On March 15, Point Loma Nazarene University dean Dr. Mark Maddix was fired by Kerry Fulcher, the provost and chief academic officer, allegedly because he supported former adjunct professor and minister Melissa Tucker, who’d been told she wouldn’t be rehired as a professor because of her public support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Those actions have led the university’s LGBTQIA+ community to cry foul. They have questioned the motives of the university in not rehiring Tucker, firing Maddix, and allegedly “undermining the rights” of LGBTQIA+ students and their allies on the campus of PLNU, a private Christian college in Point Loma.

In a widely published op-ed piece, Tucker wrote: “Though the Church of the Nazarene made strides in its 2017 revision of its manual document regarding those in the LBGTQIA+ community, I was increasingly discontented with the tension between the church’s overall position regarding human sexuality and my own convictions. My firm belief is that God’s love is truly for ‘all’ people. I am thoroughly affirming of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Maddix, PLNU’s dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry, reportedly had no previous disciplinary actions before he was let go. He has subsequently hired attorney Josh Gruenberg to represent him.

“I have been retained by professor Maddix,” said Gruenberg. “We have evaluated the situation and determined that his termination was illegal under California law.”

“While we cannot provide specific details on personnel issues, especially with the threat of potential litigation, the decision to suspend Dr. Maddix’s employment was independent of anything related to LGBTQIA+,” responded PLNU’s administration in a statement.

Following is a Q&A with Lauren Cazares, founder of Loma LGBTQIA+ Alumni & Allies Coalition, offering their perspective on the PLNU situation.

Beacon: Tell us about your organization, why it was formed, and what its function is.

Cazares: The Loma LGBTQIA+ Alumni & Allies Coalition was formed as a safe space to support LGBTQIA+ alumni and for alumni to support current students, faculty, and staff. It is not formally affiliated with PLNU and there is not a formally affiliated LGBTQ+ alumni auxiliary, which is disappointing but as a coalition, we have more flexibility to criticize as needed. We are working to form a scholarship for LGBTQIA+ current and future students at PLNU.

Beacon: Seems like conflict between faculty and the university over doctrine, beliefs, etc. has been building for some time, is that true?

Cazares: There has always been a variety of thoughts from students, faculty, and staff regarding the doctrine and community covenant, not just regarding LGBTQIA+ issues, either. As being openly queer has become more socially acceptable and more people openly identify as LGBTQIA+, the conversations have begun moving out of living rooms and from behind closed doors and into the public domain. In my experience as a student at PLNU from 2016-2019, I found that most faculty were at minimum accepting and some were fully affirming. The recent situations have been all in 2023, but I have been told other faculty have left in recent years because they didn’t feel comfortable working for a place that continues to openly discriminate against an entire community.

Beacon: How has PLNU been “quietly undermining” the rights of LGBTQIA+ students and staff?

Cazares: An example I will point to is the addition to the PLNU Community Life Agreement that requires students to use the restroom of their sex assigned at birth. While it has always been explicit in not allowing ‘sex outside of a heterosexual marriage,’ until transgender issues became politicized, it was never explicit. This was not announced and was simply included in the agreement.

Beacon: What outcome are you seeking? What would you like to see happen now that this controversy has been brought out into the open?

Cazares: The coalition has a few key goals in this situation:

1) Kerry Fulcher must resign immediately.

2) Mark Maddix should be reinstated and Melissa Tucker should be offered the adjunct opportunity again, and they both deserve a formal apology.

3) Support and protect LGBTQIA+ students. This has ripped open healed wounds of alumni and crushed current LGBTQIA+ students. Many do not feel welcome or loved right now, and are feeling betrayed by a place they have given so much to. PLNU asks ‘Who are you called to be?’ but only accepts answers that fit within their confines. This must change.

4) Remove the word ‘heterosexual’ or add the word ‘homosexual’ to the statement that students, faculty, and staff cannot ‘have sex outside of a heterosexual marriage’ — if you can’t remove the entire statement itself.

Beacon: Is this situation at PLNU a precedent-setting one?

Cazares: It should be a precedent, yes. The work Seattle Pacific University LGBTQIA+ alumni and current students are doing right now is similar to the work we are doing here in San Diego. REAP, the Religious Exemption Accountability Project, is helping fight LGBTQIA+ discrimination at private religious universities. I don’t think any of these coalitions or projects are the first to sound the alarm on these issues. We are just louder and less willing to back down because we know the law and the court of public opinion are on our side. We aren’t asking anyone to change their beliefs, we are asking PLNU to stop the discrimination and stop firing our allies. If PLNU truly wants to be a place where students flourish, they must change.

Excerpts from Point Loma Nazarene University’s student handbook:

PLNU seeks to be a community where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons are treated with dignity, grace, and holy love in the Spirit of Christ. We recognize the complexity of current issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. The university desires to faithfully care for all students while engaging these conversations with respect, care, humility, courage, and discernment.

 A student (or potential student) who needs assistance with matters related to gender identity (such as gender dysphoria, sexually ambiguous birth, legally altered birth documentation) is invited to discuss these concerns with the Associate Dean of Student Success and Wellness, who will provide support, care, and assistance in accessing university resources.