Arizona Christian University pledges action after LGBTQ Activist School Board strikes down partnership

OAN Deven Berryhill
UPDATED 3:00 PM PT – Monday, March 6, 2023

Arizona Christian University President Len Munsil fired back at the Washington Elementary School Board for their decision to end an 11-year contact calling it “wrong” And “unlawful.”

“The school board’s recent decision to ban ACU students from serving as student teachers was done for one reason only: our university’s commitment to our Christian convictions,” In a Monday statement, President Munsil stated that he was addressing The Christian Post. “That’s wrong, it’s unlawful, and it will only hurt the district’s students.”

Tamillia Valenzuela from Arizona was a school board member who argued in front of the district council last week that ACU should not renew her 11-year-old-long contract to hire teachers. The renewal could cause negative consequences for the district council, she said. “herself and the other two board members who are a part of the LGBTQ community.”

Valenzuela claimed on camera that her feelings were shared by the other. “queer kids” Her district would be: “personal danger” If they were ACU alumni.

ACU President Munsil claimed that ACU never faced any issues with Arizona’s student teachers or the Arizona school system. He stated that over 100 ACU alumni have been appointed to full-time teaching jobs during this 11-year-old partnership.

Munsil noted that ACU graduates have been sought by many Arizona administrators to teach and manage in Washington Elementary School District.

“The American Council is committed to pour financial resources into the Washington Elementary School District School Board Race in 2024 to elect competent, balanced, and family-centered leaders who focus on education and not politics,” Tanner DiBella is president and chair of the American Council In a tweet “Religious liberty and freedom of conscience are bedrock American principles. We are exploring our options to defend the rights of our students.”

The ACU application requires that students provide written testimony. A written testimony from each potential student is required to show that they have lived a Christian lifestyle easily recognized by others. Candidates should belong to a regular church aligned with Orthodox Christianity.

According to the ACU website, “[The] goal of Arizona Christian University is to cultivate the spiritual life of each student and to prepare each student for Christian service; therefore, it is required that applicants have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Nikkie Waley, President of Washington School Board stated last week at a board meeting that some members have expressed opposition to the school board’s renewal of its partnership with ACU.

“For me, this is not a concern about Christianity, there are plenty of Christian denominations who are LGBTQ friendly. So, I want to make it clear that, for me, my pause is not that they’re Christian so much as this particular institution’s strong anti-LGBTQ stance, and their strong belief that you believe this to your core, and you take it out into the world,” The board’s president stated this.

Gomez-Whaley stated that ACU student teachers cannot separate Christian beliefs from professional obligations. “unable to treat students equally.”

According to some reports, President Munsil has spoken to Councils about the unrenewed teacher contract.

“Religious liberty and freedom of conscience are bedrock American principles. We are exploring our options to defend the rights of our students,” President Munsil.