Court Limits Campus Ministry
For Immediate Release
(Madison, WI) — InterVarsity Christian Fellowship will likely be impacted by the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in the case of Christian Legal Society v. Martinez. The ruling allows Hastings School of Law in San Francisco, a public institution, to refuse recognition to a campus Christian group which excludes from membership students who refuse to sign a statement of faith and adhere to the tenet that sexual activity should not occur outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Hastings policy states that all campus organizations must be open to all students at all levels.
"Today's decision is disappointing and will likely change the way we operate on some campuses," said InterVarsity president Alec Hill. "However, whether our chapters are recognized as official student groups or not, we are confident that God will continue to be at work transforming the lives of students and faculty across the country. We plan to continue to minister at both public and private schools. As we have for the past seven decades, we will be responsible campus citizens and pursue Truth prayerfully. We will do so with civility, humility and biblical integrity."
Although InterVarsity and the Christian Legal Society (CLS) work closely together on a number of law schools, InterVarsity's structure differs from that of CLS. InterVarsity chapters do not have members and invite broad participation of students and faculty with diverse views and values. However, chapter leaders are required to assent to our Doctrinal Basis, a position we have defended on a number of campuses.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is an interdenominational ministry working with students and faculty in 860 chapters on U.S. college and university campuses. InterVarsity is a founding member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students, advancing Christian student work in 150 countries.