Vanderbilt University:  Christian Led Groups Can’t Require Leaders to Have Specific Beliefs

Vandy’s school of theology is just as lib as Sewanee’s down the road.  Not surprising in the least.

Well of course not.  That would make too much sense.  That would be like serving wiener schnitzel at the German club.  Why not force them to serve spaghetti, tacos, and kung pao chicken?

And I suppose they tell their Young Democrats to allow Republicans to join - even to be eligible for office.

It used to be said that when a bishop was ordained, the bishops laying hands on him were removing his backbone.  It seems that when college administrators are hired, they remove their brains.

The Christians need to all join the radical feminist group - change its bylaws to condemn abortion, support traditional marriage, etc.

This is crazy - hopelessly illogical. If Christian groups can’t require their leaders to have certain beliefs, then why bother havng a Christian group? And how about Islamic groups?

“At the center of debate is the university’s nondiscrimination policy, which bans student-led faith groups, among others, from requiring leaders to hold specific beliefs.”

Apparently the logic at Vanderbilt is a bit off from genuine logic, for, if the univerity bans “requiring leaders to hold specific beliefs” then how do the braniacs attempting this policy justify their own?  Clearly they have a belief system to which all others must kowtow.

And they lead a university?!

Kinda makes one see the falsity in the claim that education and intelligence are related, doesn’t it?

Those in leadership of a religious organization are not allowed to have specific beliefs?  Why, that’s how the leadership of my denomination (The Episcopal Church)came to power.

Yeah, whew! We have this bishop called Mark Lawrence, and he has specific beliefs. Wait until you hear that story!

It is the ultimate “privatization” of religious belief:  you can believe what you want, just don’t act on it. Just another illustration of the cultural elite’s attack on religious belief.  Cf. the response to Komen.

Can you imagine the reaction to a biblical literalist heading the astronomy or geology department?

APB, #10, yes indeed.  The University of Kentucky refused an applicant to administer their observatory because he’s a Baptist.  He’s not even a young-earthe creationist, but Baptist was enough for UK.  He sued and won a settlement.

I await hearing how Vandy does with requiring its Muslim student association to permit Christians and Jews to join.

AnglicanXn, #3, I laughed when I read your first line.  In Tennessee it’s perfectly acceptable for Democrats to take over Republican organizations and vice-versa.  We have open voting in the this state and it’s beyond dysfunctional!  Vanderbilt’s new policy won’t change anything as far as political organizations because our state already allows and encourages sabotage.

Stay tuned because Vanderbilt’s policy will lead to hostile takeovers of campus organizations.  It will inevitably be a huge black eye for the entire university and they deserve the embarrassment, the reputation and the bad publicity that’s coming their way!

I happen to live down the road from Sewanee - down the Mountain to be exact.  Sewanee is liberal, but it is NOT as liberal as Vanderbilt!

Heard a Vanderbilt student on Fox News saying so what are you going to do if the president of the Muslim Student’s Association converts to Christianity over Summer break, comes back in the Fall and starts evangelizing Muslim students.  According to Vandy’s policy, it would be improper to remove said Muslim Student’s Association president.  I guess you would have to issue a fatwa to take care of the matter.

If Christian groups can’t require their leaders to have certain beliefs, then why bother havng a Christian group?

I believe that that question contains it’s answer. This policy’s intent does not seem to be the promotion of Christian groups.

How about if they stop discriminating against short people and others on the basketball team?  Ok, I know there is the occasional token person under 6’, but those are usually phenomenal ball handlers.  What about all those poor folks out there under 5’9, who don’t even have a jump shot?  Make one of them captain. 
Lets also look at Vanderbuilt’s policy of limiting its faculty hiring to people with degrees.  How discriminatory is that?
Of course, look at the bright side- you can now send evangelists into the heart of the atheist club, the witchcraft club, and the Young Episcopalians for Jefferts-Schori for Pope club.

It’s a wonder that if Vanderbilt were to have a chapter of the Newman Club on campus (I don’t know if they have one), they require that its leaders not adhere to Catholic beliefs.  I don’t see that happening.

So I assume the gay clubs can’t require that their leadership is gay?  The feminists must accept a man as their leader?

17, Don’t be silly.  Liberal institutions apply anti-discrimination provisions selectively and only against groups to which they are hostile.

#16, Vanderbilt has a very strong Newman Center/Catholic Community, which has grown in the last ten years from a few dozen to several hundred.  They are actively evangelizing the Vanderbilt campus for Christ, with Bible studies, retreats and devotional activities.  From what I understand, Catholic students do not meet on campus, but at the Frassati House, located a half-block from campus in back of the Catholic Cathedral.  The Vanderbilt Catholic Community does have permission to use Benton Chapel on campus (part of the Vanderbilt Div School) for Sunday evening mass and other services on occasion.  I don’t believe they receive any student activity funds from Vanderbilt.

When my son was a freshman there four years ago, the Newman Center/ Catholic Community was not included in the Student Activities Fair held at the student center during Freshmen week.  The Catholic folks had a tent set up outside and had upperclassmen providing whatever assistance incoming freshmen might need, from free water and goodies to escorting lost students (and parents) to where they needed to be.  I had assumed at first sight that it was probably a Baptist student group since they all had on maroon T-shirts with a quote on the back in bright orange letters from 1 Peter 3:15 about always being ready to give an account for the hope that is in us.  But the shirt fronts were prominently emblazoned with a bright orange “Vanderbilt Catholic Community.”  With support coming from private outside donations, they have now become one of the largest and most effective Christian groups on campus.