On July 16, 2015, EMU's board would go on to add “sexual orientation” to their non-discrimination policy, allowing for the hiring of faculty and staff involved in same-sex marriages. The decision would put the school somewhat at odds with its affiliated denomination, the Mennonite Church USA, and out of step with the interests of the CCCU, of which it was a founding member. To spare the CCCU "significant division" within its ranks, EMU voluntarily withdrew its membership from the consortium and Swartzendruber would resign his position on the CCCU board. Prior to EMU's withdrawal of its membership, two member-schools – Union University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University - had resigned from the organization in protest.