The California State University system recently banned InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, one of the most well-known campus ministries in universities nationwide, on the basis of failing to adhere to a non-discrimination policy enforced by the California State Universities.
The issue arose as a result of the fact that InterVarsity requires its student leaders to adhere to Christian doctrines.
“No campus shall recognize any fraternity, sorority, living group, honor society, or other student organization unless its membership and leadership are open to all currently enrolled students at that campus,” reads the California State University policy.
As a result, InterVarsity has been de-recognized from 23 universities, restricting their free access to rooms on campus and being a part of club fairs. Being a recognized student organization also brings legitimacy to the campus ministry in the eyes of students and faculty, as InterVarsity stated in their video to their ministry partners, and InterVarsity now may be affected in that sense as well.
“This new CSU policy does not allow us to require that our leaders be Christian,” read the statement on the InterVarsity website. “It is essentially asking InterVarsity chapters to change the core of their identity, and to change the way they operate in order to be an officially recognized student group.”
In order to gain access to rooms and have as much of a presence on campus as much as any recognized student organization, InterVarsity will have to raise up to $20,000 for each chapter location for each school year to come.
“While we are disappointed, we know God is sovereign,” InterVarsity stated. “He holds the decisions of Cal State and the future of our chapters in His hands. We believe He hears our laments and our requests for intervention.”
Alec Hill, the president of InterVarsity, expressed concern that “this could be the tipping point of other university systems moving in this direction.”
“As we move into this uncharted territory, we would appreciate your continued support,” InterVarsity said to its partners. “We need thousands of people to pray for the students and staff as they try to declare the good news in word, deed, and power. They need creativity now that the rules have changed. They need perseverance as they try new things, and they need God’s favor as they try to reach students in untested ways.”
“We may be unrecognized in the coming year, but we will not be off-campus,” InterVarsity explained.
“Our position will cost us, but … the campus access challenge gives students an opportunity to say, ‘Some might be afraid to pay the price, but not this generation of world changers.’”
