Christian students ask court to stop SUNY Broome from dictating who can lead their ministry College locked InterVarsity out of campus life unless it surrenders who may lead its prayers and teaching

WASHINGTON – A public college has told a Christian student ministry it may operate on campus only if it is willing to let non-Christians lead its prayer, worship, and Bible teaching. Becket filed a federal lawsuit earlier this month on behalf of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship after SUNY Broome Community College denied the group official recognition because InterVarsity asks its student leaders to share its faith.

In InterVarsity Christian Fellowship v. SUNY Broome Community College, InterVarsity is now calling on the court to protect its right to choose faithful leaders and receive the same opportunities already open to every other student group as the new school year gets underway.

“InterVarsity exists to help students know Jesus, grow in their faith, and build friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Jake Sonner, member of InterVarsity Broome. “Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to be a Christian to walk through our door. We just ask that students who lead our prayers and worship actually share the faith they are helping others live out. A public college shouldn’t exclude us for that.”

InterVarsity is a nationwide Christian campus ministry touching the lives of more than 70,000 students and faculty annually through over 1,000 chapters. Its chapters welcome students of any faith or none. They ask only that student leaders—those charged with leading Bible studies, prayer, worship, and religious teaching—sincerely embrace its Christian beliefs. Recently, InterVarsity’s chapter at SUNY Broome sought official recognition so they could access meeting spaces, recruitment opportunities, funding, and other resources needed to build a lasting community. Without recognition, having a healthy club is essentially impossible.

But SUNY Broome shut down the recognition process because of InterVarsity’s Christian leadership requirement. The college told InterVarsity it could have a statement of faith in its constitution, but could not require the students leading its ministry to believe it. InterVarsity repeatedly asked the college to reconsider, pointing to court decisions around the country—including two involving InterVarsity chapters—protecting religious groups’ right to choose their own leaders, but SUNY Broome refused. With a new school year underway, Becket is asking the court to protect InterVarsity’s right to choose its own religious leaders and have a place on campus.

“Telling InterVarsity it can’t have Christian leaders is like telling a Yankees fan club that it has to let a Red Sox fan be president,” said Colten Stanberry, counsel at Becket and lead attorney for InterVarsity. “It’s nonsense, and it leaves New York students worse off. The First Amendment doesn’t let a public college pick the leaders of a religious ministry. We’re confident the court will agree.”

This is the third time in recent years that InterVarsity has been excluded by a public college for its leadership standards. Wayne State University and the University of Iowa did the same, with the latter excluding InterVarsity in a religious purge which targeted Christian, Muslim, and Sikh groups. Other student groups nationwide have faced similar issues. Federal courts have sided with the student groups, though generally after significant litigation.

A hearing on InterVarsity’s request for a preliminary injunction is expected this fall.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Ryan Colby at [email protected] or 202-349-7219.