By Staff
To the editor:
Dear Mr. Hendrie and YMCA Board,
I find myself in a most uncomfortable position today after reading the news stories reported in both the South Bend Tribune (4/8/09) and the Niles Daily Star (4/13/09) where it was stated that the YMCA's definition of the family was being redefined as "up to two adults who occupy the household, no matter what their sex." After writing an initial note of inquiry (4/10/09), I received your brief form letter in which you gave an explanation of the reasoning behind the decision. In a sincere desire for further understanding and clarity, I wrote to you once again on May 3, 2009; I regret that to date I have received no reply. I understand from your first response (dated April 22, 2009), that the redefinition of the family was not your "intention," and that you in no way wanted to "concern me." The heart of my contention is that this issue has very little to do with upsetting me at all. As you know by your records, my family has never been able to afford a traditional family membership, a fact that has never made us feel discriminated against nor "turned away," I offer my thoughts based simply upon their own merits.
Even though you stated that "Our YMCA is not trying or attempting to redefine the Biblical definition of family," that is nonetheless precisely what is happening. By stating that the Niles branch is merely bringing its "policies into line with what many of our YMCA counterparts have done as well as our National Office," you are unfortunately giving pragmatic, political reasons rather than Biblical, historical, or logical ones.
Once again, if the overarching concern of the local Young Men's Christian Association Board is merely financial, then just restructure your rates or make concessions at your discretion (something that both the Niles Daily Star and South Bend Tribune reported is already done on a regular basis). I understand that you, as well as other YMCAs across the United States are under tremendous political pressure to conform to societal trends. This pressure was demonstrated vividly in an article in the Demoines Register Newspaper (Demoines, Iowa, 8/7/07) which reported the case of a lesbian couple who filed a human rights complaint against the YMCA there, and succeeded in getting the definition of "family" changed in that case. It has even been rumored "on the street" that there may have been parties (who would have no need of additional financial subsidy) that exerted similar pressures against our local YMCA board in this case; is this true? If it is, please do not cloak your decision in financial language while also using terms such as "discrimination" as Mr. Schuman did in his April 13 Niles Daily Star interview. If the discrimination were merely financial, the only logical solution would be to open the doors of the "Y" to all, at absolutely no cost; thereby leaving no one feeling excluded. We both know however, that this is simply not the case.
Please, if you or Mr. Schuman were misquoted or misrepresented in any way by either of the two local newspaper reports, please let us know. Misunderstanding is precisely why I am writing instead of having a casual, "off-the-record" conversation. Spoken words have a way of fading away into obscure memory, whereas ink tends to retain our original intent. I understand more and more each day why God Himself committed His Word to writing for us to follow … and even then look what we do with it.
There are, to be sure, many fitness organizations in the world; all with wide-open membership policies. However, if the board of the Niles-Buchanan Young Men's Christian Association should decide to hold to this historic change, it may also be advisable to entertain a motion to find a different designation for the "C"; perhaps "community", "cardio-fitness", or some other relevant term. It is the "C"; after all, that has inspired this entire discussion.
I truly pray that the YMCA will stand as a beacon to the world, and not become merely a reflection of it.
Praying daily for you all,
Michiana Christian Embassy
Niles