Pastors, preachers and reverends will unite tonight to try to bring the subjects of homosexuality and spirituality a little closer together.

Their goal is to extend a helping hand to students who feel lost or confused about their beliefs and stance on the subject.

“There has not been enough controlled conversation about this subject that a lot of people are very passionate about,” said Dan Brown, forum participant and Episcopal Student Center chaplain.

“I don’t know if it will help convince anyone to change their views, but it’s a more gentle way of handling a subject that really has only been discussed by the two groups screaming at each other – on each side of a huge divide, metaphorically.”

A controlled and calm space to discuss hot-button issues is exactly what the forums are intended to provide, according to the coordinator of the Ideas and Issues division of the University Union.

“I do not know if the purpose of the event is to change ideas, affirm opinions on each side or to even find common ground,” Jonathan Gibson said in an e-mail interview.

“Ideas and Issues simply wants to provide the opportunity to foster the voices for all sides of the argument and bring this topic to the table.”

To represent multiple viewpoints on the issue of homosexuality’s place in religion, the Ideas and Issues committee sent an invitation to participate to all of the University campus ministries and compiled a diverse group of volunteers.

“We are fortunate to have various ideas represented since the respondents all have different backgrounds on the issue,” Gibson said.

He described the forum as an important event for all interested in the topic. However, he believes it will be particularly helpful for students who find themselves caught in the crossfire between the two sides and are struggling with their own beliefs.

This sentiment of helping students find their beliefs is echoed by forum member and reverend of Our Hope Metropolitan Community Church, Renee DuBose. But, her mission is a little more LGBT community-specific.

“I think the forum is important because people of faith who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender need to know that there is a place for them in the faith community – and especially in the Christian faith,” she said.

“We believe that being LGBT is a gift of God and that we were created this way as members of society and should be valued as members of the faith community.”