Eastern Mennonite University flies a pride flag instead of the U.S. flag, and Mount St. Mary’s adds critical race theory to biblical studies — sparking a clash between tradition and cultural relevance.
Mennonite College Defies National Symbols
Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va. has never flown the U.S. flag or played “The Star‑Spangled Banner” at graduation because a 2006 policy bars allegiance to the flag, claiming it denies Christ.
Since 2022 the school has replaced the missing flag with a pride banner for its Lavender Graduation ceremony, a move that contradicts its own rule that forbids the flag.
University officials say the flag swap reflects an effort to appear welcoming, but the policy itself makes the choice appear contradictory.
CRT Invades Biblical Curriculum
A mandatory course at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. will teach critical race theory using biblical passages in August 2026, according to Campus Reform.
Students are asked to extract meanings from Scripture that do not naturally address race, forcing them to stretch or alter the text to fit a CRT framework.
Dr. Love L. Sechrest, author of Race and Rhyme: Rereading the New Testament, argues the New Testament comments on intergroup conflict, ethnoracial tension, and power dynamics, a claim that ignores the plain biblical narrative.
Culture‑War Missteps
Christian institutions waver because they fear losing relevance and offending donors, a pattern seen in recent decisions that prioritize cultural signaling over doctrine.
In 2018, contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle dodged a direct answer when asked whether homosexuality is a sin, saying she “can’t say one way or the other” and that she “has too many people I love who are homosexuals.”
Eastern Mennonite’s lavender graduations and pride flag display echo Daigle’s avoidance, substituting biblical fidelity with a desire to appear tolerant.
Critics note that the Bible records historical oppression — such as the Hebrews’ slavery in Egypt or Hagar’s mistreatment — without embedding critical race theory, yet the new courses project modern activist concepts onto the text.
