(RNS) — A coalition of LGBTQ alumni of Point Loma Nazarene University — a private Christian liberal arts college in San Diego — is protesting the firing of the dean of the university’s school of theology, who they say was dismissed for siding with an adjunct professor who was let go due to her own public support for the LGBTQ community.Mark Maddix, the dean for the school of theology and Christian ministry, was fired on March 15 by the university’s chief academic officer, Kerry Fulcher, according to an April 5 statement released by alumna Lauren Cazares, who founded Loma LGBTQIA+ Alumni & Allies Coalition earlier this year.
“With no previous disciplinary actions or concerns, Dr. Mark Maddix was fired due to what the provost claims as ‘insubordination’ for his support of former adjunct professor and minister Melissa Tucker,” Cazares said. Instead, the statement charges, Maddix was fired “for not standing by the homophobic and discriminatory decision,” to remove Tucker from her adjunct position.
Lora Fleming, the university’s communications director, said the school could not provide specific information on personnel issues but provided a statement saying the decision to suspend Maddix’s employment “was not based on anything related to the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Attorney Josh Gruenberg is representing Maddix as a result of his firing and told Religion News Service that he will prove th …
LGBTQ group condemns Point Loma Nazarene University for theology dean’s dismissal
