Christian Organization Banned from Brown University

Christian Organization Banned from Brown University

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), a Christian organization with chapters on college campuses nationwide, has been banned from Brown University, though the reason why is not yet clear.

RUF was given three potential reasons for the ban. One was that the chapter’s local sponsor, Trinity Presbyterian Church, had withdrawn its support. The church did not, however, withdraw its support. The second reason given was that the chapter’s leader was two months late in submitting the requisite paperwork for recognition as an official campus organization. The third reason given is that according to Brown Protestant Chaplain Reverend Allan Callahan, RUF is “possessed of a leadership culture of contempt and dishonesty that has rendered all collegial relations with my office impossible.”

RUF student leadership has since written a letter to the chaplain’s office seeking clarification of his statement, but is yet to receive a response.

Ethan Wingfield, a senior involved with RUF, said that, “We were disappointed that the university administration should treat us so lightly that they would not even acknowledge our letter.” RUF has enlisted the services of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) because “it seems they have a strong history of sticking up for campus organizations that are having their right to assemble and practice their religion withheld.”

FIRE has written to Brown President Ruth J. Simmons to ask her to involve herself by reviewing the how the chaplaincy office treats student religious groups.

RUF is the campus outreach of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), not to be confused with the Presbyterian Church USA. The organization aids Christian students by providing Bible study and fellowship, while simultaneously viewing the larger college campus as a mission field.