Citing the College's commitment to creating an "inclusive environment," the Office of Multicultural Student Programs has decided to withdraw funding from chapel services hosted by Bowdoin Christian Fellowship (BCF).
The office's decision to withdraw funding was prompted by controversy surrounding the Sunday, September 18 service during which a visiting pastor, Sandy Williams, made comments that certain students found homophobic.
Pastors have been paid $100 per service for the past few years, said Associate Dean of Multicultural Student Programs Leana Amaez.
According to Bowdoin Student Government (BSG) President Derek Brooks, the Office of Student Activities will be compensating Williams, as an honorarium was promised.
BCF representatives declined to comment on its plans for paying future visiting pastors.
In an email to the Orient, Amaez said that there are several options for BCF to consider going forward.
"Recognized student organizations wishing to sponsor speakers and presentations at Bowdoin have many other funding sources, including the SAFC, BSG, Class Councils, the Lecture and Concerts Committee, and individual departments," she said.
BCF has not approached BSG about funding, but according to Brooks, both the BSG and SAFC are open to the club's requests.
"Students should not have to pay for student activities out of pocket if they're appealing to a wide variety of people," he said. "Students need to be thoughtful about what type of speakers are coming in, but we don't have a problem with people bringing controversial [speakers] to campus," Brooks said.
"The Office of Multicultural Student Programs works to make Bowdoin an inclusive environment for all students," wrote Amaez, "so it is really not appropriate for us to support messages or programs that contradict these aims."
"People need to [be] responsible for that if students have questions or if students are uncomfortable," Brooks added.
Brooks could not recall a proposal in recent past—especially one related to faith and spirituality—that the BSG has refused to fund. He said that most proposals that are turned down are unreasonable food requests.
"They have to figure out what as a group they want, and then we'll support them," he said.