Human Sexuality and Gender Identity Policy

I. Scope

This policy applies all employees, all undergraduate students studying at IWU’s residential campus, and all students living on IWU’s residential campus.

II. Policy Statement

Education in Community 

Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic community whose mission is to develop students in character, scholarship, and leadership.  As Christian scholars and educators, we are called to seek deeper understanding of our identity as beings created in the image of God, to use our gifts of inquiry and teaching to contribute to the well-being of our world, and to personally grow more mature and complete in our love for God and others.

We are committed to the holistic growth and development of our students.  Central to the growth and development provided by the residential learning experience are the discipline, encouragement, and accountability we receive when we choose to align ourselves with a community that collectively pursues Christlikeness in an academic environment.  Although each member of the community is an individual free moral agent, we believe that the pursuit of intellectual and spiritual growth is enhanced by life within a healthy community of faith.  As members of such a community we welcome discussions of different viewpoints and experiences, but we commit ourselves to uphold the common behavioral standards of our Christian community.  Such a focus mandates that we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength while also loving our neighbors as ourselves.

In order to best serve all students, and to create a place of scholarship and learning that honors Christ, Indiana Wesleyan University is committed to maintaining an environment in which every community member experiences respect for their dignity and worth.  In practice, this means that we refuse to condone disparaging language, harassment or bullying of one another.  Failure to uphold this commitment to maintain a respectful environment will lead to appropriate corrective action.  

Community Expectations and Guidelines Regarding Sexuality

Indiana Wesleyan University grounds all scholarship and learning in our shared faith in Jesus Christ, our understanding of Biblical truth, and our shared commitment to the behavioral commitments of our church community, The Wesleyan Church.  We acknowledge that God has created us as male and female beings who are responsible to God for our understanding and expression of our sexuality.  We believe that human sexuality is an expression of God’s love.  We affirm the goodness of sexuality, the importance of chastity and fidelity, and the centrality of the Christian sacrament of marriage.  We affirm that God’s plan for marriage and sexual fulfillment can only be found within the context of marriage between one man and one woman.  

All employees of Indiana Wesleyan University, all undergraduate students studying at the University’s residential campus, and all students living on the residential campus, therefore agree to abide by the Biblical standards of behavior articulated by The Wesleyan Church. With regard to sexuality and marriage this means that we agree to refrain from inappropriate sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman.  We also agree to refrain from gender presentation that is incongruent with one's gender at birth.  Failure to abide by this community commitment will lead to appropriate inquiry, discernment, and action by the relevant university offices.  

It is expected that all student housing at IWU will be assigned on the basis of one's gender at birth.  The university reserves the right to provide alternate housing arrangements if, in its judgment, circumstances warrant such an approach.  

Forums for Prayer, Discernment, and Support

As a Christian university in the Wesleyan tradition, Indiana Wesleyan University calls all of its students, staff, and faculty to lives of faith, hope and God’s love.  Our community is committed to supporting all of its members in the midst of their particular journey to live flourishing lives of holiness.

Therefore, in order to best fulfill our calling to nurture the development of our students we provide forums for discernment, guidance, support and prayer for those who are seeking to understand their sexuality and wish to learn better how to live lives of sexual purity.

III. Related Information

Toward Family: “To follow the teachings of the Scriptures regarding marriage and divorce. We affirm that sexual relationships outside of marriage and sexual relationships between persons of the same sex are immoral and sinful.” (Wesleyan Church Discipline, 2012, 265:5)

Human Sexuality: "The Wesleyan Church abhors the trend to ignore God’s laws of chastity and purity, and vigorously opposes public acceptance of sexual promiscuity and all factors and practices which promote it. The Wesleyan church maintains a biblical view of human sexuality which makes the sexual experience, within the framework of marriage, a gift of God to be enjoyed as communion of a man and woman, as well as for the purpose of procreation. Sexual relationships outside of marriage and sexual relationships between persons of the same sex are immoral and sinful. The depth of the sinfulness of homosexual practice is recognized, and yet we believe the grace of God sufficient to overcome both the practice of such activity and the perversion leading to its practice.” (Wesleyan Church Discipline, 2012, 410:5)