Seattle Pacific University Faces Governance Crisis as Trustees Resign and Lawsuit Challenges Anti-LGBTQ Hiring Policies

The Seattle Pacific University (SPU) board of trustees is facing significant upheaval as six members resign and a group of students, faculty, and staff file a lawsuit to remove another six trustees. The legal action, filed in Washington state court, centers on allegations that the defendants have used their positions to advance the interests of the Free Methodist Church (FMC), a conservative denomination with historical ties to the university but no legal or fiduciary connection. The plaintiffs argue that the trustees have upheld a hiring policy prohibiting employment of individuals in same-sex relationships, claiming this aligns with the FMC’s values.

The suit also highlights broader concerns, including racial disparities, declining enrollments, and reduced giving. These issues, the plaintiffs assert, have been exacerbated by the board’s actions, which they describe as fostering an environment hostile to inclusion and diversity. The defendants are accused of creating a “rogue board” that prioritizes denominational interests over the needs of the university’s diverse community.

The conflict reached a critical point in May when the board voted to retain the existing hiring practices, prompting protests from faculty and staff. At the June commencement ceremonies, some graduates handed Interim President Pat Memjares gay pride flags in exchange for their diplomas, a symbolic act of protest against the university’s policies. The plaintiffs claim the board’s vote was a farce that led to the resignation of half the board, including several Black trustees and other trustees of color.

The lawsuit includes statements from a queer, Black staff member who reportedly told the board shortly before resigning that the “rogue board, in upholding homophobia, are also ‘upholding a system of whiteness.’” The plaintiffs allege that the Black trustees, including the board chair, would have voted against the board’s actions and worked with allies to end the discriminatory employment policy.

The suit further accuses the trustees of affiliations with “extremist and supremacist organizations” that promote a form of white Christian supremacy. One such group, Alliance Defending Freedom, is described as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The plaintiffs argue that these affiliations have contributed to a harmful environment for SPU’s LGBTQ and BIPOC students and employees.

The state has also taken notice of the university’s discriminatory hiring practices, with the July actions indicating ongoing scrutiny. The situation at SPU underscores the complex interplay between institutional governance, religious values, and the rights of individuals within academic settings. As the legal battle unfolds, the case may have broader implications for the relationship between religious institutions and the organizations they historically supported.

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