Keller is no extremist. He is no misogynist. He is no bigot. He is not hateful. Anyone who has paid attention to his Manhattan ministry can attest to this.

If Christians like Tim Keller are unworthy of honor and deserve to be marginalized, American Christianity is in serious trouble.

Keller is like the tens of millions of American Christians who hold to traditional interpretations of the Bible on these issues. Most of them do not hate gay people (though some do). Most do not believe women are inferior (though some do). They are doing their best to love their God and love their neighbors and live their lives according to what they believe the Bible teaches.

Its important to recognize that Barnes decision not to grant Keller the award came in response to outcry from students and alumni. As PTS alum Rev. Traci Smith wrote on her blog,

Ill let others argue finer points of Rev. Kellers theology. My personal soapbox is much less refined. It boils down to this: an institution designed to train men and women for ministry shouldnt be awarding fancy prizes to someone who believes half the student body (or is it more than half?) has no business leading churches.

I dont know the make-up ofthe PTS student body or its views. Lets assume that half of them disagrees with Keller. What about the other half that holds to a traditional view of sexuality and gender? Should an institution designed to train men and women for ministry tell the conservative half (more than half?) of its student body that their theology makes them unworthy of honor?

I appreciate the work of PTS, andwill even be speaking there thisSummeras part of the Frederick Buchner Writing Workshop. But I am dismayedby the message this sends to conservativeChristians. Havinggrown up in a conservative Christian community, Ive familiar with this message. For years, Ive watchedevangelicals marginalize their progressive brothers and sisters over issues of gender and sexuality. They have made these mattersa litmus test, withholding honor from any Jesus follower who dared to asserta more progressive stance. These conservatives have marginalized and maligned progressives, treating them with contempt.

At the same time, progressive Christians have pleaded with their evangelical brothers and sisters to make space at the table for them. Theyve argued for diversity of thought and theology on secondary issues like these. Conservatives often dismissed their pleas, drawing lines in the sand over issues of sexuality and gender.

As the cultural tides shift, the church is also transforming on these matters. Will progressive Christians gain more cultural and religious influence, will theyembody the Golden Rule and make space at the table for conservatives (as they once asked conservatives to do for them)? Or will they treat conservatives the way conservatives have treated them for years?

Though I wish it were not so, many will likely choose the latter. After all, conservatives havent cornered the market on fundamentalism.

See the original post:
Why Princeton's snub of Tim Keller should outrage progressives - Religion News Service