A British a cappella group, The King’s Singers, had their scheduled performance at Pensacola Christian College in Florida canceled with only two hours’ notice due to concerns over one of their member’s “lifestyle.” While the school did not specify the exact issue, the group said in a statement that it was related to the sexuality of their members. Pensacola Christian College later confirmed that it canceled the concert after it learned that “one of the artists openly maintained a lifestyle that contradicts Scripture.”
The college is a fundamentalist Christian institution that upholds Holy Scripture as its foundation. In its statement, the college said that while it recognizes everyone is created in the image of God and should be afforded the dignity of kindness, it cannot knowingly endorse anything that violates Holy Scripture, which is a sincerely held belief.
The King’s Singers said in their statement that they were aware of the school’s belief but believed that music could allow people with different views to come together. The group expressed disappointment at the cancellation, saying that this was the first time in its 55-year history that anything other than bad weather, the pandemic, or war has caused a concert cancellation. The group hoped that the incident would encourage a greater sense of love, acceptance, and inclusion.
The cancellation has raised questions about the balance between religious belief and artistic freedom. The King’s Singers said in their statement that they hope that any conversations that follow would help foster greater understanding and acceptance.
