University of Iowa

University of Iowa Campus Ministry Upheld in Federal Court

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 15:13:23 +0000

University of Iowa Campus Ministry Upheld in Federal Court

(Madison, WI)–An Iowa federal judge has ruled that the University of Iowa and its officers violated the law when they kicked ��ñ�� off campus for asking its leaders to be Christian. A dozen other religious groups—including Sikhs, Muslims, and Latter-day Saints—were also kicked off campus for requiring their leaders to share their faith. But all secular groups and a few religious groups favored by the University got a pass.

In a ruling on September 27, 2019, the court held that this discrimination was so egregious that the officers involved would be personally accountable for any money ��ñ�� lost fighting to stay on campus. The court left open the possibility that the University’s president, Bruce Harreld, could also be found liable.

��ñ�� has been at the University of Iowa for over 25 years. It welcomes all students as members, and only requires the students who lead its ministry affirm its faith. In the past, the University has honored ��ñ�� for its contributions to campus life. But in June 2018, the University claimed that, by requiring leaders to affirm their faith, ��ñ�� was violating the University’s nondiscrimination policy.

The University then limited ��ñ��’s access to campus, froze its bank account, shut down its website, and advertised that it was “defunct” for lack of student interest. As a result, ��ñ�� suffered its sharpest membership decline in over twenty years. The federal court’s ruling confirmed that the University’s actions violated the Constitution and ordered the University to respect ��ñ��’s right to select religious leaders going forward.

“We must have leaders who share our faith,” said Greg Jao, ��ñ��’s Director of External Relations. “No group—religious or secular—could survive with leaders who reject its values. We’re grateful the court has stopped the University’s religious discrimination, and we look forward to continuing our ministry on campus for years to come.”

��ñ�� USA is on 772 campuses nationwide. Its University of Iowa chapter hosts weekly Bible studies and monthly meetings for prayer, worship, and religious discussions on current issues.

In upholding the group’s right to be on campus, the court noted that, just last January—in the related case of BLinC v. University of Iowa—it already warned the University against enforcing its policy unevenly. The court stated it “would never have expected the University to respond to that order by homing in on religious groups[]” like ��ñ��, while “carving out explicit exemptions for other groups. But here we are.” The court did “not know how a reasonable person could have concluded this was acceptable,” since it “plainly” doubled down on the exact same conduct the court had already held unlawful. In a hearing last week, the court described the University’s conduct as “ludicrous” and “incredibly baffling.”

��ñ�� was represented in this case by the Becket law firm. For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Ryan Colby at media@becketlaw.org or 202-349-7219.

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Thankful for a Faithful Friend

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:37:20 +0000

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Thankful for a Faithful Friend

Through a friend’s invitation, one student from the University of Iowa decided to attend an ��ñ�� Fall Conference. Here’s his story:

Growing up, my relationship with Jesus was basically nonexistent. I went to church on Sundays because of my parents and that was about it. In high school, I began hanging out with the wrong crowd and never really left. It started with drinking and smoking and quickly progressed to just about everything else. It got to a point where it consumed me, it was what I surrounded myself with, and it was all I wanted to do. My friends became more like people I did drugs with and I pushed away the very few people who tried to help and care for me.

I knew it was bad. I knew it would cause problems in the long run, but I didn’t care. I had plenty of opportunities to stop. I saw my friends overdose, I saw what my lifestyle turned people into, and I saw friends pass away because of drugs. Looking back, I had so many warning signs to change, but the drugs blinded me. Getting “messed up” was my life every day.

Although I thought it made me happy, it slowly put me in a miserable and dark place. And when I was sad, I went to the only thing I knew to help—more drugs. This cycle left me deeply depressed, alone, anti-social, and most of all empty. This went on for years before I realized what I was doing to myself. I quit taking hard drugs, but the depression didn’t leave; it just set in harder. I was so unfulfilled and in need of help, just living every day with no motivation or real happiness.

Through all of this, one person stuck by me and continued to try and help even when I wouldn’t listen. She told me about ��ñ��’s Fall Conference, and told me I should really consider going. This was definitely not the first offer to go to something like this, but it was the first one I considered. It took me until the day of Fall Conference—an hour before my ride left—to finally decide to go.

From Awkward to Awestruck

I had not pursued any relationship with God before this, and things were weird and awkward at first. Everyone was nice and caring, but after the first night, all I could think was, “Why am I here? This is just not me.” I figured I would just have to stick it out, do the minimum, and return home to the same old thing.

The next day, I went to the sessions, open to the experience, but nothing came out of it until that night. Halfway through one of the sessions, something happened after my friend prayed over me. For the first time in a long time, I felt okay. I felt truly weightless, like all of my burdens were lifted in an instant and everything was okay.

I broke down in joy right there and was so happy. For the first time in awhile, I didn’t have to put something in my system to be happy or force a smile to appear okay. I had finally accepted God into my life and I was fulfilled.

The whole night I was in awe and continued to talk to God. This is where my relationship with the Lord began. My friend who invited me told me that if I put myself out there to God, He would meet me half-way. This came true for me, and it was an experience I could not have gone without.

My experience at Fall Conference was truly amazing. It was where I found God and started my relationship with him, which is the best thing I could have asked for. Without realizing it, I had also gained an amazing, positive community and some new friends along the way, who still help me learn and explore God further.

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Fall conference

Community of Disciples

AD-16225 — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:53:20 +0000

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Abi Christian

Community of Disciples

“In high school, I started going to church, but I wasn't going for the right reasons,” said Tevin Robbins, now a sophomore at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. “I was a believer, but not a follower.” After a difficult first semester in college, a friend invited Tevin to a prayer time with ��ñ��. During a powerful moment of prayer with a staff member, Tevin realized that even in his brokenness, God had been walking with him. “From then on I did everything with ��ñ��,” said Tevin. “I found the family I had been longing for and a community that was there for me.”

That spring, Tevin joined five other students on a spring break trip with City Lights, ��ñ��’s urban ministry in St. Louis. During the week, he committed his life to God. “I was trying to control my life, and at City Lights I was challenged to follow Jesus with all of my life,” said Tevin.

Building a Bridge to Latino Students

The staff at City Lights also encouraged Tevin to consider how his chapter reflected the multiethnic Church. “It struck me that we have an ethnically diverse student body but we don't associate with each other,” he said. “For us to be able to come together, united under Christ, is a necessity. God isn't calling one group of people. He's calling everyone.”

When he realized there were a few Latino students connected to the chapter, Tevin got a campus job in the Latino Native American Culture Center and began building relationships with students he meets. Every week, he attends their meetings and invites people to come to the Bible study he leads there.

In December, Tevin spoke on the prodigal son at ��ñ��’s monthly worship gathering, and several students from the Culture Center showed up in support of him. When Tevin invited people to “come home to Jesus” as the prodigal son came home to his father, two of those students said they wanted to pursue a deeper relationship with God.

The Crazy Work of God

This spring, Tevin and other student leaders led 21 students on City Light’s mission trip, including four students from the Culture Center. “The Latino students originally wanted to do a service project over spring break. They didn't expect anything spiritual to happen within themselves,” said Tevin.

Over the course of the week, the group prayed and studied Scripture together. Elia, one of the Latino students, had many questions about faith. She and a staff member at City Lights began exploring what the Bible says about Jesus. Several times, Elia said she wanted to give her life to Jesus, but she thought her sin too big for God to forgive. At the end of the week, she came to trust God with her life and committed to following Jesus.

Three of the students also decided to take a more active role in ��ñ��. “Not only do they come to my Bible study, but now they want to be involved with our large group community,” said Tevin. “God's been doing some crazy work.”

Going Beyond Campus

Other students have noticed the unique fellowship the chapter experiences. During City Lights this year, Tevin and his friends got to know ��ñ�� students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which also has a diverse student body. The students wanted to know how Tevin’s chapter created a loving and multiethnic community. Tevin responded, “With a lot of Jesus, a lot of prayer!”

Since the trip, the student leaders from both schools have kept in contact, encouraging each other and sharing ideas. “It was cool to see our peers notice what we're doing with campus ministry and want that too,” said Tevin. “God extends beyond boundaries. It'll be exciting to see their growth.”

In the last two years, Tevin has seen many students join the chapter, and more importantly, those students grow in their relationship with God. “We're learning about community and about trusting in God. That's what keeps me coming back,” said Tevin. “A year ago, we'd never have thought we could lead a group of students on this mission trip. We've really been shepherded well in being leaders, and now we’re shepherding people stepping into our chapters. That feels really good. This doesn't stop with us.”

More about Tevin from the Daily Iowan

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Tevin Robbins

City Lights