Duke Allows Same-Sex Unions in Chapel

D U R H A M, N.C., Dec. 6, 2000 -- Duke University will allow same-sexcommitment ceremonies in its famous gothic chapel, a move cheeredby some students and criticized by others.

Duke President Nan Keohane and the Rev. William Willimon, deanof Duke Chapel, announced Tuesday that they agree with the changerecommended by a committee of faculty, staff, students andtrustees.

“We ought to allow these unions to be celebrated by thoseclergy who are allowed, by their religious communities, toofficiate at such ceremonies,” wrote Keohane and Willimon.

Duke currently allows same-sex unions on other areas of thecampus, including in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and at the FreemanCenter for Jewish Life.

“The chapel policy is emblematic of the inequity stunting ourability to top the charts of premier universities,” said JordanBazinsky, student government president.

Duke is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, whichprohibits same-sex ceremonies. But the school said the chapel is a“university facility” not tied to any particular denomination.

Unitarians, United Church of Christ members and some Baptistswant to conduct same-sex ceremonies at the chapel. Like marriages,same-sex unions will be limited to students, staff, alumni andfaculty.

Students Supported Move

Duke’s student government issued a report this fall advocating achange in chapel policy “so that all students have access tochapel usage.”

The report cited Emory, Harvard and Stanford universities, allof which it said allow such ceremonies. Wake Forest Universityallowed a lesbian couple to hold a same-sex union in its chapel inSeptember.

“Duke is taking a step toward being a more inclusive place,”said Karen Krahulik, director of Duke’s Center for Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual & Transgender Life.

Bishop Marion Edwards of the North Carolina Conference of theUnited Methodist Church said Tuesday that the chapel has never beenbound by church policies. But he said the decision conflicts withthe church’s official stance on homosexuality.

“While acknowledging the sacred worth of homosexual persons andcalling for their basic human rights and civil liberties, I upholdthe teaching of the church that marriage is between one man and onewoman,” Edwards said in a release.

Leaders in the Duke Conservative Union student group opposed themove, saying the school is undermining the family and violating therights of religious students.

“This issue is not finished,” said Eric Adler, a unionspokesman.