Lina, an SCMer from Montreal, recently participated in a peace building conference put on by the Korean Student Christian Federation and the World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific region.

The South Korean delegate attending the WSCF conference in Seoul shared how fellow students supported the discriminated LGBT students in their university by attending chapel dressed in the colours of the Pride flag. After the service they took a photo of themselves in the chapel holding a Pride flag, and posted this image online.

For this they received backlash from conservative commenters and their university has taken disciplinary action against them for “promoting homosexuality”.  Read more on the topic here.

The following letter was delivered on behalf of SCM Canada to their university at a press conference on August 24, 2018, organized by the KSCF.
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310 Dupont Street, Suite 200
Toronto, ON
M5R 1V9
Tel: +1 (416) 463-7622
Email: info@scmcanada.org

Web: scmcanada.org

22 AUGUST 2018

Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary
25-1 Gwangjangro 5-gil
Gwangjingu Seoul 04965 Korea

To the President and Disciplinary Committee of the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary (PUTS),

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we were perturbed to hear the stories of members of our partner organization the Korean Student Christian Federation.

As siblings and friends we stand behind the actions of the students who made a demonstration for anti discrimination and hate on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) on May 17, 2018.

We believe God calls us, as Christians, to solidarity with marginalized people, including sexual minorities. God, and Christ, calls us to care for those who are different from us when they are amongst us.

Leviticus 19:33-34 and 24:22 – “When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.  The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt:  I am the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 10:18-19 – “For the Lord your God…loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.  You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Jeremiah 7:5-7 – “If you do not oppress the alien…then I will dwell with you in this place…”

Romans 12:13 – “Mark of the true Christian: … Extend hospitality to strangers…”

The unnecessary severity of their punishment does not correspond to the actions for which they are being punished. These students quietly and peaceful make a nonverbal statement for support and kindness, yet they are met with unkindness by their teachers and mentors. This both infringes on their freedom of speech and expression, but also disciplines them for simply sharing God’s love.

If this is how you educate and form the future clergy of the Presbyterian Church of Korea then we feel a deep sadness. Your church has historically stood for the Good News of Jesus Christ, whose radical love transformed the world. You betray that Good News when you show so little love to your students and the sexual minorities whom they seek to extend God’s love to.

The Students of SCM Canada