August 11 1997

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Marriage-minded homosexual college students are finding that their universitychapels are in some cases off-limits for same-sex-union ceremonies.

A controversy arose at Emory University in Atlanta when Dean William Murdyat Oxford (Ga.) College, a branch of Emory, did not allow a homosexual "marriage"in May.

Murdy explained that the university and its chapel remain affiliated withthe United Methodist Church (UM), which does not allow suchceremonies.

However, Emory President William Chace apologized to the homosexual couple,saying that preventing same-sex marriages on campus violates Emory'snondiscrimination policy, and overruled Murdy's decision. The North GeorgiaUnited Methodist conference, rather than the board of trustees, called onChace to reverse his decision.

Then the 39-member Emory board of trustees, which includes five United Methodistbishops, issued a compromise statement on June 19. The board affirmed theuniversity's equal opportunity statement, but announced that, in the future,um pastors rather than school officials will have the authority to determinewhat type of religious ceremonies take place in the Emory and Oxford chapels.