WINTER PARK, FL - Rollins College in Florida told an on-campus Christian student group that they can no longer require their leaders to be Christian. Unless they change their policy, the group will not receive university subsidies nor will they be allowed to meet on campus. InterVarsity Fellowship's national field director Greg Jao said Rollins' decision is ominous for Christian college groups nationwide.
“Their actions suggest if you have strongly held religious beliefs – you are not welcome on the campus – particularly if you have any intention of living them out,” Jao said. “It suggests religion is an impermissible or a disfavored category that’s not worthy of the same protections as gender or sexual orientation.”
Indeed, Jao told Fox News, Rollins actions are discriminatory - against Christians.
“Ironically, in the pursuit of a tolerant and diverse environment on campus, Rollins is acting in intolerant ways that are excluding people,” Jao said.
It’s not the first time religious groups – specifically Christian groups – have run afoul of non-discrimination policies.
Earlier this year, the University of Michigan banned InterVarsity’s Asian chapter over the same issue. After intense national media attention and outrage from alumni, the university backtracked and agreed to recognize the group.
Last year 14 Christian groups left Vanderbilt University rather than comply with draconian demands to change their bylaws.
Jao said InterVarsity’s Vanderbilt chapter was one of those displaced groups. He said Christians there “feel disenfranchised, distinctly unwelcome.”
“”We feel that the religious voice on campus is being marginalized,” he told Fox News.
