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College Group Told to Eliminate 'Personal Commitment to Jesus' in Bylaws
christianpost.com ^ | Alex Murashko

Posted on 04/27/2012 9:23:36 PM PDT by Iam1ru1-2

A Christian student group at Vanderbilt University has been told by the school's administration that it will lose its recognized status on campus unless the group removes its requirement that its leaders have a "personal commitment to Jesus Christ," says a Christian legal association.

Despite a discussion with school officials at the beginning of the year that led members of the group to believe their bylaws were approved, the group was told last week that the university's new policy barring religious groups from selecting members and leaders based on faith requirements will disqualify the group next school year.

The Christian Legal Society told The Christian Post on Friday that the small Christian student group, which wants to stay anonymous, received an email from the administration last Tuesday that stated that the group's application to keep its recognition was deficient because the group's constitution states the following:

"Criteria for officer selection will include level and quality of past involvement, personal commitment to Jesus Christ, commitment to the organization, and demonstrated leadership ability."

CLS said that the student group was told that in order to retain recognition, it must eliminate the requirement that leaders have a "personal commitment to Jesus Christ." The private university, located in Nashville, Tenn., dictated that the following sentence be substituted instead:

"Criteria for officer selection will include level and quality of past involvement, commitment to the organization, and demonstrated leadership ability."

Although they do not want to bring attention to themselves, the issue with Christian organizations at Vanderbilt has become enough of a problem on campus that the group does want to let others know about the situation, said CLS spokesperson Kim Colby.

"When they went over their constitution on Jan. 31 they had been told that their constitution is fine. This past Tuesday, they were told it's not fine unless you take out these five words: 'a personal commitment to Jesus Christ,' requirement for your leaders," Colby told CP. "They were told they would not be recognized next year which means they cannot reserve space, or attend the student fair, or be a part of email blasts from the college."

Recently, Christian students at Vanderbilt University organized a video campaign highlighting their concern for the university's new policy that they say discriminates against Christians.

The nearly seven-minute video features several university students, alumni, and sponsors speaking on their rights to freely express their religious association, and the importance of electing religious leaders to the university's student run organizations.

The video also claims that there is a disparity in university requirements for Greek organizations and religious organizations, as the university allows Greek organization to "discriminate" for leadership and membership positions.

Students protesting the "all-comers" policy have formed the group Vanderbilt Solidarity, consisting of 11 Christian groups and supported by the Alliance Defense Fund.

The 11 Christian groups that have formed the alliance include Asian American Christian Fellowship, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Cru, Medical Christian Fellowship, Navigators, Graduate Christian Fellowship, Bridges International, Lutheran Student Fellowship, Every Nation Ministries, Beta Upsilon Chi, and Christian Legal Society, according to Inside Vandy, Vanderbilt University's student newspaper.

Colby said that some Catholic student groups have decided not to try and reinstate themselves for next year and that some groups from the alliance have decided to comply with the university's new policy.

"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," states CLS. "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," CLS officials insisted. "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."

University officials continue to stand by the "all-comers" policy, arguing that the policy was initiated to prevent discrimination, and is not an issue of religious freedom.

"This debate is about nondiscrimination, not religious freedom, and we stand behind our policy," Beth Fortune, vice chancellor for public affairs at the university, previously told The Washington Post.

A comment from university officials about the administration's recent action could not be obtained at press time.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: christophbia; christophobia; persecution; religiousfreedom; vanderbilt
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To: BillyBoy
That makes as much sense as having an "Computer club" that forbids members to buy non-Apple products.

Actually computer clubs should forbid members from using Apple Products. Most computer Geeks wouldn't be caught dead using an Apple. They prefer PC's with Linux.

21 posted on 04/28/2012 12:15:12 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (Virgil Goode! Because everyone else is Bad!)
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To: BillyBoy
Not to mention Catholics, Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, and various other non-Calvinist protestants. In other words, the vast majority of practicing Christians would not be allowed to join such a "Christian" club.

So if that were actually the requirement to join one of the Christian Clubs at Vanderbilt, would you support the University if they prevented the club from making that a requirement of membership?

22 posted on 04/28/2012 12:17:41 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (Virgil Goode! Because everyone else is Bad!)
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To: DaveyB

Amen!


23 posted on 04/28/2012 12:20:39 AM PDT by ssschev
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To: BigCinBigD
Who but a Christian would want to join such a thing.

A community agitator.

24 posted on 04/28/2012 12:28:23 AM PDT by TigersEye (Life is about choices. Your choices. Make good ones.)
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Wasn’t Vanderbilt established by a Christian church?


25 posted on 04/28/2012 12:54:19 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again.")
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Students, parents and alumni should strike back with the only thing these atheists understand - money. Run, don’t walk, to a schol that doesn’t persecute Christians. Withhold contributions. Pay tuition to another school.

Watch the conversion rate among the atheists when they suddenly lose a million dollars, two million and five million.


26 posted on 04/28/2012 1:55:46 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: Iam1ru1-2

There should be wholesale firings and replacement of the entire Administration over this fscist nonsense. Surely many if us are sick & tired of this crap!


27 posted on 04/28/2012 3:05:29 AM PDT by Da Mav
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To: Iam1ru1-2

There should be wholesale firings and replacement of the entire Administration over this fscist nonsense. Surely many if us are sick & tired of this crap!


28 posted on 04/28/2012 3:05:41 AM PDT by Da Mav
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To: Iam1ru1-2

This is what passes for higher education in our country today.

Telling a Christian organisation that they cannot force members to believe in Christ.


29 posted on 04/28/2012 4:06:31 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Republican Wildcat

Bump.

Government teachers union socialists have adopted an anti-America agenda.

Time to view them, and treat them, as an enemy.

Start, by eliminating “tenure”. Then shut them down, and start over.

Liberals have destroyed, what was once the world’s finest education system.

And our side, has done nothing about it.

Nothing.


30 posted on 04/28/2012 4:13:41 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (Obama ate his own dog as a child in Indonesia??)
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Matthew 10:33

English Standard Version (ESV)

33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.


31 posted on 04/28/2012 4:45:28 AM PDT by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
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To: Iam1ru1-2

Welcome to the USSA, comrades, where The State is the only allowable God.


32 posted on 04/28/2012 4:46:50 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: fella
Wasn’t Vanderbilt established by a Christian church?

It was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South in 1872 and funded by Cornelius Vanderbilt who was the wealthiest man in America at that time.

33 posted on 04/28/2012 4:48:24 AM PDT by mc5cents
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To: P-Marlowe; DaveyB; Gamecock; wmfights; Dr. Eckleburg; Alamo-Girl; betty boop

The article points out that the Greek organizations are permitted to be explicit about their leadership. I would assume they’re permitted to insist that the leader be a member of the group. A 3D leader has to be a 3D.

Just my guess. Don’t know if I’m right or not.

The Christian group, though, covers a lot of Christian denominations. That’s probably why they went general with: “must have a personal commitment”. My guess is they were trying to parallel the “must be a Lamda” thing that the Greeks get away with.

I think I’d say they use: “must be a member (or equivalent term used by) of some Christian church”.


34 posted on 04/28/2012 6:54:40 AM PDT by xzins (Vote Goode Not Evil! (the lesser of 2 evils is still evil))
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To: Venturer

“This is what passes for higher education in our country today.

Telling a Christian organisation that they cannot force members to believe in Christ.”

Good Comment, Venturer

I have one question, why are the Christian students still at that place? If my God is not welcome somewhere, it is not a place for me, either.


35 posted on 04/28/2012 7:17:56 AM PDT by Tomato lover (Jesus is Lord)
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To: Tomato lover

Good Point.


36 posted on 04/28/2012 7:27:44 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: Iam1ru1-2
In the years prior to the American Civil War, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South was considering creating a regional university for the training of ministers located centrally for the congregations of the church.

*************

How far our once-noble Christian institutions have fallen...
Sad to see...

RECOMMENDATION:
Sniff around a little...
...findout which desk-jockey radical is driving all the PC nonsense...

Perhaps invite them to update their resume...

Things on the campus would settle right down, I s'pect.

37 posted on 04/28/2012 7:38:36 AM PDT by Wings-n-Wind (The main things are the plain things!)
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To: ThomasThomas; Republican Wildcat

It’s a private university that receives huge quantities of state and federal funding.

They’ve already indicated their contempt for those who embrace history and heritage, so the attack on Christianity should come as no surprise.


38 posted on 04/28/2012 7:48:40 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: BigCinBigD
I don’t see the point in telling a Christian group they can’t have Christian bylaws. Who but a Christian would want to join such a thing.

They want to make it possible for homofascists to take the groups over the groups, and destroy them from within. 

39 posted on 04/28/2012 9:22:00 AM PDT by zeugma (Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.)
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To: P-Marlowe
The "Christian Club" would have to change its name to "Calvinist society of Vanderbilt University" if it enacted the requirements you want, since the vast majority of practicing Christians (whether Catholic, Orthodox, or Protesant) are not calvinist and would therefore be ineligibile for membership since they DO NOT agree with the statement of the larger Westminster Confession.

It would be no different than requiring people to sign an oath that they believe in the Book of Mormon in order to join the "Christian Club". That's not "Christian", it's LDS. No one would agree to do so unless they're members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And no one is going to pledge support for the Westminster Confession unless they're Calvinists.

Fortuntantely, I can't think of any "Christian club" at any university that has such a requirement. I have no problem with the club requiring members accept Jesus Christ as their as Lord and savior. EVERY practicing Christian does that.

40 posted on 04/28/2012 10:43:44 AM PDT by BillyBoy (Illegals for Perry/Gingrich 2012 : Don't be "heartless"/ Be "humane")
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