by: Drew Zahn
Christian students at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., are fighting an administration policy that dictates “all comers” be eligible for leadership in student organizations, even if they don’t share the groups’ faith.
In fact, under the policy put into effect earlier this year, campus
groups’ leadership requirements can no longer “discriminate” on race,
faith, gender or sexual orientation, leading many to question whether
men could be elected to lead sororities or Muslims to lead Bible
studies.
The Christian Legal Society, or CLS, explains an administration email earlier this week denied an already existing group’s application to keep its recognition because its constitution lists as one of its criteria for officer selection a “personal commitment to Jesus Christ.”
Now 11 religious organizations – including groups like Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity – must decide whether they should continue under the new policy, become “unofficial” organizations or leave campus altogether. Two Catholic organizations have already packed their bags and left.
“By mandating the elimination of a Christian group’s standard of ‘personal commitment to Jesus Christ,’ Vanderbilt requires students to abandon their religious integrity and undermines their religious freedoms,” a CLS statement asserts. “Leadership is crucial to the direction of any organization. Eliminating the requirement of a commitment to Jesus Christ in leaders takes away the group’s ability to effectively fulfill its purpose and continue its ministry. By forcing religious groups to choose between remaining on campus and upholding their religious convictions, the university inhibits the development of a community based on freedom and inclusivity.”
“If we can’t ask our leaders to be religious,” asked Vanderbilt junior Pieter Valk, “what’s the point of our group?”
The video itself can be seen below:
read more: http://www.wnd.com/2012/04/campus-christians-forced-to-accept-muslim-leaders/
Christian students at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., are fighting an administration policy that dictates “all comers” be eligible for leadership in student organizations, even if they don’t share the groups’ faith.
The Christian Legal Society, or CLS, explains an administration email earlier this week denied an already existing group’s application to keep its recognition because its constitution lists as one of its criteria for officer selection a “personal commitment to Jesus Christ.”
Now 11 religious organizations – including groups like Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity – must decide whether they should continue under the new policy, become “unofficial” organizations or leave campus altogether. Two Catholic organizations have already packed their bags and left.
“By mandating the elimination of a Christian group’s standard of ‘personal commitment to Jesus Christ,’ Vanderbilt requires students to abandon their religious integrity and undermines their religious freedoms,” a CLS statement asserts. “Leadership is crucial to the direction of any organization. Eliminating the requirement of a commitment to Jesus Christ in leaders takes away the group’s ability to effectively fulfill its purpose and continue its ministry. By forcing religious groups to choose between remaining on campus and upholding their religious convictions, the university inhibits the development of a community based on freedom and inclusivity.”
“If we can’t ask our leaders to be religious,” asked Vanderbilt junior Pieter Valk, “what’s the point of our group?”
The video itself can be seen below:
read more: http://www.wnd.com/2012/04/campus-christians-forced-to-accept-muslim-leaders/
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