From "The Family Foundation of Virginia" email of today. I administered my first baptism in the congregation I pastor in this Wren Chapel, a week or two before the cross was removed.
"The President of The College of William and Mary decided in October 2006 to make its famous campus chapel less "faith specific" and more "welcoming" by getting rid of the 18-inch brass cross that had been displayed on the altar since about 1940. Perhaps the college also sought the same goal when it hosted the Sex Worker's Art Show on its campus on Feb. 12.
"The College of William and Mary was founded by a King and Queen who were the head of the Christian Church in England at the time. While current President Gene Nichol blatantly disregarded the College's heritage, he argued that displaying the cross was offensive to students who were not Christians and that keeping it on display in Wren Chapel was 'endorsing a particular religious tradition to the exclusion of others.'
"While President Nichol believes that the trappings of Christianity may be too much for the delicate sensibilities of students and staff at William and Mary, it seems prostitutes and strippers are just fine-better than fine, actually. On February 12, the College hosted The Sex Workers' Art Show, which was a cabaret-style production featuring performers in "various stages of undress" who also happened to be employees or former employees of the sex industry. The "artists" presented live art exhibition that included spoken word, burlesque and multimedia performances. Sex-related issues and awareness of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community were addressed in the show.
"Perhaps the most appalling of all is that a large number of William and Mary students were required to attend the show. Several professors required students in their classes to attend the show, and all students enrolled in Introduction to Women's Studies and Performance Art Ensemble classes were required to attend, totaling at least 100 students.
"When asked about the sex show, President Nichol said, "I don't like this kind of show and I don't like having it here, but it's not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."
"It appears as though President Nichol doesn't really have a problem offending people, but he does have a problem with the cross of Jesus Christ."
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