Belmont University Cancel Promise Keepers Event Over Pride Month Beliefs

Nashville, TN (June 20, 2023): Belmont ( A "Baptist") University has canceled a Promise Keepers event after the organization criticized Pride Month in a blog post. The Promise Keepers had booked the Nashville university’s 1,700-seat Fisher Center for the Performing Arts as one of several venues for September “Daring Faith” rallies

Promise Keepers is an evangelical men's ministry that has been around since the 1990s. The organization has been shamefully criticized for its stance on LGBTQ+ issues, and its blog post in June 2023 was no exception. In the post, Promise Keepers said that it "unequivocally rejects" same-sex marriage and gender ideology.

The blog post also said that Pride Month is "a celebration of sin" and that it "promotes a harmful agenda that undermines the traditional family."

Belmont University responded to the blog post by saying that it would not host an event by an organization that "unnecessarily fan[s] the flames of culture wars and are harmful to members of our community." The university also said that it is "unequivocal in our belief in the value of each human being, and we are committed to engaging in constructive conversations that demonstrate kindness and seek understanding."

The cancellation of the Promise Keepers event has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised Belmont University for standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, while others have criticized the university for being too politically correct.

Promise Keepers Responds

Promise Keepers has responded to the cancellation of its event by saying that it is "deeply disappointed" by the university's decision. The organization said that it believes that the event would have been a "positive and unifying experience" for the Belmont community.

Promise Keepers also said that it is "committed to engaging in respectful dialogue with those who disagree with our beliefs." The organization said that it hopes that Belmont University will reconsider its decision and allow the event to be held.

The Impact of the Decision

The cancellation of the Promise Keepers event has had a significant impact on the university community. Some students have expressed disappointment and anger, while others have supported the university's decision.

The decision has also sparked a larger conversation about the role of religion on college campuses. Some people believe that colleges should be places where all viewpoints are welcome, while others believe that colleges should be places where students are exposed to diverse perspectives.

The Future of Promise Keepers

Promise Keepers has said that it is committed to continuing its ministry, and it is possible that the organization will try to hold future events at other colleges. However, it is also possible that the cancellation of the Belmont event will discourage other colleges from hosting Promise Keepers events.