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CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University Socratic Club will feature a debate on the topic “Is Same-Sex Marriage Christian?” on Monday, Jan. 22, starting at 7 p.m. in LaSells Stewart Center on the main campus. The speakers are Todd Miles and the Rev. Wesley Mullins.

The speakers will present divergent points of view on whether same-sex couples should have the same right to marry that heterosexual couples have, whether homosexual activity within a committed monogamous relationship is compatible with Christian teaching and whether the Bible allows for same-sex relationships.

Miles will argue that God has established marriage between a man and a woman as the defining sexual relationship. Mullins will argue that marriage is a basic human right, an individual choice, and something that same-sex couples can experience as a gift from God.

Miles is an assistant professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from OSU in nuclear engineering and a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mullins is an assistant pastor of Metropolitan Community Church in Portland, a member congregation of the largest predominantly LGBTQ denomination in the world. He holds an undergraduate degree from David Lipscomb University and a Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, where he graduated at the top of his class.

The debate is the third in the Socratic Club's fifth year as a student organization at OSU. It is modeled on the original Socratic Club, which was founded at Oxford University in 1941 by C. S. Lewis.

Each speaker is given 20 minutes to present one side of an issue, after which the two discuss their differences before the floor is opened to questions from members of the audience. Two events are planned for each quarter.