Symposium: “The (Rainbow) Elephant in the Email: How Sexual Orientation Shapes Churches' Treatment of Potential New Members“ and ”Same-Sex Marriage, Sacrament, and Sanctuary”

St. Norbert College faculty will offer brief presentations on their scholarship and creative work related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. This hourlong session includes two presentations as well as time for Q&A; feel free to come and go as you’re able.

Note for faculty and instructors: If you plan to attend this session with a class, please register for yourself and all your students so organizers can have an accurate headcount. 

Laura Krull (Sociology) presents “The (Rainbow) Elephant in the Email: How Sexual Orientation Shapes Churches' Treatment of Potential New Members”
Most Christian denominations in the U.S. retain official statements claiming homosexuality to be incompatible with Christianity, but does that translate to unequal treatment of potential new members? In this presentation, I will share findings from my dissertation research examining how church representatives respond to emails from straight and from LG couples. Overall, I find more similarity than difference, suggesting that the polarizing rhetoric we hear from denominations may be less salient to local congregations who need to recruit new members.

Bridget Burke Ravizza (Theology and Religious Studies) presents “Same-Sex Marriage, Sacrament, and Sanctuary”
I will discuss research I conducted with twenty-two same-sex, married couples who have a meaningful relationship to the Catholic tradition. I will share some of what I learned from the couples about marriage and about what it means to "be church" when the Body of Christ is diverse.

 

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