Volume XII | Issue I | Winter 2013 the IVY LEAGUE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER Imani Jubilee’s Worship Tradition at Brown Page 7 Yale Discriminates Against Christian Fraternity Page 8 Evangelism Weekend at Cornell Page 11 Penn Students ‘Engage’ Philadelphia Page 12 Lecture at Columbia: The Sacred Call to Study Page 14 Following Tragedy, Harvard MARRIAGE 101 Journal Asks ‘Why?’ Roland Warren, Princeton ’83 and Wharton MBA ’86, Page 16 spoke on the virtues of covenantal marriage at the Sexuality, Integrity, and the University Dartmouth Freshman Serves Conference at Princeton University. God and Country Special section, pages 18-24 Page 27
Brown ■ Columbia ■ Cornell ■ Dartmouth Harvard ■ Penn ■ Princeton ■ Yale
Developing Christian Leaders to Transform Culture The Ivy League Christian Observer is published by the Christian Union, an independent Christian ministry. PRAY WITH US FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS WHO WILL TRANSFORM CULTURE
At Christian Union, we are prayerfully seeking God for transformation at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. Each year, thousands of students pass through the halls of these institutions and move out into positions of leadership in our society. Unfortunately, over 90% have had no regular Christian influence in their lives during these critical college years.
Christian Union sends out monthly, campus- specific e-mails that describe the needs of the ministry. E-mails are available for Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
Will you join us and pray regularly for the development of Christian leaders at some of our nation’s leading universities? To receive Christian Union’s prayer e-mail each month, sign up online at www.Christian-Union.org/prayer or send an e-mail to: [email protected] .
240 Nassau Street | Princeton, NJ 08542 | 609-688-1700 | www.Christian-Union.org GET THE NEW BESTSELLER THAT WILL HELP YOU BE THE BEST DAD YOU CAN BE… AND FOR EACH COPY YOU BUY ONE WILL BE SENT FOR FREE TO A U.S. MILITARY DAD IN YOUR HONOR >50% off on orders of 10 or more: see www.BeABetterDadToday.com FREE for U.S. Military Fathers: see www.BeABetterDadToday.com
There are certain lessons in life that can best be taught by fathers. My hope is that this book will help every single man who picks it up to be the best father, the best husband, and the best man he can be. – John McCain United States Senator
“Be a Better Dad Today! Is perhaps the most practical and down to earth manual you will fi nd on how to be an effective father” – Tim Keller Sr. Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC
10 TOOLS EVERY FATHER NEEDS
Gregory W. Slayton, best-selling author and father of four, doesn’t beat around the bush: “Being a good dad isn’t only vital for the future of our families and our society… it is critical to our own development as men.” Be a Better Dad Today! is an inspirational and practical guidebook for every father, with user- friendly techniques that will help every dad fulfi ll his God-given responsibilities. Be a Better Dad Today! offers:
• 10 powerful tools for being a better dad • Powerful testimony from a fatherless man who became a U.S. Ambassador and devoted father • Powerful Foreword by Charles W. Colson • Powerful Built-in study guide for use in small groups
s
Gregory W. Slayton The Honorable Gregory W. Slayton is an American author, businessman, diplomat, philanthropist and profes- sor, but, more importantly, a father of four great kids. Born in Ohio, he grew up without a real father and then travelled the world studying fathers and fatherhood on fi ve continents. Gregory now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire, with his wife and four children. He is the managing director of Slayton Capital, teaches on occa- sion at Dartmouth, Harvard and Stanford, and is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership at UIBE Business School in Beijing, China.
www.BeABetterDadToday.com Available wherever fi ne Christian books are sold A WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER 240 NASSAU STREET PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08542 [email protected] Intergenerational Please help us get this magazine into the hands of those who want it. E-mail or write us in order to: Faithfulness • pass along the names of fellow Christian alumni, parents, staff, faculty, or friends who race and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ to would enjoy this quarterly update from the Gyou and your family as we begin the New Year. Ivy League universities. • update us on any address change you have. I spent the holidays with family in Dallas and • be removed from the mailing list. Athens, Texas and am excited about what I was able to give to some of my nieces and nephews over Christmas. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nine of them are old enough to read well, so with money I received as an inheri - Matt Bennett, Cornell BS ’88, MBA ’89 tance from the passing of my grandmother, I established with my brother a Bible reading program for them. For every section of the Bible that they read (or listen to), MANAGING EDITOR we will be giving them a financial reward and will give a bonus if everybody com - Tom Campisi, College of New Jersey ’88 pletes the Bible within two years. My own mother (thank you mom!) encouraged me SENIOR WRITER to read Bible stories when I was young by paying me a little bit for each book I read, Eileen Scott, Mount St. Mary ’87 so I count it a joy to help inspire the next generation. I am deeply persuaded that we all have a responsibility to develop the next gener - FIELD REPORTERS ation to seek and fear the Lord (either our own kids, or in my case, my nieces and Grace Chen, Cornell ’10 nephews). As Deuteronomy 6:6-7 reminds us: “And these words that I command you Jihye Choi, Harvard ’14 today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and PHOTO EDITOR shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and Pam Traeger when you lie down, and when you rise.” I am grateful for the influence my own parents had on me during my formative LETTERS TO THE EDITOR years to learn the Bible and seek the Lord and aspire to help do the same for others. Please send us your feedback regarding events If you are a parent and have kids at home, I encourage you to do everything you and topics described in this magazine at the e- can to help form Christ in the hearts of those entrusted to your care. By God’s grace, mail or regular mail address listed above. Christian Union is seeking to “train up” the next generation of students on some of the nation’s most influential campuses (and you can read some of our stories and those of other campus ministries in this issue). Through ministering to college students over the years, I have been exposed to many Christian families and have been greatly inspired by parents who have taken strong initiative for Christian formation in their children. The Christian maturity By God’s power and with the help of other min - and balance that this produced in their children is truly inspiring. May the Lord give istries, the mission of Christian Union is to change the world by developing Christian lead - strength to every Christian family in America to do the same. ers and networking them together to make an impact for Christ in the larger culture. Matt Yours in Christ, Bennett (Cornell BS ’88, MBA ’89) founded the ministry in 2002 in Princeton, New Jersey. To learn more about Christian Union, please visit www.Christian-Union.org. Matthew W. Bennett The purpose of The Ivy League Christian Ob - Founder and President, Cornell ’88, MBA ’89 server (this free quarterly magazine) is to in - form Christian alumni, students, parents, staff, faculty, and friends about the spiritual activity P.S. The Ivy League Christian Observer reports on the programs of Christian Union at eight of the country’s most influential col - and those of various other Christian organizations. While it is our desire to foster leges, including Brown, Columbia, Cornell, unity, encouragement, and awareness among campus ministries, Christian Union is Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. Our desire is that you would be encour - not an umbrella organization. aged to pray for these universities, give finan - cially to Christian initiatives on the campuses, and use your influence for the cause of Christ.
Cover Image: Ivy League students and Christian Union faculty members at Christian Union's Faith and Action Conference in April.
2 | The Ivy League Christian Observer TABLE OF CONTENTS
ON CAMPUS LOVE AND MARRIAGE 4 CURATING COMPASSION Ministry’s Social Action Team Hosts Art 18 MARRIAGE - WHY KNOT? Exhibition Love and Fidelity Network Conference Draws 200 5 WORDS OF WISDOM Manna Christian Fellowship Event Urges 20 WHAT IS MARRIAGE? Students to Shine in Chosen Careers Book Philosophically Defends ‘Conjugal’ Union between a Man and 6 BUILDING BRIDGES a Woman Leadership Forum Gives Foreign Students Career Insight 21 MARRIAGE AND THE PUBLIC GOOD 7 WORSHIP IN THE BLACK CHURCH Report: Marital Unions Are Beneficial TRADITION for Individuals and Society Imani Jubilee Provides Community for African-American Students 22 ON OFFENSE Pro-Bowl Center Stands up for 8 BANNED BROTHERS Marriage, Rights of Children 18 Yale Discriminates against Christian Fraternity, Revokes Recognition 23 WHY COFFEE DATES TRUMP 24 ‘A REMARKABLE TURN’ DANCE FLOOR MAKEOUTS After Promiscuous Past, Brown 9 GETTING IN ‘FOCUS’ Alumnus Challenges Status Quo at Alumnus Seeks to Promote Healthy Catholic Missionaries Bring the Gospel to Princeton with Column Sexuality Campus INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT ABOUT MINISTRY 12 14 THE SACRED CALL TO STUDY 31 BRINGING COMFORT AND Lecture Challenges Students to Build a COMPASSION Culture that Glorifies God Students Volunteer to Aid City Residents in Wake of ‘Super Storm’ 15 ‘FARE FORWARD’ Dartmouth Alumni Launch National 32 YOUTH WITH A MISSION Publication Cornell Students Grow at Convergence 16 ASKING WHY 33 IN CHRIST ALONE Student Journal Responds to Campus Ministry’s Retreat Strengthens Students, Tragedy Re-Affirms Mission to Campus 17 LEADERSHIP WITHOUT VIRTUE Is Yale Producing Graduates with No 33 Moral Compass?
PRAYER POWER 25 NIGHT ‘LIFE’ Saturday Evening Prayer Group Intercedes for Classmates, Campus
10 A NIGHT OF UNITY AND 26 PUTTING ON LOVE REVELATION Students Gather for a Special Night of Praise and Prayer Campus Ministry Leaders Pen Letters to the Church at Yale IN PERSON 11 LET FREEDOM RING 27 SERVING GOD AND COUNTRY Penn Cited by Free Speech Advocacy Group Dartmouth Freshman Seeks Military Career through ROTC 11 EVANGELISM WEEKEND Cornell Students Hear the Good News IN REVIEW DEPARTMENTS during Three-Day Event 28 THE SLIPPERY SLOPE 34 News-in-Brief 12 ENGAGING PHILADELPHIA Books Document the Decline of Once- National Day of Outreach Spurs Campus Christian Colleges into Bastions of 39 The Mission and Vision Faith Sharing over 24-Hour Period Unbelief of Christian Union 13 ANALYZING CAMPUS CULTURE 30 BREAKING THROUGH 42 Prayer for the Ivy League Poll Yields Insight to Where Students Catholic Women ‘Speak for Themselves’ Stand on Key Issues in New Book 44 Ivy League Prayer Needs
Winter 2013 | 3 ON CAMPUS By Jihye Choi, Harvard ’14 CURATING COMPASSION Ministry’s Social Action Team Hosts Art Exhibition
On the evening of October 12, not all of the contributing 2012, more than 250 visitors artists were Christians, each se - HAHRVARD filled the Adams House Art - lected piece conveyed a facet of Space for the opening night of “Compas - compassion with compelling sion: The Good Samaritan.” The exhibit, depth. curated by artist Roni Pavick, was hosted “My mission was more than by Harvard College Faith and Action just curating an exhibition. It (HCFA), a leadership development min - was, more importantly, curat - istry supported and resourced by Chris - ing consciousness,” said tian Union. Pavick. The HCFA Social Action Team con - This concept of “curating ceived of the idea of the themed exhibit as consciousness” was exhibited a unique outreach with broad appeal. In by an oil painting of a homeless addition to displaying works by interna - man by a Danish artist. The tional artists, they invited local artists to artist noted that in addition to submit entries that would provoke ob - asking the man if she could servers to consider the act of compassion paint his portrait, the artist had more deeply. taken the time to get to know “I thought it might be a challenge for him in order to paint him with artists to create an image which conveyed greater dignity. Having a grip - compassion,” says Pavick. ping gaze, the figure in the The inspiration for the evening began painting demands the ob - last year when the HCFA Social Action server’s undivided attention. Team sought to provide a platform for This piece was adjacent to an - Christian student artists to convey their other painting by the same faith through art. artist, this time a vibrant por - “As we originally conceived this event, trait of a mother. The juxtapo - we were thinking small, maybe thirty peo - sition between the peacefulness ple would attend,” says Olivia Krusel ’15, of “home” and unraveling in - “but after meeting with Roni Pavick and tensity of the “homelessness” exploring the possibilities, everything sparked conversation among changed.” viewers. Having studied art and art education at The exhibition also featured Florida State University, London, and the an intriguing installation by University of Oxford, Pavick has also Danny Setiawan, an accom - “Prayer” was one of the many works featured at lived and taught in the United States, the plished New York City artist the art exhibit hosted by Harvard College Faith United Kingdom, Europe, and the Middle who is originally from Indone - and Action this fall. East. She was able to draw on her rich sia. Entitled “Prayer,” the in - background to exhibit artwork from Scot - stallation featured an oil painting of a played and the turnout, Krusel stated, “It land to Slovenia, as well as several local cold, human hand reaching up towards a was a more powerful outreach than I even artists. projected digital image of the warm hand imagined.” Jisu Yoo ’15 elaborated, “I re - At the opening, students and members of God reaching down. Observers were ally learned what it means to ‘not box God of the Harvard community chatted excit - able to become a part of the work by tex - in.’ Working together to develop and pro - edly over appetizers, and children were ting prayers to a designated email ad - mote an art exhibit, and seeing the re - not only welcome at the event, they were dress. Moments later, the prayers would sponse it generated, we learned a lot supplied with treats and hot cider before appear on the screen and float up towards about ourselves and about God.” entering the exhibition. Strains of violin the heavens. As Krusel and Yoo expressed gratitude music, played by HCFA members Michael The exhibit affirmed the power of art to for the practical elements of this leader - Taylor ’14 and Joon Jang ’16, filled the stir reflection and response to the mean - ship development, they noted that above gallery. Some of the contributing artists ing and practice of compassion. Visitors all, they discovered the importance of were on hand to engage visitors in ani - flocked to the exhibition up to the last relying on God’s power to present gospel mated conversations about compassion, day. themes in creative and compelling discussing the diverse artworks. While Reflecting on the caliber of art dis - ways. ■
4 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer WORDS OF WISDOM Manna Christian Fellowship Event Urges Students to Shine in Chosen Careers
As undergraduates contemplate Harvard’s Kennedy School. “In the end, career choices, they need to success comes from God.” PRINPCETON pause for some reality checks. Toha, who is the mother of a young son Namely, they are likely to be in the and another child on the way, also said workforce for decades, and the vocations believers, especially women, need to re - they select can have far-reaching spiritual member the role of grace in career and and lifestyle implications. family endeavors. Those messages came from a panel of “There really are not enough hours in five Princeton University alumni who the day,” said Toha. “It’s so easy to feel like participated in Manna Christian Fellow - I’m underperforming…I have to discern ship’s Alternative Career Fair (www. between truth and cultural expectation.” princeton.edu/manna). Altoge ther, more Another alumna, Emily Hung ’02, said than 60 alumni were on hand to offer ca - her faith plays a natural role in her career reer and personal advice to undergradu - as a rheumatologist and internist. ates who took part in the event on “It’s very rewarding, very hands-on,” October 20 in the adjoining Friend Center said Hung. “In a very concrete way, you’re and Computer Science building. dealing with suffering and pain.” While some young believers are moti - As such, the Houston resident makes it vated to pursue careers where they can a point to ask patients about their support Enoch Kuo ’13, the student president directly watch God’s influence operating networks. Some of those conversations of Manna Christian Fellowship, through them, all will have opportunities lead to openings for her to offer prayer. appreciated the insight and advice he to reflect their faith in the ways they con - “I talk to people where they are,” she received at his ministry’s Alternative duct themselves personally and profes - said. “I help with their healing.” Career Fair. sionally, panelists said. Panelist Jon Cheng ’05 noted that with Though many Christians in the work - many Christians, their beliefs and values Wong ’02 reminded students that part of force may not clearly perceive the spiri - are intertwined into their core persona. being a believer in the workforce is speak - tual implications of their labors, they do As a result, “you cannot separate your ing the truth into difficult situations and have opportunities to demonstrate “day- faith and your work so easily,” said taking on challenges. to-day excellence,” said Ted Jeon ’07. Cheng, a journalist. Overall, students involved with Manna “You cannot always see the finish line,” For Cheng, his career as a reporter for said they appreciated the opportunity to said Jeon, who works as an associate at an The Wall Street Journal allows him to receive career and spiritual advice from investment firm. “You need to be able to fulfill his passion for reporting the news alumni who participated in the campus keep the faith that God has a plan.” and highlighting the human side of busi - ministry as undergraduates. Risa Toha ’03 echoed those comments ness trends. “[The career fair] allowed me to see how people’s hopes, fears, and dreams changed them and how they found their “As Christians, we are called to be way to be the professionals they are to - ambassadors of God, declaring His day,” said Enoch Kuo ’13. As they contemplate careers, young be - message of reconciliation of the world lievers should strive to identify the audi - ences about which they care, promote the through Christ in whatever place we common good, and reverse the alienation of sin on the relationships and structures may be.” of society, Kuo said. “As Christians, we are called to be am - —Enoch Kuo, Princeton ’13 bassadors of God, declaring His message of reconciliation of the world through when she noted that, ultimately, faith “It’s a sense that the world is bigger Christ in whatever place we may be,” said serves as her main motivator on the work than you,” he said. “It’s about letting the Kuo, president of Manna. and home fronts. people of the world know what’s happen - Ultimately, Princeton students need to “What has kept me going is the notion ing in the world. I’m a small piece of that remember they possess an “incredible plat - that God is the giver of everything,” said bigger world.” form,” Jeon said. They can use it to reflect Toha, a post-doctoral, research fellow at Likewise, panelist and teacher Will Christ’s gospel throughout life’s callings. ■
Winter 2013 | 5 ON CAMPUS By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer BUILDING BRIDGES Leadership Forum Gives Foreign Students Career Insight
Philly Bridges, a Cru ministry of the qualities necessary for leadership centrate on individual results and leaders to international students at the during his keynote address. Vanguard, focus on teamwork and group results. PPENN University of Pennsylvania, which is headquartered in Valley Forge, “Being a leader is about thinking well. held a dinner in October to provide for - Pennsylvania, is one of the world’s largest The results of the team reflect the results eign students with a wealth of career and investment management companies and of the individual,” said Volpert, who holds spiritual input. a top provider of company-sponsored re - a master of business administration from The Bridges Leadership Forum was an tirement plan services. the University of Chicago. outreach aimed at offering foreign stu - Many foreign students “aspire to be “It’s about managing and directing the team and providing direction and guid - ance. Conceptual thinking is really critical.” In addition, the Illinois native, who manages more than $300 billion in funds for Vanguard, highlighted the role faith can play in leadership development, and he described the qualities he looks for in employees. When interviewing potential employees, Volpert often asks candidates to describe when in their career they learned the most and to elaborate on the qualities of their best manager. “When you have a team that’s really en - gaged, it’s a much more productive team,” he said. As well, Volpert told students that the decision he made to accept Christ as his personal savior about 30 years ago pro - vided a life-changing experience. He also said he is motivated by Philippians 2:5- Philly Bridges, a Cru ministry dedicated to international students at the University of Pennsylvania, held a dinner to present students with a 10, which describes Christ’s decision to smorgasbord of career and spiritual input. take on the nature of a servant and be - come obedient, even to death on a cross. dents a snapshot of the qualities U.S. leaders, and they are longing to learn Overall, the students said the dinner firms desire in employees and the charac - about the American way,” Volpert said. and discussions provided stimulating teristics that can transform them into “Leadership is not academic. It’s more ex - spiritual and career perspectives, Brindley leaders in the workforce. About 55 stu - periential. I’ve been where they are. There said. For some, the dinner provided a dents, many from East Asia, attended the are lots of people trained in quantitative meaningful introduction into Christianity. dinner at Houston Hall, which included a methods. I didn’t learn leadership in the “There are a lot of students who come gospel presentation. classroom.” from China and are very interested in Philly Bridges provides foreign stu - dents with practical services, social-net - “Leadership is not academic. It’s more working opportunities, and spiritual resources. At the leadership forum, or - experiential. I’ve been where they are… ganizers assigned professionals from key fields to sit at each of the event’s 11 tables I didn’t learn leadership in the to supplement discussions on a variety of work, spiritual, and relational topics. classroom.” The students were “very impressed. Af - ter the talk, nobody left until about two —Ken Volpert hours later,” said Dave Brindley, a staffer with Philly Bridges (phillybridges.org). Along those lines, Volpert highlighted learning about Christianity,” Brindley Ken Volpert, a director in Vanguard’s the difference between being a specialist said. “What they are longing for in life can taxable bonds division, highlighted many and a leader, namely that specialists con - only be fulfilled by Jesus.” ■
6 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer A WORSHIP EXPERIENCE IN THE BLACK CHURCH TRADITION Imani Jubilee Provides a Faith Community for African-American Students
The black church in the United At the same time, Boswell-Ford is States has a rich history of be - keenly aware that while students are BBROWN ing a place of worship and cul - young and cyber focused, they grapple tural connectedness for its congregants. with very tangible and sometimes com - African-American students at Brown plex issues and situations. are experiencing worship and community “Some, but not all, of the students who through Imani Jubilee, a ministry that identify with Imani are dealing with never provides a relevant worship environment, having been such a minority,” she said. while retaining its roots in the traditional Additionally, some students are the black church. first in their families to attend college, Rev. Kirstin Boswell-Ford, the new while others are from socio-economically associate chaplain for the Protestant challenged backgrounds. community at Brown, presides over At times, Boswell-Ford explains, stu - Kirstin Boswell-Ford is the new Imani’s Sunday services, which incorpo - dents have come to her, embarrassed to associate chaplain for the Protestant rate gospel music, spirituals, and mes - admit that they don’t have money to get community at Brown. sages that resonate with the students’ home or pay for food and books. Ulti - experiences. mately, she said, they often feel alone be - in Cambridge, which she said helps stu - Boswell-Ford says she chooses to cause they can’t share their situations or dents see that she has “a foot in reality.” preach from the lectionary to help foster a feelings with their peers who’ve never While Boswell-Ford can relate to where common frame of reference among known such need. many of the Imani students have come students. In addition to a worship experience, the from, her goal as a chaplain is to help “We have this vision that students who Imani community at Brown also provides them develop a vision of God’s purpose have gone to the 12:30 service and the 6 congregants with support regarding so - for their lives right now and in the future. p.m. service—or services at other places— cial justice issues and offers students a Therefore, she said she works to help can come together and have a conversa - place of familiarity and identity. students “tune in to that vision and wres - tion and relate over the common text,” Boswell-Ford adds to that comfort base tle with what that path is and live it con - she said. by providing compassion and under - sciously and fully, embracing it in all the ways they can.” The new chaplain also fully embraces “When I look out from the pulpit and her responsibility to minister to the na - tion’s future leaders. see all the faces looking back at me, I “When I look out from the pulpit and see so much talent and potential. You see all the faces looking back at me, I see so much talent and potential,” she said. never know what kind of impact those “You never know what kind of impact those students could have on the future of students could have on the future of the the country or the world; or what message you might preach not knowing that it may country or the world…” impact that person. My goal is to be very conscious of that and use every opportu - —Rev. Kirstin Boswell-Ford nity to be a guide to these students.” And through the community of Imani The reverend also said she’s challenged standing that comes from years of minis - Jubilee, Boswell-Ford is embracing that to tailor her messages to a generation tering to and working with African- opportunity as she walks alongside stu - that’s constantly plugged in and accessi - American communities on the south side dents, guiding them through her faith and ble through technology. of Chicago. experience toward God’s call upon their “I find that I’ve been focusing on how “My ministry over the last ten years has lives. they can take a step back from that and been dealing with severe need situations “I feel blessed to have a role, no matter making sure they have time with God and and all that comes with that,” she said. how small or large, in the leadership po - listen to where He is leading them,” she Additionally, Boswell-Ford serves as an tential of the students who come out of said. associate pastor at Union Baptist Church this institution,” she said. ■
Winter 2013 | 7 ON CAMPUS By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer BANNED BROTHERS Yale Discriminates against Christian Fraternity, Revokes Recognition
Beta Epsilon Chi (BYX) lost its tution was submitted to the university The situation at Yale is emblematic of a status as an officially recog - prior to recognition. growing trend at colleges across the YALE nized campus organization this “On behalf of BYX, we were all hoping United States. Christian organizations are fall after a Yale Daily News article took is - to partner with the university,” he said. “It unfairly being singled out as “discrimina - sue with the fact that the Christian tory” because they simply require fraternity requires members to be leaders to be Christians. Vanderbilt Christians. University’s “all comers” policy— Other Yale-recognized student which requires that all recognized groups on campus have certain mini - student organizations be open to all mal requirements for membership in students for both membership and keeping with the purpose of the leadership—also impacted Christian organization. Yet, the requirement organizations, many of which opted that members of the fraternity be to relinquish their university status, professing Christians prompted the rather than compromise their funda - university to demand the student or - mental principles. ganization change its constitution. Still, Hicks and the other local The required change to the constitu - chapter members declined to take le - tion would comply with Yale’s “anti- gal action against Yale after dis - discrimination” policies. cussing the matter with the national But the leadership of Beta Epsilon fraternity’s legal team. However, Chi (BYX), headed by Victor Hicks BYX is still active at Yale. ’15, refused to compromise its belief “Whether we have an official rela - that the organization should be able tionship with the university or not, to have such a fundamental require - God has called us to this [campus],” ment for membership; after meeting Victor Hicks ’15 is one of the co-founders of a new said Hicks, who said he remains opti - with university administrators, they Christian fraternity at Yale. mistic that the fraternity of brothers opted not to seek to regain official can still grow and impact the campus status from Yale. is disappointing that we are not able to.” community for Christ. Christian Union Founder and Presi - The BYX constitution states that the Without official recognition, BYX loses dent Matt Bennett, Cornell ’88, MBA ’89, fraternity “exists for the purpose of estab - university funding and its ability to re - was shocked at the turn of events and said lishing brotherhood and unity among col - serve Yale rooms for campus activities. the university is actively discriminating lege men, based on the common bond of But the fraternity does keep its ability to against BYX because it is a religious Jesus Christ.” Additionally, membership congregate on campus and will maintain organization. requires “a credible profession of faith in ties with campus organizations. “This is unacceptable,” said Bennett. Jesus Christ.” Despite this serious setback, Chad “This is an unjust policy and it needs to It was that overt declaration of Christian Warren, a Christian Union ministry fel - be overturned. Religious student organi - faith that the university took issue with, al - low at Yale, said BYX would still make an impact. “The fraternity not only offers commu - Without official recognition, BYX loses nity to men on campus who want to pur - sue Christ, but also provides members university funding and its ability to and nonmembers great social alternatives reserve Yale rooms for campus activities. to the drinking and hook-up cultures,” he said. Hicks said he’s not surprised by the zations should have equal standing and though BYX had applied for and received challenges the fraternity is facing as it should have the right to require their the university’s recognition last spring. strives to impact the campus culture for leaders to believe and follow the Chris - “Unfortunately, there is a stigma that Christ. tian principles and goals of their organi - comes with being a Christian,” said Hicks. “[God] has gathered a group of men zation, based on the free exercise clause “We see that a bit more at Yale as the who are seeking to enact change so - in the First Amendment to the U.S. campus is more secular and more liberal cially,” he said. “As we draw nearer to Constitution.” than some of the other colleges where Him, we will face more adversity and Hicks noted that the fraternity’s consti - BYX has chapters.” opposition.” ■
8 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer GETTING IN ‘FOCUS’ Catholic Missionaries Bring the Gospel to Campus
“Holy men and women bloom The ministry also established a pres - have dignity not because of what you’ve among the generous mission - ence at Harvard this fall. In an article in accomplished, but because of how God COCLUMBIA aries who announce the Good the National Catholic Register , Martin has made you.” News to non-Christians, in the past in stressed the importance of reaching And that’s not an easy task on a campus mission countries and now in any place young people for Christ. where Christianity is often marginalized. where there are non-Christians.” “We believe that the key to building a Further, Scharmer said, even the most So stated Pope Benedict XVI in his better future lies with the young leaders faithful students struggle with openly homily during a Mass at St. Peter’s on campus,” he said. “Our goal is to in - sharing their faith because of concern Square this October. Laura Scharmer, a spire thousands upon thousands of men about being “persecuted by the prevailing missionary with the Fellowship of and women who, 10 years from Catholic University Students (FOCUS), is now, 20 years from now, 30 years among those bringing the Good News to from now, will be in positions of Columbia University, a place filled with influence—such that they will many non-Christians. transform our culture.” In its second year at Columbia, FOCUS To achieve those ends, mission - (www.focus.org) is striving to make aries like Scharmer seek to model Christian disciples and equip students to the biblical themes of discipleship share their faith and the gospel wherever for students, while reaching out to they go. them in a non-threatening, rele - The vision of FOCUS is to “invite col - vant way. This is accomplished lege students into a growing relationship through initiatives such as getting with Jesus Christ and His Church” and students together to discuss areas “inspire and equip them for a lifetime of of common interest, attending ex - Christ-centered evangelization, disciple - tracurricular events, meeting for ship, and friendship, in which they lead coffee, and helping to establish others to do the same.” Therefore, the strong community. missionaries work to bring former But ministering at the Ivy League Catholics back into the church and share university poses special challenges, God’s love with those who don’t believe. according to Scharmer, a Vander - FOCUS also offers Bible studies and ac - bilt University alumna. tivities to engage students in relation - “One of the biggest differences ships that will build their faith. and challenges at Columbia is we “We try to minister in the way Christ want to build friendships,” she Laura Scharmer, a missionary with the ministers, the way Jesus went out and said, “but [students] don’t have Fellowship of Catholic Students, is seeking to talked individually with people,” said time to spend an afternoon hang - disciple students for Christ at Columbia. Scharmer. ing out with me.” While Scharmer and her colleagues work Additionally, Scharmer noted that Ivy relativism in New York City and with the Columbia Catholic Ministry League students have a hard time balanc - Columbia.” (www.columbia.edu/cu/earl/ccm), FOCUS ing non-academic pursuits, such as Bible Therefore, she said, “A big part of what is a separate organization and tends to em - study, with their classroom demands. But we were doing last year was to get stu - phasize outreach to students who aren’t yet she said part of her work means helping dents to understand that faith is personal, solid in their faith. students prioritize activities, and that but not private.” FOCUS was founded in 1998 by Curtis while academics are important, convey - Consequently, as the Catholic Church Martin, who was raised Catholic, but left ing to students that they must guard celebrates the Year of Faith, Scharmer and the faith and then returned to God against allowing their studies to take her colleagues continue to strive to help through Campus Crusade for Christ while over. students at Columbia overcome their in college. Through Scripture study and “Making academics an idol and letting pride, rejection of Christianity, and fear by his faith evolution, Martin eventually re - them come before God is a problem at Co - modeling Christ’s love for them. In the turned to the Catholic Church and was in - lumbia,” said Scharmer. end, the missionaries hope to instill within spired to provide an opportunity for One of the most important messages Columbia students the virtues of humility, Catholic students to discover the truth of she tries to convey to the high-achieving acceptance, and confidence regarding who the gospel for themselves and enter into a Columbia students is “the idea that you God has called them to be, and the desire personal relationship with Christ. are good enough the way you are. You to share that realization with others. ■
Winter 2013 | 9 ON CAMPUS By Travis Reginal, Yale ’16 A NIGHT OF UNITY AND REVELATION Campus Ministry Leaders Pen Letters to the Church at Yale
Editor’s note: The following blended into sweet harmony and the spir - article is a first-person per - itual atmosphere was electrifying with YALE spective on an inter-ministry songs such as “How Great is Our God,” event at Yale this fall. Travis Reginal, a “Hosanna,” “Jesus Paid It All,” and “One freshman, is a member of Yale Faith and Thing Remains.” Action, a leadership development min - Following praise and worship, repre - istry supported and resourced by Chris - sentatives from each ministry presented a tian Union. letter to the Church at Yale, in the same Despite its very secular nature, Yale has spirit as the Bible’s Book of Revelation. a very dynamic and growing Christian Joshua Williams, of Yale Christian Fel - Chris Matthews, Christian Union's culture on campus. The students I have lowship, focused on how we constantly try director of ministry at Yale, and Karleh met here, since arriving in September, are to prove ourselves through our accom - Wilson ’16 participated in “Come the most passionate and genuine believ - plishments. Such material things, while Together.” ers I have known; it has been refreshing great, should not be our focus, he said. to catch the contagious spirit of excite - Running along a similar thread, Craig ing every area of our lives. ment for God that they have. Luekens, coordinator of Athletes in Action Sang Yun, of Yale Students for Christ, One of the highlights of the fall semes- at Yale, said the cost of discipleship is not spoke of how Yale has turned from its ter was a night of unity hosted by four cam - really a cost at all, but should be looked at spiritual heritage and is now more fo - pus ministries. On November 1 in Battell as a freedom. The reason that there is free - cused on building up man, instead of God Chapel, students and ministry staff from dom in discipleship, he said, is because the in man. However, Sang reassured us that Yale Christian Fellowship (www.yale.edu/ closer we get to God, the more we see that now is the time when God wants to pour ycf), Athletes in Action (http://aiayale. “separation” from Him is the greatest evil. out His Spirit on this campus. tumblr.com), InterVarsity’s Yale Students Chris Matthews, Christian Union’s di - The event also included times of stu - for Christ (http://www.yalestudentsfor rector of ministry at Yale, wrote of God’s dent testimonies and prayer requests. christ.org), and Yale Faith and Action love for us and the intimacy of our rela - Karleh Wilson ’16 urged everyone to con - (www.yaleyfa.org) gathered for an event tionship with Him. God’s purpose for us tinue praying for those devastated by entitled, “Come Together.” here at Yale, Matthews said, is to be a fra - Hurricane Sandy; Brandon Wang ’14 ex - As we were ushered to our seats, we grance to those who have never smelled citedly spoke about the spirit of revival on were grouped by our residential colleges. the intoxicating aroma of His love. campus and noted how members of the This was a great idea because it let us Speaking in a prophetic tone, he said, junior class have been waiting for such an identify other believers in our dorms. Out “You labor hard, but you labor in vain event as “Come Together” since their of these arrangements, we have been able when I am not laboring with you.” As such freshman year. to organize monthly dinners with other hard-working students, it is easy for us to The large group meeting for Christians Christians in our respective colleges. feel that we can take care of many tasks by was the first of its kind, but certainly will The night of unity opened with a time ourselves. However, it is important to re - not be the last. There is something power - of praise and worship from a band assem - alize that it is okay, more so than okay, but ful, yet mysterious about the power of ■ bled from the four ministries. The music necessary , that we seek the Lord regard - unity.
The night of unity opened with a time of praise and worship from a band assembled from the four ministries. The music blended into sweet harmony and the spiritual atmosphere was electrifying with songs such as “How Great is Our God,” “Hosanna,” “Jesus Paid It All,” and “One Thing Remains.”
10 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Catherine Elvy and Eileen Scott LET FREEDOM RING Penn Cited by Free Speech Advocacy Group
The Foundation for Individual “It’s a tribute to his influence that Penn Rights in Education honored has been a great place for student speech.” PPENN the University of Pennsylvania Kors, a faculty member since 1968, is this fall with inclusion on its annual list of the Charles Lea Professor of European America’s Best Colleges for Free Speech. History at Penn. In 1971, he helped estab - Penn is the only private university on lish Van Pelt House, a residence that what is a short list of seven schools. brought together students of various eth - This is the second straight year that nic, religious, and political backgrounds Penn has been cited. According to the for a true sharing of ideas. Foundation for Individual Rights in Edu - In an interview with Reason TV, Kors cation (FIRE), the university “fully honors spoke of the influence faculty ideologies Penn University Professor Alan Kors, its robust promises of freedom of expres - have upon students and the lack of true Princeton ‘64 and Harvard Ph.D ’68, sion” and does not maintain “policies in freedom of speech at many colleges and has been an advocate of free speech serious conflict with free expression.” universities. at Penn for more than four decades. Among Ivy League colleges, Harvard and “Most of our private universities prom - Yale were ranked among the 12 worst ise free speech and equality then deliver “It turned out to be the largest and schools for free speech. selective suppression of speech,” he said. most significant religious event at the The criteria FIRE used in the selection Kors, author of The Shadow Univer - university,” he said. process included whether the university’s sity , has shown countering differing A private university is bound by the policies restricted speech that is protected views, rather than suppressing them, to promises it makes to students, Kors said, under the First Amendment and the be effective in maintaining the freedom of and should be a place of open discourse school’s recent history of censored speech. students at Penn. where anything can be said, even when it Of note is the impact that FIRE co- “The best answer to speech you don’t contradicts the majority views of the founder and Penn Professor Alan Charles like is more speech,” he said. Kors re - faculty. Kors, Princeton ’64 and Harvard Ph.D called an exhibit at Penn that featured Ironically, the very academy that ’68, has had upon independent expres - Andres Serrano’s depiction of the crucifix birthed so many civil and individual sion at the university for more than four amidst the artist’s urine. rights movements in the 1960s is now decades. Some attribute his advocacy of At the time, people approached the pro - limiting the freedoms of students and ad - student independence to Penn’s good fessor and expressed outrage over the dis - vocating policies that treat them more as standing in the free speech arena. play, demanding that Serrano’s work be children than adults. “I think a lot of credit has to go to him,” banned. Instead, Kors suggested that an “The same generation that gave us the said FIRE Senior Vice President Robert event be held to address the so-called art free speech movement has given us ■ Shibley in a Daily Pennsylvanian article. and what the cross means to the university. speech codes,” Kors said.
By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer EVANGELISM WEEKEND Cornell Students Hear the Good News During Three-Day Event
An emphasis on altar calls made truth of the gospel. And while the campus pus to have anything like an altar call. this year’s Evangelism Weekend was the primary focus, local residents also People responded really well.” COCRNELL at Cornell even more poignant. participated in some services. On Friday night alone, roughly 70 Nearly 300 attended the three-day Guest speaker Rev. Sabastian Huynh, an Christians went forward during the altar event, hosted in late September by First urban church planter, suggested incorpo - call to rededicate their lives to Christ, and Ithaca Chinese Christian Church and co- rating altar calls at the end of each event, four non-Christians stood up and ex - sponsored by several campus ministries. rather than having coordinators distribute pressed interest in learning more about According to Jevon Yu ’15, the weekend interest surveys as in previous years. Jesus. Two of them went on to profess provided an opportunity for Christians to “We feel like the altar call is more effec - their faith that evening. invite friends to learn more about God tive,” said Rev. Paul Epp, the pastor of “Seeing people respond to the altar call through guest speakers and hearing the First Ithaca Church. “It’s rare on our cam - filled me with joy as I saw the Spirit work -
Winter 2013 | 11 ON CAMPUS
ing in that room,” said Yu. battle I have to fight every day just to The theme for the weekend was “God convince myself that life is worth it.” in the Midst of Suffering,” an issue In order to minister more effectively Yu says prevents some people from and better understand the suffering of believing. such students, the topic of Evangelism “Suffering is a heart barrier that peo - Weekend’s Friday night session was ple can have toward belief in God, and “Why Would a Good God Allow Suffer - in this way, suffering becomes a per - ing?” A Saturday leadership workshop sonal issue,” said Yu. “But the answer focused on “Shepherding: Caring for to a personal issue is a personal an - Those Who Are Lost and Hurting.” The swer, and that’s where the gospel Sunday sermon at First Ithaca Chinese comes in.” Christian Church dealt with “Finding Huynh shared a powerful testimony Hope When It Hurts.” The Sunday ses - about the resolution he found in Christ. sion was followed by a question and Rev. Sabastian Huynh was the featured A former member of the Chinese Mafia, answer period. speaker for the Evangelical Weekend at he spoke of a life of crime that led him Cornell this fall. While the faith of many was renewed to the brink of suicide before he called and ignited by Evangelism Weekend, Yu out to God. While Huynh’s criminal back - rum last spring that focused on the adds that for some the weekend meant ground may not have proven a connection painful stories many students hold inside. planting seeds that, through prayer and point with his audience, his message of “The anonymous postings really revealed God’s grace, one day may yield a greater suffering and despair resonated. much of the suffering people go through harvest. “I see different kinds of suffering,” said here at Cornell,” said Yu, “and it just “I invited a few of my friends to the Yu, who noted that for some students ac - breaks my heart reading them.” event,” Yu said. “I have been reaching out ademic challenges are overwhelming, One student wrote, “I’m not afraid of to them for a while now, and I have had while others are weighed down by per - death because I often think it’ll be a relief. many good and deep conversations with sonal issues they’re reluctant to share. People come to me with their problems them about Christ. Although they did not For example, Yu said, Campus on a Hill because they think I’ll understand, and I make a profession of faith that night, I’m (campusonahill.org) hosted an online fo - do. They just have no idea how hard of a still praying for them.” ■
By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer ENGAGING PHILADELPHIA National Day of Outreach Spurs Campus Faith Sharing over 24-Hour Period
Students involved with a hand - Williams said it was especially impor - ful of campus ministries and tant for the campaign to include robust PPENN churches at the University of participation from multiple campus or - Pennsylvania shared their faith with ganizations. “Students got a chance to see classmates and companions during a re - people who identified [themselves] as cent national day of outreach. Christians doing something bigger than ENGAGE24 encourages college students their own student organizations,” he said. across the country and beyond to reach out Students involved with Penn Cru to their campuses with Christ’s gospel dur - (phillycru.org) took advantage of a variety ing a 24-hour period. The national Baptist of evangelical tools from Campus Crusade Collegiate Ministry organized the inaugu - for Christ, including Soularium cards, to ral event, which took place on October 11 help explain their faith during ENGAGE24. Jeff Manns, a Cru staffer at the and targeted widespread involvement from The cards feature 50 photographic im - University of Pennsylvania, helped a plethora of evangelical organizations. ages and five simple questions that allow lead ENGAGE24, a national day of “What we intended to do was to blanket users to engage in one-on-one spiritual outreach centered on encouraging the entire [Penn] campus,” said Stan conversations with non-believers. The college students to spread the gospel Williams, who oversees the Baptist Colle - questions explore life issues and provide during a 24-hour period. giate Ministry’s outreaches in Philadel - bridges to dialogues about Christ. phia. “I’m pleased students walked away Cru staffer Carolyn Moneymaker, Penn ENGAGE24. The pair had significant con - with positive experiences.” ’12, teamed with Meryl Arnold ’14 during versations with two female students who
12 | The Ivy League Christian Observer were interested in better defining their person’s needs and questions.” ism at Penn.” beliefs. Ultimately, the images can encourage Clark agreed. “All students here really Moneymaker told one of the students to participants to share deep beliefs and value their time. Any initiative of evangel - ask God to reveal His existence and truth queries. “It truly gives us a window to ism would be encroaching on their time,” to her. She also passed along her business their soul,” Moneymaker said. said Clark, a math major from Lancaster, card and invited the student to attend Cru. Cru staffer Jeff Manns teamed up with Pennsylvania. “I was really shocked at “This was another very positive experi - Eric Clark, a sophomore who leads a Cru how receptive she was.” ence with Soularium,” Moneymaker said. Bible study, to probe spiritual curiosity on As for Williams, the longtime Baptist “It’s such a non-threatening way to invite campus. A pair of female students re - minister said he was pleased to hear reports unbelieving strangers to dialogue about jected the offer, but another young from some Philadelphia students that the their spiritual journeys.” woman participated in a meaningful con - event served as their first experience ex - The interaction involved with Soular - versation for about 30 minutes. plaining Christ’s plan of salvation. One stu - ium “appropriately shifts an evangelist’s Manns said he was touched by Clark’s dent said the day provided an initial focus to the person’s unique struggles and interaction with the student. opportunity to share the gospel in English. questions,” Moneymaker said. “This al - “It was an incredible experience,” he “We’re definitely going to try it again lows the evangelist to lovingly share the said. “Eric was really encouraged. It gave next year,” said Williams. “I hope it be - gospel in a way that best addresses the him a whole new perspective on evangel - comes part of the rhythm at Penn.” ■
By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer ANALYZING CAMPUS CULTURE Brown Campus Newspaper Yields Insight to Where Students Stand on Relationships, Abortion
Nearly 20 percent of the stu - want right now, 56 percent of students re - dents at Brown University ad - sponded that they want an exclusive rela - BBROWN mitted to being involved in the tionship with one person. hook-up culture, according to a poll con - In a 2010 poll by The Brown Daily ducted by The Brown Daily Herald . Yet, Herald , 84 percent of students described that same data reveals that more than themselves as heterosexual, while nearly half of the respondents long for a rela - 6.5 percent stated they were “homosex - tionship with a special someone. ual.” More than five percent of respon - The Herald’s Fall 2012 News Poll re - dents identified themselves as bisexual, flects a complex cultural landscape on while nearly two percent responded as campus. The survey queried 959 students “other.” The 2012 poll did not address through the distribution of written ques - sexual orientation. tionnaires. Students were asked about a Regarding abortion, the 2012 poll A 2012 poll by The Brown Daily Herald myriad of topics, including their sleeping showed that more than 42 percent of stu - revealed that nearly 20 percent of students habits, political tendencies, and their opin - dents believe killing the unborn should were involved in the hook-up culture. ion of university officials. For example, always be legal, while only 3.3 percent of most Brown students reject racial prefer - respondents indicated that it should al - polled last year stated that they committed ence in the school’s admission policy. ways be illegal. In addition, varying num - “no forms of academic dishonesty” com - When it comes to dating, 48 percent of bers of students responded that abortion pared with only 60.2 percent of this year’s undergraduates reported not being in any should be legal only in the first trimester respondents. But The Herald qualifies that kind of sexual or romantic relationship; or in situations involving rape, while spike by reporting that, in 2011, students nearly 25 percent of respondents reported more than a quarter of students surveyed were not asked about unauthorized collab - being in relationships with one person ex - believed it should be legal only in the first oration. Students admitting to unautho - clusively; more than 11 percent admitted and second trimesters. rized collaboration this year account for to casual hook-ups with multiple people. As for academic integrity, a cursory most of perceived increase in cheating. Nearly eight percent admitted to having glance at the figures indicates that aca - In the end, the poll’s results surround - consistent hook-ups with one other per - demic cheating has increased by more ing abortion, hooking up, and cheating son, yet 1.4 percent reported having con - than 17 percent among students in the last provide insight into the campus culture sistent hook-ups with multiple people. year. However, The Herald contends that and the issues and questions facing stu - However, when polled as to what type the facts don’t necessarily speak for them - dents at Brown and on other Ivy League of romantic or sexual relationship they selves. Roughly 80 percent of students campuses. ■
Winter 2013 | 13 INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer THE SACRED CALL TO STUDY Lecture Challenges Students to Build a Culture that Glorifies God
Academic studies can be part of Ultimately, believers should remember a sacred calling. that subduing the earth is part of a royal COCLUMBIA DEVELOPMENT Rather than simply being exercise. Humans, as creatures made in mundane, writing term papers, asking the image of God, have a divine calling to PROFESSIONALS questions in class, and poring over text - develop culture in a way that reflects His SEARCH: books can be part of the fulfillment of glory. God’s plan for humans to exercise domin - “We are the mediators of God’s pres - Los Angeles and ion over the earth. ence in the earth,” Middleton said. The Atlanta That intriguing message came from J. misuse of power results in violence and Richard Middleton, when the professor at sin, something that hinders God’s pres - Do you desire to see our Northeastern Seminary spoke during Co - ence from being manifested on the earth. nation’s culture radically lumbia Faith and Action’s weekly leader - As for Christian students, they should transformed to the glory of ship lecture series on October 4. strive to be faithful in their responsibili - Columbia Faith and Action is a leadership ties to their families, friends, and the God? Are you a devout development ministry supported and re - academy. “Our royal, priestly calling is to Christian with 5 –10 years sourced by Christian Union. extend God’s presence in and throughout experience in financial Middleton, professor of biblical world - relationship development? view and exegesis, told the group of 40 or If so, we invite you to inquire so undergraduates to consider their studies about two new Christian at Columbia University as part of a priestly calling to develop a culture that glorifies Union positions as Directors God. Middleton used several Old Testa - of Public Affairs in Los Angeles ment passages to explain how humans and Atlanta. were created to worship God by using their gifts and abilities to transform the earth As a member of a high- into a culture that glorifies its creator. performing and growing “The human creature was made to wor - advancement team, you will ship in a very specific way, by interacting with the earth,” Middleton said. “We are develop long-term financial commissioned by God to work and de - partnerships with individuals, velop the earth in a way that represents Seminary Professor J. Richard churches, and family and God’s will and brings Him glory.” Middleton spoke at Columbia Faith private foundations. You will Namely, it’s a form of worship when and Action’s weekly leadership lecture raise the sights of donors to humans transform the earth into a com - series in October. what God can do through their plex civilization that features families, churches, schools, governments, technol - our academic world,” Middleton said. investments and prayers. ogy, arts, etc. “You have all kinds of ways to impact Genesis 1 and 2 explain how agriculture people.” Learn how you can become and animal husbandry are at the founda - Jesse Peterson, a Christian Union min - part of God’s work to raise up a tion of human cultural development. Gen - istry fellow at Columbia, said students generation of Christian leaders esis 8 and Psalm 104 highlight man’s role who attended the lecture in Earl Hall equipped and motivated to in cultivating crops that result in bread, Center were inspired by the concepts oil, and wine and taking charge over the Middleton outlined. change our secular culture. flocks, herds, and fish that help supply The undergraduates came away with a sustenance and essential materials. “deeper sense of how their studies really For more information visit: Middleton, a native of Jamaica, is the matter to God and His purposes. If an im - www.Christian-Union.org/DPA author of The Liberating Image: The portant part of being made in the image Imago Dei in Genesis 1 , as well as New of God means ruling over and cultivating Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming the earth as God’s agents, then academic Developing Biblical Eschatology . studies are actually an essential part of Despite the “fallen” state of mankind, that task,” Peterson said. Christian Leaders to “God has not given up on the world,” he “This was a new, radical idea for many Transform Culture said. of them.” ■
14 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer ‘FARE FORWARD’ Dartmouth Alumni Launch National Publication
A group of Ivy League gradu - The Dry Salvages , the ates are shepherding a new third quartet of T.S. DARDTMOUTH publication aimed at offering Eliot’s masterpiece, Four young adults a thoughtful, Christian ap - Quartets . It reflects on proach to culture and a network to assist time, eternity, and hu - them in their pursuits of faith, intellect, manity’s place in between. and vocation. Blair and Schuman are In April, a group of former editors of a optimistic about the audi - Christian journal at Dartmouth College ence for their publication, launched Fare Forward , a national publi - which caters to both print cation that aims to build on the momen - and electronic subscribers. tum created by a growing number of Many of those individuals similar, student-run magazines at top- have ties to leading univer - tier universities. In July 2012, Fare For - sities and familiarity with ward added a Web site (www.fare- collegiate journals. forward.com) that features an electronic More than a dozen version of its publication and blogs. Christian journals operate “A major mission of our publication is at the nation’s leading to form a network and community around universities. In spring it that will impact the country,” said Peter 2004, Jordan Hylden was A group of Ivy League alumni have launched Fare Blair (Dartmouth ’12), editor-in-chief. a sophomore at Harvard Forward , a national publication aimed at the next “We want to gather the next generation of University when he was generation of Christian thought leaders. Christian thought leaders.” struck by the need for a Blair, a former editor of The Dart - Christian magazine to offer intellectual The Eleazar Wheelock Society for Intellec - mouth Apologia , said his team created discourse in the academy. tual Discourse, Service, and Vocation, an Fare Forward , in part, after alumni who As such, Hylden launched The Harvard alumni organization that seeks to encour - participated in Christian journals as un - Ichthus , a campus publication with a age discussions reflecting a Christian dergraduates expressed how much they Christian perspective on issues, literature, worldview at Dartmouth. As well, he serves missed the spiritual and mental stimula - and culture. The Harvard alumnus of as a pastoral intern at Christ Redeemer tion associated with production. In addi - 2006 wanted a collegiate magazine with Church in Hanover, New Hampshire. tion, well-publicized research from a overtones similar to Christianity Today’s As for Schuman, he remains committed Notre Dame University sociologist points Books & Culture , and The Institute on Re - to helping to expand the burgeoning net - to the spiritual struggles some believers ligion and Public Life’s First Things . work of journals. encounter as they transition from college Several Ivy campuses also have publi - “We talk a lot about trying to integrate life to young adulthood, particularly as cations. Undergraduates at Penn debuted faith, reason, and vocation in the modern many delay the traditional passages to a Christian journal in spring 2012, the world and what that looks like,” he said. marriage, established careers, etc. same semester students at Brown part - Likewise, among other young adults As such, during his senior year, Blair nered with the Rhode Island School of with ties to leading universities, the pas - and Andrew Schuman (Dartmouth ’10), Design to re-launch a Christian literary sion for Christian discourse continues the founder of The Dartmouth Apologia , arts journal. Many of the periodicals offer past their undergraduate studies. began exploring options to birth a na - Web versions. Among them, Jordan Monge (Harvard tional publication. Schuman, who also In 2006, Hylden created The Augustine ’12), a former editor of the Ichthus , serves oversees an organization that supports Project Blogspot to facilitate the launch of as a contributing writer to Fare Forward . collegiate Christian journals, directs the journals of Christian thought, and staff Monge now works for The Veritas Forum, Waterman Institute, a Christian study members of journals in New England be - where she is the director of the Northeast center in the Dartmouth community. gan to meet to share their experiences region and the director of content devel - Their efforts included visits to universi - and insights. In 2011, with support from opment. ties with Christian journals and meetings the Cecil B. Day Foundation Inc., Schu - “I’m particularly interested in the inter - with evangelical scholars and journalists, man and Tim Norton, consultant with the section of Christian thought and practice, including Andy Crouch, Cornell ’91, au - Day Foundation, formed The Augustine the ways doctrine shapes how we go thor and special assistant to the president Collective to support the growing about our daily lives,” said Monge. “It’s of Christianity Today International . movement. cool, because there is kind of a wide berth ■ The name Fare Forward is taken from Schuman also is a founding member of from which I can write.”
Winter 2013 | 15 INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT By Jihye Choi, Harvard ’14 ASKING WHY Student Journal Responds to Campus Tragedy in Winter Issue
Why? That was the question ers to reflect on their faith and to chal - The winter issue also featured con - posed in the winter issue of The lenge non-believers in their unbelief, fos - tributions from Nowalk and Mako HAHRVARD Harvard Ichthus , the student tering conversations. Nagasawa, ministry staff leader of journal of Christian thought at Harvard The student pieces are telling of what is Harvard-Radcliffe Christian Fellowship College. The issue—which followed a sui - on their minds—Gyde’s article offers a (InterVarsity). Nagasawa responds to the cide at the dawn of the school year and look into what he sees as the radical good - question of “Why Jesus?” and works from preceded one of the darkest days in the ness of God and the fullness of joy in the the concept of the ring in The Lord of the nation’s history—asked “why” to a variety call to obey, asserting that “Christian obe - Rings , while Nowalk asks the metaphori - of topics and featured pieces ranging dience to Christ is, on a basic level, a pur - cal question, “Why is there winter in from materialism to the Christian “gaze.” suit after a Christian’s own happiness and Narnia?” The fall semester at Harvard Col - Teng-Kuan Ng, an MTS student at lege started with a debate on the Harvard Divinity School, provides a question of “Good without God,” deep analysis of the Christian ethical which was led by Christian Union perspective of pre-marital sex in Ministry Fellow Nick Nowalk. The “Why Wait?” Lastly, Wesley Hill, as - semester was also indelibly marked sistant professor of biblical studies at by a tragedy, that of a student’s sui - Trinity School for Ministry in Am - cide. In the days following this un - bridge, Pennsylvania, reflects on settling news, the staff of The “Why Friendship?” to round out the Harvard Ichthus decided to produce issue. an issue dedicated to the application The issue closes with Maeshiro’s of the question, “Why?” No one an - subversive question, “Why ask why?” ticipated that shortly after distribu - He challenges the notion of Christi - tion, on December 14, the nation anity as a philosophical system and would collectively mourn when 20 provokes the reader to consider that children and six teachers and admin - Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, istrators were senselessly murdered and the life,” not “I am the practical at the Sandy Hook School in New - reason, the epistemology, and the town, Connecticut. ontological principle.” He states, “Be The Ichthus recognized the messi - skeptical of everything, but have ness of the question of “Why?” and some faith in mystery, too.” its inherent mystery. To a commu - Spanning a full 40 pages, the issue nity of doers, this question does not is rich, dense, and thought-provok - offer neatly packaged responses. And ing. Yet, alone it does not do justice it does not remotely explain the no - to the work that God is doing on tion of how. Instead, Editor-in-Chief The goal of The Harvard Ichthus is to promote Harvard’s campus. Roshni Patel ’13 encouraged readers thought and dialogue about Christianity on “It has been truly incredible to see to exercise diligence and patience in campus. the staff triple in size to over twenty- searching for answers to such ques - five in the span of a year,” said Patel. tions in Christ. delight.” Eichner’s appeal for the rele - “God has truly blessed The Ichthus , and Student writers contributed to the vance and value of prayer is telling of her it has been so encouraging to see Chris - theme by writing “Why Obey?” (Aaron belief of the importance of intercession tians from all different backgrounds Gyde ’14) and “Why Pray?” (Margaret when it comes to having a personal rela - come together and use their talents to Eichner ’14). Kelly Maeshiro ’14 and tionship with God. Maeshiro’s piece of - communicate their faith. It is a privilege Stephen Mackereth ’15 penned pieces on fers an inspiring critique of societal for us to have a medium through which “Christianity and the Gaze” and “When institutions, including the Church, and we can articulate our thoughts to reach Things Stop Making Sense,” respectively. the call for Christians to “interrupt the out to a broken world around us that is A formal complement to the shorter, in - smooth operation of its (society’s) ideo - filled with hurting people searching for formal online blog, the print editions of logical fantasy” and gaze upon the invisi - answers.” the Ichthus provide insight into how Har - ble in our society. Mackereth presents a Previous issues of The Harvard vard students think and engage with the prevailing philosophy, material skepti - Ichthus , the daily blog, and more infor - Veritas implications of their faith. These cism, and his rejection of this philosophy mation can be found at http://www. ■ issues also provide a platform for believ - as a foundation for knowledge. harvardichthus.org.
16 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Bijan Aboutorabi, Yale ’13 LEADERSHIP WITHOUT VIRTUE Is Yale Producing Graduates with No Moral Compass?
Editor’s note: The following our first moments on cam - tem of ethics? Do our ex - article appeared in the Yale pus; at commencement, tracurriculars? Does the YALE Daily News . Reprinted with the president of the uni - administration? During permission. versity admits us to the the Title IX controversy, This fall, an alumnus of the Yale Col - “rights and responsibili - many official statements lege Class of 2012, the field manager for ties” (not “rights and priv - pronounced that sexual his father’s congressional re-election ileges”) of Yale alumni, assault was inimical to team, was caught on film acquiescing to a implying that we have a “Yale’s values.” And yet, in sting investigator’s suggestion that he duty to take what we have my four years as a student commit voter fraud. He subsequently re - learned at Yale and use it here, I have yet to see that signed his position on the campaign. for the betterment of the phrase – “Yale’s values” – Over the summer, another 2012 gradu - world. Sometimes, it can applied to anything more ate lost her internship at The Wall Street be hard to tell whether this concrete or less specific Journal after she mistook a quotidian fixation on leadership is than the disapproval of piece about the reopening of a footbridge entirely healthy; in my rape, which ought to be a in Manhattan for a creative writing exer - opinion, it often has the presupposition of any cise, inventing fictional sources and at - savor of a smug compla - Bijan Aboutorabi, Yale ’13, meaningful moral educa - tributing quotes to them. cency or an unseemly asks, “Do our classes tion—not its first and only Though these stories may appear to be messiah complex. Either impart any coherent lesson. isolated, anecdotal events, they should way, the fixation is unde - system of ethics?” Nor is the faculty worry us. The stakes are higher than one niable. Ours is an educa - concerned with moral in - young man’s future in politics or one tion for leadership, and rarely are we struction. There are, un doubtedly, many young woman’s career in journalism. Yale allowed to forget it. teachers who see their job as the bettering prides itself on educating the leaders of It is therefore frightening how little of their students’ whole being, including tomorrow, but if these stories are any in - concern Mother Yale evinces for the the cultivation of virtue. For the most dication, the leaders it is producing lack moral education of her charges. Fifty part, though, our professors are profes - character, judgment, and virtue. Unless years ago, the philosopher Henry Veatch sionals, not mentors. They were hired for Yale recovers its moral compass and re - commented on the American university’s their specialized academic competencies, learns how to educate its students in the accelerating abdication of moral author - not because anyone thought they would virtues required for leadership, the nation ity: “Even the professors of ethics nowa - add to the university’s ability to convert would do well to look elsewhere for its fu - days…would not for a minute consider it bright pupils into principled and pro - ture leaders. their business to instruct students in such found leaders. Neither Yale’s academic excellence, nor time-honored themes as ‘the difference Many, I am sure, will feel that this is its social culture, distinguishes its under - between right and wrong,’ ‘the good life proper, that it isn’t the university’s place to teach virtue, that the academy should “Unless Yale recovers its moral confine itself to academics and leave the students to their own moral explana - compass and relearns how to educate tions. Yet, if young men and women are to spend four years of their lives acutely its students in the virtues required for conscious of their present and future privilege, they had better receive a leadership, the nation would do well to sound moral education to prepare them for the use of that privilege. Yes, there is look elsewhere for its future leaders.” room for disagreement over the precise virtues Yale should be imparting. But graduate program; both are similar for man,’ or the obligation of being ‘For when Yalies are willing to participate in enough to those of hundreds of other col - God, For Country, And For Yale.’” voter fraud or fabricate journalistic leges and universities. What sets Yale and Admittedly, the Harvard-educated sources, it is clear that their moral its peer institutions apart is that they con - Veatch may have taken a more than education has been so deficient that they sider themselves – and are considered – philosophic pleasure in that jab at New have not even picked up the preliminary training grounds for future leaders par England’s second-oldest college. But we virtues of self-respect and integrity, excellence. We undergraduates have the cannot deny the substance of the charge. without which no true leadership is gospel of leadership preached to us from Do our classes impart any coherent sys - possible. ■
Winter 2013 | 17 LOVE AND MARRIAGE By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer
MARRIAGE- WHY KNOT? Love and Fidelity Network Conference Draws 200 As students prepare for marriage, they need to be aware of the differ - ences between a covenantal marriage and a consumer-style version. Namely, a covenantal marriage mandates a lasting commitment to a spouse, while the consumer-oriented alternative only involves a com - mitment as long as the relationship meets individual needs. That was the message of a plenary session led by Roland Warren, Princeton ’83 and Wharton MBA ’86, during the fifth annual Sexuality, Integrity and the University Conference in early November at Princeton University. Warren is the chief executive officer of Care Net, a Christian pregnancy center network headquartered in Virginia.
18 | The Ivy League Christian Observer About 200 students, alumni, and faculty never met a single mom who wished her from 30 colleges across the United States at - daughter would be one.” tended the weekend conference. Approxi - Along related lines, the director of the mately 45 students were from Ivy League Marriage and Religion Research Institute schools. told students the decline of marital stability The Love and Fidelity Network, which in the United States hurts the country’s eco - provides training to collegiate chastity or - nomic productivity. However, the more im - ganizations, hosted the conference. Chris - mediate impact manifests directly upon tian Union served as a co-sponsor. The Love children and their household conditions. and Fidelity Network (www.loveandfidelity. “We have a major crisis of male and fe - org) was founded by Cassandra Hough, male. Most American men and women can - Princeton ’07. Hough, the organization’s not stand each other enough to raise that senior adviser, launched the Anscombe So - child to adulthood,” said Patrick Fagan, a ciety (blogs.princeton.edu/Anscombe) at social science researcher who holds a doc - Princeton in 2005. torate from University College Dublin. During an afternoon session, Warren en - The breakdown of marriages also has couraged students to approach marriage as spawned a crisis of non-belonging and, ulti - Roland Warren, chief executive a sacred institution, requiring sacrifice in - mately, a culture of rejection. “Rejection is officer of Care Net, was one of the stead of self-fulfillment. During his presen - keynote speakers at the annual powerful in its ill effects on both men and tation—entitled “Why Knot? First Comes Love and Fidelity Network women, on adults and children,” Fagan said. Love, Then Comes What?”—he implored conference held at Princeton “We are made to belong.” students to be mindful of the vast gulf be - University. As for the ties to economic productivity, tween a covenant marriage and a utilitarian married households with children top one, highlighting the concepts of noted family researchers. household categories in income, and married men tend to work “One is about what you get, and one is about what you the longest hours. give,” said Warren, the former head of the National Father - Thus, with divorce rampant in recent decades, “the productiv - hood Initiative. ity of the United States is dropping.” The overall effect also re - “In a consumer marriage, you stay connected as long as sults in lower tax contributions to the U.S. Treasury. your spouse is meeting your need at an acceptable cost. Oth - In addition, Fagan told students to be mindful of the impact of erwise, you cut your losses.” religious worship on most of life’s key sectors. Namely, teens and Warren told students to avoid buying into the myth that co - undergraduates who worship weekly have lower rates of sexual habitating works just as well as marriage—and provides a activity outside of wedlock. Likewise, there are ties between in - handy trial run. “The secret sauce in a good marriage is dividuals who worship on a weekly basis and health, happiness, covenant commitment. It’s not ‘try before you buy.’ You can - and education. not sample. You’re either in or not.” Ultimately, low ideals produce low rewards, and high standards result Warren told students to avoid buying into in high rewards. the myth that cohabitating works just as As well, Warren paused to counter the cultural notion that a wide range well as marriage... of sexual experiences and partners provides valuable training for mar - riage intimacy. “This is based on faulty logic. Married sex is Ultimately, fruitful marriages are the key to rebuilding Amer - about fidelity,” he said. “How can having multiple partners ican society, Fagan said. prepare you for fidelity? Practicing with a lot of folks does not Also during the conference, Christian Union Ministry Fellow lead to more perfect marriage.” Ali Smith, Princeton ’06, led a discussion for ministry leaders Warren told students to embrace the importance of two- about ways to express their views on issues tied to sexual in - parent households and remember the special role of fathers. tegrity on their campuses. “Unmarried households are becoming the norm. There’s a Overall, conference organizers were pleased with the event, delinking of marriage and parenting,” he said. “Kids need sta - which was held on November 2 and 3, during the aftermath of bility and structure. It’s difficult to be what you don’t see. I’ve Hurricane Sandy. “We chose to go forward with the conference because we know Photos (clockwise from top left): Princeton Professor just how valuable it is to the students who attend,” said Caitlin Robbie George, Love and Fidelity Network staff and Seery (Princeton ’09), director of programs at the Love and Fi - conference attendees, Caitlyn Seery of the Love and delity Network. “Without an opportunity to come together and Fidelity Network, Christian Union ministry fellow Ali be strengthened, it can be a daunting task to bring a counter-cul - Smith, conference attendees. tural message to campus.” ■
Winter 2013 | 19 LOVE AND MARRIAGE By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer WHAT IS MARRIAGE? Book Philosophically Defends ‘Conjugal’ Union between a Man and a Woman
Two years ago, a group of Ivy League alumni shook up the public discourse on marriage in America by pub - ALIL IVY lishing an article in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy that changed the focus of the debate from who should marry whom to what marriage is in the first place. Princeton Professor Robert George (Harvard Law ’81), Notre Dame Ph.D. Candidate Ryan Anderson (Princeton ’04), and Princeton Ph.D. and Yale Law J.D. Candidate Sherif Girgis (Princeton ’08) have turned their work into a recently-released book, What Is Marriage? Man & Woman: A Defense . The book, says Anderson, is a result of the overwhelming re - sponse the writers received to their original journal piece. “The reaction we received from readers of our [article] was that it was the best piece of philosophy they had ever read ex - plaining why marriage of its very nature was a union of man and woman,” he says. However, some readers had difficulty explaining the authors’ argument to those who disagreed. Therefore, they penned the (L to R) Sherif Girgis (Princeton ’08), Professor Robert book to explain further their position and make it easier for de - George (Harvard Law ’81), and Ryan Anderson (Princeton fenders of biblical marriage to share the information. ’04) have co-authored the ground-breaking book, What Is The writers explain the conjugal definition of marriage as a Marriage? Man & Woman: A Defense . “comprehensive union of persons,” adding that marriage “unites two people in their most basic dimensions, in their minds and other side to reconsider their views,” says Anderson. bodies; second, it unites them with respect to procreation, fam - Others agree. ily life, and its broad domestic sharing; and third, it unites them Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Mar - permanently and exclusively.” riage, wrote a letter on the book’s Facebook page urging action While the authors’ conjugal marriage definition does not include and lauding the book’s timeliness. same-sex unions, they contend that the book isn’t about debating “Our opponents will use the election results to push the idea the morality of homosexuality. In fact, the authors challenge the no - that the radical redefinition of marriage is ‘inevitable,’” Brown tion that the conjugal view of marriage is bigoted and lacks compas - writes. “Now more than ever, we have to fight back hard with sion for the needs of same-sex couples. prayers—with strong arguments.” “We will show that one can defend the conjugal view of marriage Brown calls it, “the best short, accessible argument for mar - while bracketing this moral question and that the conjugal view can riage as a union of man and woman.” be wholeheartedly embraced without denigrating same-sex at - Pastor and author Rick Warren also confirms the relevance of tracted people, or ignoring their needs, or assuming that their de - What Is Marriage? “This book brilliantly explains why the defi - sires could change,” they write. nition of marriage is so critical and why the strengthening of Despite being Christians, the writers say they don’t base their marriages is absolutely essential to our freedom and our future,” views on faith beliefs, citing that ancient thinkers who were ab - he said. sent of religious convictions—such as Aristotle, Socrates, and But that strength, says Anderson, must be built among couples Xenophanes—reached “remarkably similar views of marriage” themselves. “The damage done to marriage has primarily been that concur with the conjugal definition. the result of bad thinking and behaving by heterosexuals,” he The authors add that the conjugal definition is based on the said, citing pre-marital and extra-marital sex, divorce, pornogra - public good and the welfare of children, whom they say benefit phy, and other unhealthy behaviors as preludes to the movement most from being raised in a home with a mother and father. to redefine marriage. However, the book is more than definitions, information, and “Only in such a world,” he says, “where sex and marriage are sociological implications. It serves as a catalyst for social engage - seen as little more than instruments of individuals’ emotional ment and “grist for democratic deliberation.” In effect, it serves satisfaction, is a more thoroughgoing and explicit redefinition of as a resource for conversation and taking action on behalf of marriage even thinkable.” marriage in America. Therefore, Anderson and his colleagues hope their book will “Our nation is having a large social and political debate right inspire a clear understanding of marriage. now about the nature and purpose of marriage, and we hope our As Anderson puts it, “We’d like to see the book’s impact start book will contribute to that discussion by equipping people on at home, expand to the local community, and extend to our na - our side with the best arguments and challenging people on the tional discussions.” ■
20 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer MARRIAGE AND THE PUBLIC GOOD Report Defends Marital Unions as Beneficial for Individuals and Society
In 2008, the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, New Jersey released a report ALIL IVY that states how marriage is in the public interest. Marriage is a personal Marriage and the Public Good: Ten Principles is a union, intended for the scholarly resource that taps the wisdom of experts 1 whole life of husband from the fields of economics, history, law, philoso - and wife. phy, psychiatry, and sociology. The document was released to make a substantial contribution to the marriage debate, stating: “In re - Marriage is a profound cent years, marriage has weakened, with serious neg - human good, elevating ative consequences for society as a whole. Four developments are especially troubling: divorce, ille - 2 and perfecting our social gitimacy, cohabitation, and same-sex marriage.” and sexual nature. In addition to showing how traditional marriage “serves children, women, men, and the common good,” the Witherspoon Institute also sought to give Ordinarily, both men and women college students a viewpoint not often heard in to - who marry are better off as a result. day’s public discourse: “As university teachers and on 3 behalf of students, we need to make this statement since marriage is above all a choice for the young: Marriage protects and promotes the they need arguments to counterbalance the domi - well-being of children. nant arguments now attacking marriage as unjust 4 and undesirable, and they need to know what mar - riage is in order to sustain their own marriages and Marriage sustains civil society and promotes raise their own children.” the common good. The report cites data that demonstrates how tradi - 5 tional marriage has served the betterment of society, particularly in the areas of bearing and raising chil - Marriage is a wealth-creating institution, dren, as well as providing order and stability to adult increasing human and social capital. sexual unions and civilizing men by providing a sense 6 of purpose, social status, and diversion from vice. Marriage and the Public Good also debunks the When marriage weakens, the equality contemporary argument that the civil union of a gap widens, as children suffer from the same-sex couple does not impact anyone else’s mar - 7 disadvantages of growing up in homes riage. Indeed, the so-called personal choices of civil unions, divorce, single parenting, and cohabitation without mothers and fathers. all have a very public consequence on society as a whole. Further, measures that stabilize marriage have far- A functioning marriage culture serves to reaching societal consequences as well. They include protect political liberty and foster limited extending waiting periods for no-fault divorce, end - 8 government. ing marriage penalties for low-income Americans, and “protecting the interests of children from the fer - tility industry,” among others. The laws that govern marriage matter “As scholars, we are persuaded that the case for significantly. marriage can be made and won at the level of rea - 9 son,” the report states. “Marriage protects children, men and women, and the common good.” “Civil marriage” and “religious marriage” Marriage and the Public Good and other re - cannot be rigidly or completely divorced sources, such as The Social Cost of Pornography, can 10 from one another. be ordered at the Witherspoon Institute’s Web site, ■ www.winst.org.
Winter 2013 | 21 LOVE AND MARRIAGE By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer ON OFFENSE Pro-Bowl Center Stands for Marriage, Rights of Children
Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, Harvard ’98, goes we allow genderless marriage to be made law, the implication is on the offensive when it comes to protecting marriage that the contributions of part of our community, either men or HAHRVARD and the rights of children who can be adversely af - women, are somehow insignificant and less valuable.” fected by same-sex marriages. In his newspaper editorial, Birk called upon his experience Birk is a public advocate for marriage in his home state of Min - working with his wife at crisis pregnancy centers to laud the nesota, where he spoke to a crowd of roughly 2,000 at the Min - “heroic” efforts of single parents; but he also stated that despite neapolis Rally for Religious Freedom in June. The six-time Pro those efforts and the resilience of many children, society ought Bowl football player also appeared in an online video for the not dismiss the “potential long-term effects” on children if they Minnesota Catholic Conference and encouraged fellow Catholics don’t know or receive love from their fathers or mothers. Each to support his state’s Marriage Protection Amendment, which parent, states Birk, “plays a vital role in the raising of a child.” proposes the preservation of the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. “Outside and unfortunately even inside our own parishes we have people telling us to stop talking about marriage, an institu - tion that the church has been talking about for thousands of years,” Birk states in the video. “They say if we stand up and talk about the natural definition of marriage, that we are somehow being mean or bullies. Supporting the basic rights of children and the authentic rights of people with same-sex attraction are not mutually exclusive, and we must resist the forces that are telling us otherwise.” This fall, Birk penned a pro-marriage editorial in opposition to some of his fellow National Football League players, including teammate Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker who has written op-ed pieces and appeared in television ads supporting same-sex marriage in Maryland. On Election Day, however, voters in Maryland approved a ballot question that made same-sex “mar - riage” legal in their state. “Same-sex unions may not affect my marriage specifically, but it will affect my children,” Birk stated in the opening line of his editorial that ran in the Minnesota Star Tribune. The piece also NFL player Matthew Birk, Harvard ’98, is speaking out for garnered attention from a variety of national media outlets. marriage. But according to an article in the Baltimore Sun , Birk said his political views weren’t intended to cause locker-room dissen - Because of his views, Birk has received criticism from some sion, and he said that he notified Ayanbadejo about his editorial who’ve labeled him an anti-gay bigot. But others see him as a before it ran, so his teammate wouldn’t be blindsided. hero. Birk, a father of six, has focused his editorial and video on the “It says a great deal about the character of a man who does the welfare of children. right thing even when he has much to lose,” writes Michael J. Matt in The Remnant , a national Catholic news - paper. “Matt has risked his reputation and pro - "Marriage redefinition will affect the fessional career in the name of doing what’s right, and I’d encourage Remnant readers to broader well-being of children and the pray for him. He’s now on the frontline, and the liberals in media and politics are going to crucify welfare of society." him if they can.” But despite how others might view him, Birk —Matt Birk, Harvard '98 remains firm in his stance as a Christian and an advocate for marriage. “It’s unfair to children if we don’t make every effort to stand up “I am speaking out on this issue because it is far too important for their rights, to be known and loved by their mother and their to remain silent,” Birk explained in his editorial. “Marriage rede - father whenever possible,” he said. “While divorce, death, and finition will affect the broader well-being of children and the other circumstances too often prevent it, no child should be in - welfare of society. As a Christian and a citizen, I am compelled to tentionally deprived of knowing their mother and their father. If care about both.” ■
22 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Dave Kurz, Princeton ’12 WHY COFFEE DATES TRUMP DFMOS (DANCE FLOOR MAKEOUTS) Alumnus Challenges Status Quo at Princeton with Column
Editor’s note: The following I wanted to be the guy girls could article was reprinted with trust, the guy who protects girls permission from The Daily rather than taking advantage of Princetonian , the student newspaper at them, the guy a father would want Princeton University. Columnist Dave his daughter to be dating. Kurz ’12, an intern with Christian Union, Those new desires pushed me to challenged the student body to re-think go old-school to find my new fa - being a part of the hook-up culture on vorite way of interacting with The Street (a row of eating clubs) at ladies: the coffee date. Instead of Princeton. snogging them on a beer-soaked d- During my freshman year at Prince - floor, I began taking the interesting ton, I experienced my fair share of excit - girls in my life to Small World Cof - ing make-out seshes, from some lean-to fee to get to know them. And if smooching on Outdoor Action to my you’re a single who is not in on the first dance floor make-out at Cloister. secret, let me tell you: coffee dates But one night in particular stands out will radically improve the quality of in my mind as the defining moment your interactions with the opposite when my core beliefs duked it out with sex. They’re fun, easy, and low- my 19-year-old sex drive. I’d been danc - commitment, yet still give you an ing at Tiger Inn with a cute girl I knew opportunity to explore a connection and—without really thinking about it— with someone in the context of a found myself walking back with her real, sober conversation. Getting to from The Street to her place. After sit - know a girl’s personality, back - ting on a bench and talking for a half Christian Union Intern Dave Kurz, Princeton ’12, ground, and interests before be - hour, she gave a little shiver and asked if extolled the virtues of coffee dates as an coming acquainted with the curve alternative to the hook-up culture in The Daily I wanted to come inside to her room. As of her butt somehow feels closer to Princetonian . I walked up the stairs with her, my mind the way things ought to be. on our conversation about tennis or Coffee dates also encourage clear Vermont or something, it gradually dawned on me that she prob - communication in a way that ambiguous make-out sessions do ably didn’t want to go inside just because she was cold. The real - not. Simply telling girls whether I’m interested in them has been ity of the approaching hook-up really hit home to me when she freeing for me. I no longer have those awkward freshman-year offered to kick out a friend sleeping on her couch so we could experiences of sitting in precept across from a girl I’d made out have the room to ourselves. with on the dance floor a few nights earlier. And straight talk is The choice was clear: go at it with an attractive, available girl kinder to the girl. It’s helped me avoid leading a girl along with or refuse my desire and head home. I remember blinking once or kisses that express an interest I never intended. Open lines of twice, scratching my head, and thinking about my next move. As communication have helped me show my respect for the gal, that I stalled and pondered, something inside told me that the hook- I value her enough to tell her what I’m thinking. up just wasn’t right. I shouldn’t kiss her. I shouldn’t put my So in my book, coffee dates are ultimately far more satisfying hands all over her body and use her for my pleasure, only to go than dance floor make-outs. I’m not here to tell you that Wither - back to being mere acquaintances the next day. I shouldn’t make spoon Cafe is where you’ll meet your future spouse. But I will say promises with my body that weren’t backed up in my heart and that, in my experience, hooking up hasn’t helped me find the real mind. As tempting as the potential hook-up was, and as much as intimacy and relationship I was hoping for. my body burned for it, I felt deep down that there was a greater After all, we get what we pay for. A cheap hook-up on a satisfaction in restraint than indulgence. So I hugged her, said drunken Saturday night often buys us a cheap reward: tempo - goodnight, and left. rary gratification, followed by hollowness and superficiality in My interactions with girls shifted dramatically soon thereafter. our search for intimacy. On the other hand, a slightly heftier in - I no longer went out looking to grind or DFMO with the hottest vestment of time and energy with another person can lead us to girls. I no longer wanted to be just another guy on a nighttime the precious reward of a deep relationship built on trust, mutual prowl looking for his next kill — a conqueror looking for a victim. respect, and joy. Instead, I wanted to be the knight with a streak of dirt across his So why not start with paying for a couple medium coffees? face who puts his life on the line to save a girl from her distress. Only $4.25 at Starbucks. ■
Winter 2013 | 23 LOVE AND MARRIAGE By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer ‘A REMARKABLE TURN’ After Promiscuous Past, Brown Alumnus Seeks to Promote Healthy Sexuality
As a freshman at Brown University, Damon Owens pro-life organizations based in became swept up in the campus’ rampant hook-up North Carolina, which calls at - BBROWN culture. tention to the negative effects Though he entered the university as a virgin from a devout of anti-family forces upon the Catholic family, the native of a rural New Jersey town and for - black community. mer Eagle Scout quickly found himself reveling in a rowdy party Owens began lecturing in scene centered on alcohol and sex. 2005 for the Theology of the “I was just completely unprepared for college,” said Owens, Body Institute, which is head - Brown ’88. “Within the first week of college, I started doing quartered in Exton, Pennsylva - everything I swore I wouldn’t do. I was going to have a good time nia. He later became a certified in college and get back to God later.” trainer for the organization’s “I was lost, really lost.” marriage-preparation program, Today, Owens trumpets the virtues of faith, family, and tradi - which is used by more than 30 tional values through his work as the executive director of the dioceses. Theology of the Body Institute, a Catholic non-profit foundation In December 2011, Owens that promotes spiritual perspectives on sex and family planning stepped into a full-time role as and highlights the dignity of masculinity and femininity. executive director, a job he says Damon Owens, Brown ’88, “I feel so blessed,” said Owens, who studied mechanical engi - offers opportunities to high - is the executive director at neering. “It’s been a remarkable turn.” light the dignity of the human the Theology of the Body While a graduate student at the University of California at person and role of sexuality Institute. Berkeley, Owens returned to faith through the influence of his within marriage. future wife and their decision to stop engaging in premarital sex. “There’s a beautiful language and approach to dealing with “Melanie had an active, conscious sense of something being these issues,” he said. wrong,” Owens said. “We came back to faith by becoming chaste, Through his work, Owens often appears on Catholic and secu - choosing not to have sex.” lar broadcasts to comment on topics related to marriage, family, After the couple married in 1993, they “grew in intimacy with and the Theology of the Body. one another and with Christ,” Owens said. “There was a healing Before stepping into ministry, he worked as an engineer at that moves us to speak.” Today, the couple has eight children, in - AT&T Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies in New Jersey in the cluding two adoptees, and resides in suburban Philadelphia. 1990s. In 2001, he was part of a team that launched Celiant Owens, who left engineering to focus on ministry in 2002, Corp., a spinoff of Bell Labs and Lucent and a leader in power wants believers to understand the power, dignity, and beauty of amplifiers and radio frequency subsystems for 2G and 3G wire - the gift of sexuality within marriage. “Sex is good,” he said. “Your less systems. masculinity is good, and your femininity is good.” When Owens exited the corporate world, he “saw there was a In 2003, Damon and Melanie Owens founded Joy-Filled huge need for stronger marriage preparation,” and his mission Marriage of New Jersey and New Jersey Natural Family Plan - was born. ning Association, non-profit organizations that offer courses, He remains committed to sharing and teaching others about seminars, and conferences to married and engaged couples. He the gift and beauty of sexuality within marriage. “I enjoy taking also has served as the spokesman for the Life, Education and very complicated concepts and making them understood and en - Resource Network, a national consortium of African-American, joyed by others,” he said. ■
Today, Owens trumpets the virtues of faith, family and traditional values through his work as the executive director of the Theology of the Body Institute, a Catholic nonprofit foundation that promotes spiritual perspectives on sex and family planning and highlights the dignity of masculinity and femininity.
24 | The Ivy League Christian Observer PRAYER POWER By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer NIGHT ‘LIFE’ Saturday Evening Prayer Group Intercedes for Classmates, Campus
A group of Princeton Univer - faith that God will redeem the brokenness that the enemy has used to stifle Christian sity students are devoting their we see around us, both within our min - life on campus,” she said. PRINPCETON Saturday evenings to seeking istries and outside them,” said Haley, also Evelyn, who serves as co-chaplain and God for spiritual transformation and re - an assistant Bible Course leader with PFA. treasurer of the Princeton University vival on campus from the heart of the uni - Nahrie Chung ’16 echoed those com - Gospel Ensemble, also is involved with versity’s party scene. ments, noting the students are asking Legacy, PFA, and Princeton Leaders in More than a dozen students are assem - God to “stir up hunger among students to Christ. bling at 9:45 p.m. in a basement room at experience Him.” Ali Smith ’06, a ministry fellow with the the Campus Club, a university facility on “There seems to be a growing discon - Christian Union, said she is pleased to see Prospect Avenue available for student tentment with the rampant drunkenness students embracing the ministry’s em - gatherings and near the famed eating clubs and hook-up culture on campus,” she phasis upon evangelism and the seeking- in the hub of Prince - God lifestyle. ton’s social sector. “The students re - During the fall se - ally have a heart of mester, Jessica Haley intercession to pray ’14 began organizing and cry out on be - the sessions to pray half of their campus for an outpouring of and peers,” she said. God’s spirit on cam - “They are interced - pus and to intercede ing that they might for peace and unity know God.” among believers on In addition, stu - campus. dents said they wel - Prayer moves God’s come opportunities heart. “It shakes to promote unity things up in heaven,” among campus min - Haley said. “Our istries. campus needs to be “When we come renewed and re - together to pray, all A group of Princeton University students are praying for transformation on vived. That won’t campus—from the heart of the university’s party scene. Jessica Haley ’14 and our stylistic prefer - happen without a Nahrie Chung ’16 are among the students who are assembling in a basement ences and differ - move of God.” room at the Campus Club. ences melt away,” The meetings in - said Melody Falter clude intercessors from campus ministries added. “As students grow desperate for ’15. “We’re simply brothers and sisters in such as Legacy, Manna Christian Fellow - something bigger than themselves to fill Christ, interceding on behalf of Princeton.” ship (www.princeton.edu/manna), Prince - the inward emptiness, they are slowly be - Falter, a South Carolina native, also ton Faith and Action (pfanda.com), ginning to look to the praying believers on noted PFA is encouraging participants in Princeton Evangelical Fellowship (pef. campus.” evangelical ministries across campus to mycpanel.princeton.edu), and Princeton Likewise, Christ is worthy of the adora - attend its noon prayer sessions on Fri - Leaders in Christ. Legacy and Princeton tion of Princeton students, said Chung, days in the Campus Club. “You can never Faith and Action (PFA) are leadership de - who participates in Manna and PFA. get enough prayer,” she said. velopment ministries supported and re - “We know we have been placed at Ultimately, the students want to see sourced by Christian Union. Princeton for a divine purpose, and we their classmates embrace Christ as their The students gather to “bring before long for Jesus to reign over Princeton,” personal savior. God our Christian body and the min - Chung said. “We are praying for His glory The intercessors pray for their class - istries we all represent, and to petition to be manifested in the lives of our mates to “be able to come to know the Him for guidance,” said Haley. “What we classmates, our professors, and our Lord, His works, His love, and grace,” most strongly desire is that God would administrators.” said Shawn Du ’14. The economics major bring about His will in and through us.” Ashley Evelyn ’13 noted the group is also participates in Manna. In addition, the students pray for their praying from a spiritually strategic loca - “We pray against (any) barriers to the classmates to turn to God amidst the tion on campus. “We are gathering on [message of] Jesus—that truly His beauty, emptiness of the hook-up and drinking ‘The Street,’ because we recognize that glory, and works cannot be contained,” cultures on campus. “Mostly, we pray in the party life at Princeton is one great way Du said. ■
Winter 2013 | 25 PRAYER POWER By William Poon, Cornell ’13 PUTTING ON LOVE Students Gather for a Special Night of Praise and Prayer
In November, students from Christine Yo ’13, a singer in the worship various campus ministries at band, said the event “was a much-needed CORNELLC Cornell gathered for Put On drink of water for a relatively dry season Love, a night of praise and prayer. in the Cornell body.” Hermann said it The two-hour event was originally “was an awesome night of praise for the scheduled as an outdoor praise concert, King of the Universe, and as a result, I do which fell through because of regulations believe that it helped to show Christians and frigid weather conditions. But ac- on campus that their Christian family ex- cording to student organizers, God tends beyond their [ministry].” guided the whole planning process and As for the impact on non-believers, led them to use a small student engineer- Chen believed many people walking past ing lounge that was the event were curi- open to the public ous about what was and other students going on. “I think studying nearby. that the kind of mu- Robin Ying ’14 sic we were singing helped plan Put On was very different Love, drawing in- from what most spiration from Chi- people expect of re- nese churches in his ligious worship,” he California home- said. town that gather After promoting monthly for a Put On Love via prayer and praise Facebook, Ying “re- night based on Acts ceived many ques- 4:31. Ying had a tions regarding the Put On Love was held out of a desire to very strong desire to event that led to fur- worship and praise God and to unify, bring something ther discussion and as one body, the campus ministries. similar to Cornell conversation about and worked with students in other organ- [his] faith.” Yo said she believes Put On izations to begin an inter-ministry unity Love was one of the many steps toward movement. larger revival on campus. Other students Will Hermann ’13 said, “God has been agreed, saying that there was a shift in the burdening Christians with a hunger for atmosphere toward a deeper understand- greater community on campus.” Her- ing of their purpose at Cornell. mann added that after meditating on The atmosphere at the event was Colossians 3:14-16, “God burdened our lively and intimate. Believers raised hearts with this image, so we pursued him their hands in worship, jumping along on it.” to the songs, and also sat in small The unifying factor that brought all the groups for prayer. participants together was a desire to sim- Chen said that “worshiping always fills ply praise God. Josephine Chen ’14 me up and makes me feel closer to God.” echoed that sentiment, saying, “What Yo added that “God reminded me of how brought people together was a mutual beautiful I am to Him—that though I may love for God and a desire to see Him lifted feel ugly and unworthy at times, those high.” Ying added that the central catalyst feelings alone cannot separate me from was “Jesus and a desire to simply worship His love.” God with our Christian brothers and As for the future, the students said they sisters.” are passionate about planning another Students said Put On Love helped in- night of praise and prayer for the Chris- crease both their focus on God and their tian body at Cornell and believe that God focus on the people around them, both is working mightily on the campus believers and non-believers. through it. ■
26 | The Ivy League Christian Observer IN PERSON By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer SERVING GOD AND COUNTRY Dartmouth Freshman Seeks Military Career through ROTC
As many Dartmouth freshmen Last year, Berg and his brother shared adjust to campus life and ex - a journey of a different sort—cycling DARDTMOUTH plore possibilities for the fu - 15,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina. ture, one first-year student is pursuing a The photojournalistic and philanthropic more certain path that calls him to serve trek took them through nine countries in God and his country. nine months and raised $40,000 for a lo - David Berg ’16 is a member of the Army cal Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) Berg’s home state of North Dakota. and intends to pursue a commission as an And just like the brotherhood and ca - active-duty officer upon graduation. maraderie that inspires his faith and com - A sense of service mitment to ROTC, it While Dartmouth never severed its ties and camaraderie are was a shared mission with ROTC, Berg said he’s aware that the two primary factors in and faith that Berg says size of the program decreased during the Berg’s desire to pursue kept him and his “don’t ask, don’t tell” protest. Recently, a military career, as he brother together and however, the Dartmouth ROTC has be - finds similarities be - “fighting for every come more present and active on campus. tween his professional mile.” Likewise, the university can be less calling and his call to “God was there with than receptive to those with vibrant Christianity. us all along, too. So Christian faith. But Berg, like a good sol - “My fellow cadets many miracles, big and dier, is not moved. are much like my small, kept us going,” “I am thankful for the faith, hope, and brothers and sisters in he said. “People were a love that I have,” he said. “When God faith,” said Berg. “Be it big blessing to us moves me to act or witness, I trust that a 6 a.m. workout or a everywhere.” call to action.” training exercise in the In contrast, univer - Berg attributes the Christian commu - woods of New Hamp - sity campuses have not nity on campus—including Dartmouth shire, we work to - been as supportive of College Faith and Action—with fostering gether toward a students seeking to his faith journey through Bible courses, common goal. It re - pursue an officer’s weekly meetings, and fellowship among quires fortitude and David Berg ’16 sees similarities commission through believers. Dartmouth College Faith and purpose. Faith is the between serving in ROTC and ROTC. Many colleges Action is a leadership development min - same way.” serving in ministry. ended the programs in istry supported and resourced by Chris - And faith born from protest of the Depart - tian Union. that fortitude and purpose is what this fu - ment of Defense policy toward members As Berg pursues his calling as a servant ture military leader says influences his with same-sex attraction. leader, he hopes to be a blessing to others, thought process and decision-making. “It is an anchor, an unshakeable confi - dence, and a guiding force in the midst of “I am thankful for the faith, hope, and adversity,” said Berg, who noted he’s spent time in prayer for discernment re - love that I have. When God moves me garding the realities of a military career. Helping to give clarity and inspiration to act or witness, I trust that call to to Berg’s career choice is the example set action.” by his brother Isaiah, Dartmouth ’11, who recently completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. The so-called “don’t ask, don’t tell” pol - as he serves his country and follows God’s “It wasn’t something I considered be - icy implemented during the Clinton ad - call on his life. fore or even knew existed at Dartmouth,” ministration was repealed under “I believe that serving others, being a said Berg regarding ROTC. “It didn’t take President Obama’s administration. With blessing to others, and making a differ - long for me to see it as a tremendous op - that, many campuses have once again ence are worthy goals, no matter the pro - portunity. It’s awesome.” embraced the officer training program. fession,” said Berg. ■
Winter 2013 | 27 IN REVIEW By Marvin Olasky, Yale ’71 THE SLIPPERY SLOPE Books Document the Decline of Once-Christian Colleges into Bastions of Unbelief
Editor’s note: The following the divinity of Jesus because I believe in Burtchaell shows that many college presi - the divinity of man. I believe that man dents cared more about respectability in ALIL IVY column is reprinted with per - mission from WORLD Maga - and Christ have the moral characteristics the eyes of materialists than they did zine (www.worldmag.com). The author, of God.” about Christ. These presidents were “at - Marvin Olasky, Yale ’71, is the editor-in- Occasionally college leaders pushed tractive, and trusted,” but at critical mo - chief of WORLD. back. Syracuse University chancellor ments they helped their colleges gain What happened to so many once- James Day defended his Meth odist money and students by abandoning the Christian colleges in the United States? school in 1910 and said, “Other colleges original Christian mission. Some were not Two fine books describe the decline. may do as they please. If they wish to even conscious of what they were doing: George Marsden’s 462-page The Soul of crawl in the dirt for such a price, that is “All change was supposed to be gain, the American University shows how their privilege. But no university can without a sense of loss.” But losses there once-Protestant universities became teach young people lofty ideals of man - were: In college after college “the critical secular look-alikes. James Burtchaell’s hood and forget itself respect and honor, turn away from Christian accountability The Dying of the Light: The Disengage - or sell its loyalty and faith for money that was taken under the clear initiative of a ment of Colleges and Universities from Judas flung away when in remorse he single president.” Their Christian Churches uses 868 went out and hung himself. It is an insult Marsden shows how decade by pages to show not only how schools decade, college after college, presi - moved from liberal theism to secular - dents led trustees in making small ac - ism but how, before that, they moved commodations, often with little from theologically conservative to lib - understanding of the ultimate import eral stances. of such moves. Boards of trustees as - I’ll try to give the high points of 1,330 sumed that Christian principles and pages in fewer than 1,330 words: Three objectives, often encrusted like fossils central messages are (1) Follow the in mission statements, were still oper - money, (2) Watch the college presi - ative, but in practice they were in - dent, (3) See what the college does with creasingly marginalized. Darwin. Burtchaell shows how the presidents Follow the money: Andrew often got their way because the colleges Carnegie, antagonistic toward Christi - were tired of being poor and often tired anity, established in 1905 the Carnegie Marvin Olasky, Yale '71, reviews two books of “doctrinal preoccupations that Foundation for the Advancement of which show how colleges that were once spoiled the religious, devotional, and Teaching, which the following year be - Christian have moved towards secularism. behavioral commonplaces which the gan giving matching grants to fund the modernists took as cultural lozenges.” retirement of professors—but it excluded for such a proposition to be made to a For example, James Kirkland, who be - colleges and universities under denomi - Christian institution.” Most colleges, came chancellor of Vanderbilt in 1893, national control. During the first four Carnegie found out, welcomed such in - spoke less about the Bible and more years of Carnegie grant-making, 20 sult—and Syracuse eventually succumbed about the “‘upbuilding of Christ’s king - schools changed their boards, statement to other blandishments. dom,’ a phrase that could encompass of faith requirements, or hiring require - The love of money was the root of all everything constructive in modern civi - ments so as to get Carnegie money for kinds of evil. New presidents loved to find lization.” Kirkland spent 20 years reduc - professors who might otherwise fall into new money sources but often in the ing the role of Southern Methodist poverty. process abandoned a biblical focus—be - leaders on his board of trustees. For example, Beloit College quickly cause no money came without strings of The largest Northern Methodist uni - sent Carnegie a message that suggested some sort. Burtchaell shows how the versity, Northwestern, dismissed in 1902 the board’s resolve to have trustees from Lafayette College board with its Presbyte - an English professor who attacked bibli - any denomination or no denomination. rian trustees, “terrified of a sudden insol - cal inerrancy in a local newspaper. The In the 1920s the trustees selected as Be - vency,” hired a president who objected, firing brought some negative national loit’s new president Irving Maurer, who “as all right-minded people do, to being publicity, and Northwestern’s new presi - said in one talk, “What does God mean to thought sectarian.” Boards at Millsaps, dent told its board in 1908 that North - me? He means doing my duty, being Davidson, and Wake Forest moved away western should offend neither “the good, allying myself with the right from denominational influence upon re - denomination which gave it birth or the things.” Maurer decried “the doctrine of ceiving “a sudden, large benefaction.” great community which is becoming in - the Virgin birth” and said, “I believe in Watch the college president. terested in it without respect to denomi -
28 | The Ivy League Christian Observer national considerations.” No school can a man orthodox or heterodox? Today the ral and make such unqualified applica - serve two masters, and Northwestern was distinction is, Is a man an optimist or a tion of the doctrine of naturalistic evolu - soon playing to the “great community.” pessimist?” Tucker’s successor as presi - tion and the genesis of the State as to Burtchaell writes about William Jewett dent, Ernest Hopkins, said in 1921 that leave the reader of your pages in a state of Tucker, president of Dartmouth from “friendliness and good will [are] the uncertainty as to your own position and 1893 to 1909, who took difficult parts of essence of the religion Jesus taught.” the place you give to Divine Providence.” Scripture as metaphorical and called for Churches, in other words, were clubs. In 1902 the trustees made Wilson presi - “a Bible set free from the last bondage to Watch the treatment of Darwin. At dent, and Wilson over the next 10 years literalism.” As conviction of the Bible’s Dartmouth during Tucker’s reign, chapel undermined what was left of Princeton’s truth disappeared, all that was left was became voluntary but a course on evolu - biblical base. “vague moralizing,” and in time “the tion compulsory. Wake Forest’s president Marsden quotes at length an article purge of Christian purpose” became evi - from 1905 to 1927, William Poteat, tried to Cosmopolitan magazine published in dent to all. Tucker changed the board of meld Christianity and evolution, and over - 1909—Harold Bolce’s “Blasting at the trustees so that in 1906, near the end of saw religious drift. When Ohio Wesleyan Rock of Ages”—that summarized a na - his incumbency, a majority of board President James Bashford interviewed tional tragedy: “Those who are not in members were not active members of any zoologist Edward Rice for a faculty posi - close touch with the great colleges of the church. tion, Rice said he would teach evolution country, will be astonished to learn the Tucker’s comments as he left office and Bashford replied, “I wouldn’t want creeds being foisted by the faculties of our showed why Dartmouth was on its way to you if you didn’t.” great universities. In hundreds of class - becoming indistinguishable from secular Francis Patton, Princeton’s president rooms it is being taught daily that the counterparts: He did not want to discuss from 1888 to 1902, hired Woodrow Wil - Decalogue is no more sacred than a syl - “distinctive tenets” of the Bible but only son to be a professor but told him he labus; that the home as an institution is “those fundamental obligations and in - should teach “under theistic and Chris - doomed; that there are no absolute evils; centives of religion in which we are all tian presuppositions.” Patton com - that immorality is simply an act in contra - substantially agreed.” Then he pro - plained, “In your discussion of the origin vention of society’s accepted standards.” claimed, “Formerly the distinction was, Is of the State, you minimize the supernatu - How the mighty had fallen. ■
THE ADVERTISE YOUR SCHOOL, MINISTRY, IVY LEAGUE OR BUSINESS IN: CHRISTIAN OBSERVER Each quarter, the Ivy League Christian Observer is read by people who care about the spiritual well-being of our future leaders. By advertising with us, you can connect your ministry, business, or school with this special audience.
For advertising information, contact Managing Editor Tom Campisi: [email protected]. The Ivy League Christian Observer is a publication of Christian Union.
Winter 2013 | 29 IN REVIEW By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer BREAKING THROUGH Catholic Women ‘Speak for Themselves’ in New Book
A new book compiled by Cor - was willing to ask hard nell alumna Helen M. Alvarè, questions about the DARDTMOUTH J.D. ’84, seeks to redraw the meaning of human life, portrait of today’s Catholic woman and and to look for solutions give voice to those who remain loyal to to medical and cultural the church’s teaching. problems that did not vi - Breaking Through: Catholic Women olate the dignity of Speak for Themselves is a collection of es - women or harm the says by nine devout Catholic women rep - most vulnerable among resenting varied backgrounds and faith us, the child in the Helen M. journeys; they are lawyers, mothers, and womb,” she writes. Alvarè, Cornell physicians who have come to reject the In the book’s intro - J.D. ’84, is the myth that freedom comes from dissent. duction, Alvarè states editor of Collectively, the writers are contempo - that she sought to dis - Breaking rary thinkers who’ve been inspired—not pel the belief that Through: Catholic by “feminists” such as Gloria Steinem or Catholic women ought Women Speak Helen Gurley Brown—but by St. Cather - to keep their faith per - for Themselves . ine of Sienna and Joan of Arc. Their sonal while publically choices are influenced by women such as supporting a woman’s St. Gianna, who chose to continue her right to “choose.” talking about,” she writes. “I didn’t want pregnancy for the sake of her child’s life, Instead, the essayists cast a different to experience the trials associated with though she lost her own. light upon feminine freedom by speaking the Christian way of life: self-gift, for as The authors seek a voice above contem - as women emancipated through obedi - long a time as parenting takes.” porary media pundits and Catholics who ence rather than bound by a tide of cul - Rebecca Vitz Cherico (Yale ’93), an ad - speak political correctness over doctrinal tural correctness that tempers speech junct professor at Villanova University, truth. “Vast numbers of people have based upon whatever public viewpoint is contributed an essay about the role of made up their minds about all sorts of popular. women in the church’s sex abuse scandal. things pertaining to the Catholic Church Alvarè also reminds readers of the Cherico writes that while some of the men without reading or listening to actual church’s “long [pre-feminist] tradition of entrusted to lead the church perpetrated Catholic sources,” Alvarè writes. “This is women running major institutions such the abuse, women can serve as healers ridiculously true when the subject turns as universities, hospitals, and social serv - and have influence. to women in the Catholic Church.” ices—and without a lot of blather about “I believe that feminine wisdom can Alvarè further contends that the Amer - ‘striking blows’ for women’s equality.” shed light on the situation and the possi - ican tendency to deem religion irrelevant However, the writers also take an hon - bilities for justice and healing,” writes and discount it as a credible source of est look at themselves and the Catholic Cherico. wisdom and values, is, in part, linked to Church, addressing issues such as fear of Overall, the book is about living out an the misperception that the church is “out children, same-sex attraction, single authentic faith within a culture that of step with ‘freedom,’ especially motherhood, and sexual abuse by priests. would prefer it be kept personal. women’s.” In her own essay, entitled “Fear of Chil - As contributor Kim Daniels—a lawyer, This is particularly true when it comes dren,” Alvarè—an associate professor of coordinator of Catholic Voices USA, and a to women’s health. One writer, Dr. Mari law at George Mason University School of mother of six—describes it, “Culture is Anderson, shares her story of practicing Law and an advisor to Pope Benedict much more than pop culture. But it’s also OB-GYN medicine. Despite being Catholic, XVI’s Pontifical Council for the Laity— much more than high culture, more than she prescribed contraceptives to her pa - shares her evolution from a woman who art, literature, and music. It’s shared tients and even performed abortions on didn’t like children to a loving mother of habits and understandings and affections deformed fetuses. Through a series of three. She also reveals that her reluctance rooted in a particular place. It gives a par - events that led to an intimate connection to bear children reflected a hesitation to ticular shape to family, to friendship, and with God, Anderson began questioning embrace the selflessness of Christianity. to daily living. A vibrant culture is re - her medical practices and seeing value in “I was resisting that whole ‘finding one - flected in an everyday life interwoven the church’s teachings. self to losing oneself’ way of life that the with something beyond the everyday, “Far from harming women… the Church last two popes, in particular, are always something holy.” ■
30 | The Ivy League Christian Observer ABOUT MINISTRY By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer BRINGING COMFORT AND COMPASSION Students Volunteer to Aid City Residents in Wake of ‘Super Storm’
In the aftermath of Hurri - Island and Long Island, as well as cane Sandy, a group of stu - much of coastal New Jersey, news re - COCLUMBIA dents with Columbia Faith ports said. and Action ventured out into some of The devastation stirred Christians New York City’s poorest neighbor - across the region, including some stu - hoods to deliver food, blankets, and en - dents at Columbia University, into couragement to people hard-hit by the action. mega-storm. Columbia Faith and Ac - “Volunteering, for us, was a way of tion (CFA) is a leadership development engaging with the greater New York ministry resourced and supported by community and touching base with a Christian Union. reality that is true for many poorer Yi He ’16 climbed 13 flights of stairs New Yorkers,” said Daniel Maxson ’15. in darkness to distribute food and wa - “Being a Columbia student, it is easy to ter to elderly residents in the China - be living in a bit of a bubble and rarely town neighborhood of Manhattan. The go off campus.” reaction of an 86-year-old woman es - Maxson was among a group of CFA pecially touched the political science students who ventured to Brooklyn, and philosophy major from the Peo - where they delivered blankets to ple’s Republic of China. elderly residents of the Red Hook “She hugged and kissed us and very section. emotionally said ‘shalom’ to every one In such situations, it’s especially in - of us,” said He. “Suddenly, I felt that I cumbent upon Christians to respond, had a glimpse of the peace of God that said Jesse Peterson, a Christian Union transcends all understanding in a dis - ministry fellow at Columbia. aster like this.” “It should be the gut response of As well, the freshman learned valu - Christians that we help our city re - able spiritual lessons in the aftermath cover in times of need,” Peterson said. of the super-storm’s landfall on Octo - “Even within the same city, there was a ber 29 in the Northeast: “We share the Following Hurricane Sandy, Yi He ’16 giant rift between the affected and the city we live in, so they are my neighbors. and other students with Columbia unaffected.” Their difficulties are my difficulties. Their Faith and Action helped New York Peterson, who helped distribute meals struggles are my struggles. Christ calls us City residents who were severely in Manhattan’s East Village, also noted the to love our neighbors as ourselves.” impacted by the devastating storm. relief efforts provided meaningful learning Ultimately, the super-storm caused opportunities for undergraduates. more than $50 billion in damage in the In New York City, Sandy forced the “Students can easily fall into a state of United States. While only a Category 1 MTA to shutter the city’s subways in ad - mind where it’s as though the world re - storm off the coast of the Northeast, Sandy vance of its arrival. As well, storm surges volves around their class schedules, pa - was the largest Atlantic hurricane on flooded tunnels, switching stations, and pers, etc.,” Peterson said. “This has been a record, with winds spanning 1,100 miles. servers, and knocked out power, water, good opportunity for them to get out of The second costliest storm in U.S. history, and communications in lower Manhattan the Columbia ‘bubble’ and help meet the behind Katrina, also claimed more than and parts of Brooklyn and Queens. The needs currently present in the larger city 120 lives, according to news reports. heavy winds and rain also ravaged Staten around them.” ■
“We share the city we live in, so they are my neighbors. Their difficulties are my difficulties. Their struggles are my struggles. Christ calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves.” —Yi He, Columbia ’16
Winter 2013 | 31 ABOUT MINISTRY By William Poon, Cornell ‘13 YOUTH WITH A MISSION Cornell Students Grow at Convergence
Christ came and instilled the Convergence had four main sessions culture of His heavenly king - with speakers Andy Byrd, Brian Brennt, COCRNELL dom in 12 men who went on to Shawn Bolz, and Charles Stock. Worship transform the world. That truth was at was led by the YWAM Fire and Fragrance the forefront when Youth With a Mission worship team as well as Sean Feucht. (YWAM) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania More than 200 people attended, includ - hosted the first Convergence conference ing YWAM members, college students from November 15-18. (including a contingent from Cornell), The vision of Convergence is to gather and ministers from all over the Northeast. believers to “get inspired, activated, chal - Bomi Lee, Cornell ’15, said that the con - lenged, and commissioned to bring the ference “equipped people with faith and ‘Culture of Revival’ everywhere [they] boldness to go and spread the love of Je - go.” The conference, held at YWAM’s sus without fear.” Lee, who serves with headquarters in Harrisburg, aimed to Asian American InterVarsity (www.rso. The conference had a quite an impact. Cornell students expressed a renewal of hope, a building of faith, and a In addition to evangelism training at Convergence, students also shared new desperation to see lost souls their faith in the local community. everywhere find the love of the Father. time when attendees went to the streets of Harrisburg and proclaimed the gospel of meet these goals by helping students fo - cornell.edu/aaiv) at Cornell, is a human Jesus Christ. cus on and enter God’s presence through development major. “It was one of the most destitute neigh - various speakers, worship and prayer, During Saturday morning’s “Joy Filled borhoods I’ve been in,” said Campos. and evangelism. The hope was that they Evangelism” session, attendees practiced “The people had a longing for hope in would be equipped and challenged to re - sharing the gospel with one another. Kim - their eyes. That worked out perfectly be - turn to their cities, workplaces, cam - berly Campos, Cornell ’14, said the train - cause that was exactly what we were of - puses, families, and other spheres of ing was helpful. The evangelism session fering: hope, salvation, unconditional influence with this revival mindset. was followed by “Love Harrisburg,” a love, and so much more!” Following the time of sharing the gospel on the streets, it was reported that 37 people gave their lives to Jesus and about 20 were physically healed. Lee re - called seeing “a man who was so hungry for love, a young man whose dead ears were opened as he accepted Christ, and a woman who relied on the Lord for her emotional and physical needs.” The conference had quite an impact. Cornell students expressed a renewal of hope, a building of faith, and a new des - peration to see lost souls everywhere find the love of the Father—which will come through the application of what they have seen, learned, and experienced in their time at the conference. Slowly, as stu - dents share what they’ve learned, they will, one by one, help change the lives of the people on Cornell’s campus. ■
32 | The Ivy League Christian Observer By Eileen Scott, Senior Writer IN CHRIST ALONE Ministry’s Retreat Strengthens Students, Re-Affirms Mission to Campus
The fall retreat for one of the fellowship developed at the retreat, Korea fect grades at an Ivy League university,” largest ministries at Columbia Campus Crusade for Christ (KCCC) fur - she said. “Many of the challenges they COCLUMBIA aimed to solidify students’ thered its overall mission of building a face center around academic success and identity in Christ and further its mission spiritual movement at Columbia. exceeding expectations.” of bringing the gospel to a university in “KCCC has really pushed me to leave Kim said the pressure often leads to feel - one of the nation’s most secular and influ - my comfort zone and actively seek after ings of isolation, disappointment, depres - ential cities. God through prayer and fellowship,” said sion, and condemnation; therefore KCCC Members of Columbia University Yoojin Lee ’14. aims to provide opportunities for commu - Korea Campus Crusade for Christ KCCC serves as an ethnic student min - nity, which take the focus off worldly expec - (columbiakccc.tumblr.com/) gathered for istry at Columbia, focusing on reaching tations and places it on Christ and His love. a powerful weekend in Kingston, New Korean and Asian-American students “God really provided some seriously York on October 26 and 27. with a vision of sending them throughout needed peace over my life that weekend, “The aim of the retreat was to truly the world with the message of Jesus and He has continually provided even ground our identity in the work of the Christ. The ministry was established in more of His love and grace over me since cross carried out by Jesus Christ, which Korea by Rev. Joon Gon Kim in 1958, then,” said John Chang ’14. would, in turn, lead us to live intention - making it the first international branch of Through events such as the fall retreat ally as light on the campus,” said staffer Campus Crusade for Christ, now known and various outreach efforts throughout Sarah Kim, Columbia ’10. as Cru. Rev. Kim first met Cru Founder the year, KCCC hopes to continue its Throughout the weekend, students fo - Bill Bright while studying in California. growth by encouraging students to draw cused on their relationship with Christ, their purpose to serve on campus, and practical ways of living an ambassador’s life at Columbia. “The retreat reminded me that God de - sires us to be raw and open before Him in prayer,” said Kate Joohyun Lee ’15. “That He desires us to draw nearer to Him, He pursues us relentlessly, and He loves us infinitely.” The weekend’s theme, “Identity in Christ,” is a topic of particular importance to busy college students, says Kim. “We felt a need to address the fact that Columbia students so often identify themselves according to how the world, and specifically how Columbia Univer - sity, defines them,” she said, adding that identity in Christ should determine how they approach and share their passions, talents, and time. Therefore students spent time in small group discussions, community bonding, and interaction sessions designed to en - Students involved in Korea Campus Crusade for Christ pray together during their courage unity and fellowship. They also fall retreat. engaged in extended times of prayer. Attendees also heard messages from According to Kim, the environment at nearer to God and share their faith with Rev. Peter Ahn of Metro Community Columbia for Asian-American students is others. Church in Englewood, New Jersey. Rev. full of overwhelming pressure that inter - “Ultimately, the goal of the fall retreat Ahn, using Mark 14 as his key text, chal - twines academic responsibility and cul - is to help build on the movement that we lenged students to consider what it means tural expectations. are fostering at Columbia,” said Kim. to offer God their most prized possessions “The culture and heritage of Asian fam - “The goal of the ministry would be that and put their focus on him. ilies puts a heavy emphasis on succeeding everyone at Columbia would know some - Through the wisdom, edification, and in society, which presumably entails per - one who truly follows Jesus Christ.” ■
Winter 2013 | 33 NEWS-IN-BRIEF
ALL IVY had done on their campuses during the Romantic relationships fall season. Prior to the celebrations, are still the most common Christmas on Campus students and Christian Union ministry context for sexual Adding to the celebration of Christmas in fellows fasted and prayed before coming behavior, at least among the Ivy League, the Brown University together for a turkey dinner before the women in their first year Chorus and Baroque Orchestra break. At Dartmouth, students shared of college, according to performed Handel’s Messiah, Part 1 on testimonies of God’s work in their lives researchers with The A recent and heard a message about “Giving All to Miriam Hospital. The study Christ in Thanksgiving.” Jesse Peterson, study was published examines the hookup a Christian Union ministry fellow at online by the Journal of culture at Columbia, reported that approximately Adolescent Health . Brown. 40 students fasted prior to the dinner. Researchers reported that sex with a partner was found to be twice
BROWN as common as hookup sex.
Good Parenting Linked with Cru Students Study Philippians December 9 at Sayles Hall Auditorium. Decrease in Alcohol Abuse on Retreat Additionally, a Candlelight Service of In a recent study, addiction researchers Students involved in Cru’s outreach at Lessons and Carols was held at the at Brown University concluded that Brown participated in the campus Princeton University Chapel on Dec. 12. According to a study organization’s autumn getaway in The Princeton event featured scripture led by Robert Miranda, Connecticut. The students from Cru readings and music provided by the associate professor of Brown (www.cru-brown.org) trekked to Chapel Choir, Glee Club, and a cappella psychiatry in Brown’s groups. medical school, attentive parenting can Ivy Alumni Appear on Nicene help young people overcome a Creed DVD predisposition towards Ivy League alumni Timothy P. Shriver alcohol abuse. (Yale ’81), Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson (Yale Ph.D. ’76) and Dr. Stephen Barr attentive parenting can overcome a (Princeton Ph.D. ’78) are featured on genetic predisposition to alcohol use Tim Keller’s DVD, The Creed: What disorders among teens. Parents can have Christians Profess and Why It Ought to an impact if they “closely monitor their Matter. child’s behavior and peer group,” said The DVD, presented author Robert Miranda, an associate Students involved in Cru’s ministry at by professor of psychiatry in Brown’s First Things Brown University studied the book of magazine’s new video medical school. Philippians during the ministry’s annual fall division, is “a film In the November issue of Alcoholism: retreat. about why the radical Clinical and Experimental Research , claims made in the Miranda reported that specific genetic Ashford, where they joined students from Nicene Creed are so risks largely are overcome in teens whose the University of Massachusetts at important to all of us.” parents are attentive. Researchers Dartmouth on October 12-14. Greg First Things is published by The Institute interviewed 104 adolescents, ages 12 to Ganssle, a senior fellow with the on Religion and Public Life, an 19. Miranda completed a clinical research Rivendell Institute at Yale and a Cru interreligious, nonpartisan research and fellowship at Brown in 2003. senior staffer, guided the undergraduates education institute. through an in-depth study of Philippians. Lower Percentage of Campus
Columbia, Dartmouth Students Hookups? CHRISTIAN UNION Give Thanks Hooking up has become such a buzz on Gordon-Conwell Professor Leadership development campuses that some believe such casual Speaks at Christian Union Salon ministries supported and encounters may be replacing traditional resourced by Christian romantic relationships. However, a new Twenty-three people participated in New Union at Dartmouth and study by researchers affiliated with York City Christian Union’s inaugural Columbia celebrated Brown University suggests college salon on November 29 in Manhattan. Thanksgiving with prayer students are not actually hooking up as The event featured Sean McDonough, a and praise for what God frequently as suspected. professor of New Testament at Gordon-
34 | The Ivy League Christian Observer New York City COLUMBIA Journalist Daniel Christian Union’s Burke, Columbia inaugural salon An Illuminating Experience MS ’03 and MA featured Sean ’04, was McDonough Columbia Faith and Action, a ministry recognized by (Harvard ’86), a supported and resourced by Christian the American professor of New Union, launched its weekly leadership Academy of Testament at development series this fall. “Ilumina” Religion for his in-depth news Gordon-Conwell provides an opportunity for students to writing. Theological hear from Christian Union ministry fellows Seminary. and leaders who are influencing the culture for Christ. Roughly 60 students attended an associate editor and national the first gathering in which Christian correspondent for the Religion News Service. Conwell Theological Seminary in Jesse Peterson, a This is the second time Burke received Massachusetts. The Harvard alumnus of Christian the award which honors “well-researched 1986 spoke on biblical views on the Union ministry newswriting, that enhances the public origin of the world in light of modern fellow at understanding of religion.” According to science. The salon marked the launch of Columbia, the judges, Burke’s “compelling writing New York City Christian Union, which spoke at shows great skill in combining Columbia Faith seeks to build a network of leaders in one accessibility and detailed research while of the world’s most influential cities. and Action’s first leadership addressing intriguing, timely, and lecture series diverse topics that take readers beyond HCFA Hosts Panel Discussion meeting. the ordinary.” On Evangelism CORNELL Harvard College Faith and Action, a Union Ministry Fellow Jesse Peterson leadership development ministry addressed the issue of illuminating light ‘How to Learn from People Who and some of C.S. Lewis’ ideas. resourced and supported by Christian Do Not Share Our Faith’ Union, held an evangelism panel discussion in November. Two dozen Family Matters Richard Mouw, president of Fuller students attended the event, which The Fidelio Society of Columbia Theological Seminary, is scheduled to featured four panelists and two University is hosting The Family in present a public lecture at Call moderators in Lamont Library. Modern Society Conference on February Auditorium in Kennedy Hall on February HCFA’s outreach team sponsored the 16. The all-day event will feature family 1. An author, philosopher, and event, which probed ways to start sociologist Brad Wilcox (Princeton *01), theologian, Mouw’s topic is “There’s Gold spiritual conversations with friends, theologian Dawn Eden, Out There: How to Learn from People and philosopher Sherif Who Do Not Share Our Faith.” The event Girgis (Princeton ’08), is presented by The Institute of Biblical among others. The Studies, Bethel conference seeks to Grove Bible Church, and New reshape the family debate Brad Wilcox, Life Presbyterian on campus and to foster Princeton *01 future discussion of the Church. issues surrounding family at the Fuller Theological University. Each scholar participating in Seminary the event shares the perspective that the President Richard best family form consists of one man and Mouw will speak one woman who are devoted to one at Cornell this another. winter. Harvard College Faith and Action hosted a panel on evangelism in November in Daniel Burke Wins Religion Lamont Library. Award roommates, and others. As a result, Journalist Daniel Burke, Columbia MS participants noted they were inspired to ’03 and MA ’04, received third place pray for their classmates and recognition in the 2012 American companions and to share their faith with Academy of Religion Award for Best In- close associates. Depth Newswriting on Religion. Burke is
Winter 2013 | 35 NEWS-IN-BRIEF
Engaging Cornell with The DARTMOUTH chapter. Caroline Albanese, a Christian Reason for God Union ministry fellow who leads Bible A Week of Prayer In December, Christian Union’s courses at Dartmouth, said she was Several ministries at Dartmouth leadership development ministry at pleased the students connected to one participated in the annual Week of another over their break. Prayer this fall. The event, held at the Dartmouth Prayer Room, offered a New Associate Chaplain at variety of opportunities for students and Aquinas House community members to gather in prayer, Father Christopher M. Saliga was worship, and sharing. The week-long recently named associate chaplain at event also included a prayer walk and Aquinas House (http://dartmouth vigils for each of the college’s classes and catholic.com). Fr. Christopher was an The Reason for God , by Tim Keller, was graduate students. adjunct professor of theology and given out to hundreds of students by members of Christian Union’s leadership philosophical development ministry at Cornell. bioethics and chaplain of Cornell distributed 350 copies of The Walsh University Reason for God: Belief in an Age of in North Canton, Skepticism , by Tim Keller. The book Ohio. Most giveaway served as an opportunity for recently, he students to grow in their evangelistic completed an 18- Father Christopher M. Saliga is the new outreach and engage their peers in month associate chaplain at discussions surrounding faith. According missionary Aquinas House. to Asha Garretson, a Christian Union assignment as ministry fellow at Cornell, Keller’s book postulant director and assistant novice (a New York Times bestseller) was master for the Dominican Vicariate of chosen because it covers topics relevant Eastern Africa, where he also served as to most skeptics. chaplain of Our Lady of Grace Primary The annual Week of Prayer was held at and Secondary Catholic Boarding School. ‘Pray, Send, Go’ Dartmouth this fall, offering students and Before entering the priesthood, Fr. LIGHT 12—Campus on a Hill’s annual community members an extended time of Christopher was a combat medic and night of praise, exhortation, and prayer prayer and worship. paratrooper with the U.S. Army as well as an emergency room technician. for the nations—was held on November The class of 2016, for example, held an 17. A revival catalyst for student overnight vigil that included an opening HARVARD missions, the event included ceremony and a night of worship and presentations and activities designed to prayer. Students were encouraged to Leadership Roundtable Focuses share God’s bring friends to the event. on Mixing Politics and Religion heart for the The Leadership Connection’s Roundtable world and Staying Connected encourage on Science, Art and Religion was held at A group of 16 women who participate in Christians to the Harvard Faculty Club on October 20. Christian Union Bible “pray, send, The event featured Robert D. Putnam, Courses at Dartmouth and go.” professor of spent their winter break LIGHT public policy at participating in a book increases student awareness regarding Harvard and the study. the global church and encourages them Harvard professor The women formed a to invest in God’s worldwide redemption and author Robert group on Facebook to D. Putnam was plan. According to one member of study the speaker at the Campus on a Hill Lies Women Believe: And the Truth Leadership (www.campusonahill.org), coordinators Connection’s that Sets Them Free , by Nancy Leigh “desire to see the world transformed by Roundtable on DeMoss. The students took turns leading the gospel of Christ.” A Christian Union Science, Art and chapter discussions and probing the grant helped underwrite the event. Religion on scripture verses that accompany each October 20.
36 | The Ivy League Christian Observer 2011 Wilson Award winner for his book, civil rights kid” and “a Southern thirst for God. The concert reflected American Grace: How Religion Divides evangelical who’s been appointed to lead Christ’s words in John 4:13-14: and Unites Us . Attendees explored the spiritual community of an almost “Everyone who drinks this water will be mixing politics and religion in the public 400-year-old institution founded to train thirsty again, but whoever drinks the square. Since its founding in 2005, the Puritan ministers. And that says water I give them will never thirst. Leadership Connection’s Roundtable has something positive about Harvard Indeed, the water I give them will drawn hundreds of faculty for seminar University as it relates to an obscuring, if become in them a spring of water welling dinner discussions. A Christian Union not erasing, of regional and religious up to eternal life.” The November 3 grant helped fund the event. differences, of class and cultural bias.” concert featured traditional and contemporary selections, as well as a Journey Church Plans Ministry PENN dance performance during the Center at Harvard Square Penn Chaplain Responds to intermission and a reception. Journey Church of Boston, in cooperation Newtown Murders Conference Gives Biblical with Grace Street Church, is working to Charles Howard, the university chaplain establish a ministry center at Harvard Perspective on Global Health at Penn, went on a 27-day fast in Square focused on Harvard students. The Students involved with Penn Medical response to the cold-blooded murder of Christian Fellowship participated in the Penn Chaplain Charles Global Missions Health Conference in Howard fasted for 27 days November in Kentucky. in response to the murders at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut.
20 children and six administrators and teachers at the Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14. In a column, Howard center would provide a central location Huffington Post said he would fast for 27 days for peace, from which student outreach and “one day for each life lost in Newtown - discipleship, as well as community including the gunman’s.” service, can be coordinated. Additionally, “Deep in my spirit, I felt a call to the space would provide a permanent Students involved with Penn Medical spiritual activism.” meeting place for student prayer groups, Christian Fellowship participated in the Normally, Howard does not call Global Missions Health Conference in evangelism training, and leadership attention to his own fasting, but wants to November. initiatives. A Christian Union grant is “not only lean into this issue spiritually, helping to underwrite the project. The event featured 105 workshops that but also move those around us to act as offered opportunities to learn about a well.” Walton Installed as New biblical perspective on suffering, Memorial Church Minister Concert Focuses on Our Need to community health, and dealing with HIV/AIDS. In November, Rev. Jonathan L. Walton Thirst for God Longtime missionary and physician was installed as the Pusey Minister of the Students with the New Spirit of Penn David Stevens spoke at the conference, Memorial Church and Plummer Professor Gospel Choir (www.dolphin.upenn.edu/ which was held at the Southeast of Christian Morals at Harvard. Christian Church in Louisville. “If you’re In the New York Times , Walton, a going to follow Christ, it requires Baptist minister, called himself a “post- everything,” Stevens said. A Christian Jonathan L. Union grant helped support the trip. Walton is the Pusey Minister PRINCETON of the Memorial Cornel West Back at Union Church and The New Spirit of Penn Gospel Choir Theological Seminary Plummer performed 14 songs during its concert on Professor of November 3. Former Princeton University professor Christian and activist Cornel West, Harvard ’73, is Morals at nspirit) participated in the group’s fall back at Union Theological Seminary as Harvard. concert, which centered on our need to professor of philosophy and Christian
Winter 2013 | 37 NEWS-IN-BRIEF
practices. The Einstein’s ‘God Letter’ Auctioned the history of African-American students controversial Albert Einstein’s handwritten letter at YDS and the admittance of its first figure spent a questioning the existence of God sold for African-American student, Solomon decade teaching at more than $3 million on eBay in October. Coles, in 1871. Princeton, where The anonymous purchaser bid $100 more Moses Moore, M.Div. he completed a Albert Einstein’s ’77, presented “Been in doctorate of handwritten letter the Storm So Long,” a philosophy in questioning the look at the history of 1980. He has also existence of God African American sold for more than students at YDS during Former Princeton taught at Yale and $3 million on eBay the school’s University scholar Harvard, worked in October. Convocation and Cornel West, as a commentator Reunions 2012. Harvard ’73, has and actor, and has returned to the authored 20 books. than the required starting bid of $3 Moses Moore, M.Div. ’77, presented faculty of Union Dr. West started “Been in the Storm So Long.” According Theological million. teaching at Union to the YDS Web site, the project was Seminary. In the so-called “God letter,” the in 1977 while acclaimed physicist penned his thoughts created in an effort to make the stories of pursuing his doctorate. During that time, on religion, God, and tribalism. Einstein black students and faculty at Yale he wrote one of his top works, Prophesy wrote the letter on Princeton University Divinity School more widely known, and Deliverance! , a book that highlights letterhead to philosopher Erik Gutkind explore how the black presence at Yale African-American literary and artistic after reading his book, Choose Life: The has affected the wider community and contributions. Biblical Call to Revolt . He wrote the the growth of black theological letter in 1955, a year before his death. education. Respect Life Week Features In 1933, the Nobel Prize winner accepted Interfaith Service an appointment at the Institute for Metaxas Speaks about the Role Students with Princeton Pro-Life Advanced Study, a private institution that of Faith in Opposing Injustice (www.princeton.edu/~prolife) celebrated collaborates with Princeton University. In December, best-selling author Eric Respect Life Week in October with an Metaxas, Yale ’84, returned to his alma YALE interfaith service that featured nationally mater as the keynote speaker for God syndicated columnist Mona Charen, a International Journalists Talk and Government: The Role of Faith in Princeton Pro- about Covering Religion Opposing Injustice . Life celebrated Roughly 200 Yale students attended Respect Life In the fall, Yale Divinity School hosted the the presentation, which was hosted by Week in panel discussion, Faith Across Oceans: Yale Law Christian Fellowship, Athletes October with a Leading International Journalists Talk in Action (http://aiayale.tumblr.com), service that about the Religion Beat . Yale Christian Fellowship (www.yale. featured David Briggs, executive director of the edu/ycf), and Yale College Faith nationally International Association of Religion syndicated and Action (www.facebook.com/ columnist Former Associated Press yalefaithandaction), a leadership Mona Charen, religion writer David development ministry resourced and Barnard Briggs, YDS ’85, was supported by Christian Union. among the participants College ’79. Metaxas spoke about William at the Faith Across the Oceans panel discussion Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer and 1979 alumna of Barnard College. Other at Yale Divinity School. how their faith in God and sense of speakers included Christian Union calling motivated Founder and President Matt Bennett, Journalists, was among the participants for their actions and Cornell ’88, MBA ’89, and Rev. Eugene the November 15 event. Briggs, a 1985 YDS perseverance in Rivers, pastor of Azusa Christian alumnus, has also served as chief religion combatting the Community and a national figure with writer for the Associated Press and editor injustice of their ties to Harvard University. The service of the Far Eastern Economic Review and day. also featured a performance by the Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly . Princeton University Gospel Ensemble. Author Eric Other Respect Life Week events included YDS Celebrates Its African- American Students Metaxas, Yale ’84, a session with a local ChoiceOne spoke at an inter- pregnancy center representative and a Convocation and Reunions 2012 at Yale ministry event at candlelight prayer vigil. Divinity School included a look back at Yale this fall.
38 | The Ivy League Christian Observer CHRISTIAN UNION By Matthew W. Bennett, Founder and President, Christian Union THE MISSION AND VISION OF THE CHRISTIAN UNION
Following is the mission and 100,000 college stu - extremely prominent vision of Christian Union, dents—out of 21 mil - nationally and interna - printed in each issue of the Ivy lion nationwide—on tionally but, unfortu - League Christian Observer to keep new just a handful of cam - nately, also are generally readers informed of the ministry’s pur - puses will occupy 50 secular in orientation. pose and passion. percent of the most Heroic efforts have been strategic roles in the made in these cities in INTRODUCTION United States. Gradu - the last few decades The United States is unusual in the in - ates from these schools to strengthen Christian dustrialized world for its possession of also will exercise tre- communities, and much significant spiritual devotion, but lack of mendous impact on more needs to be done Christian vitality among cultural innova - the international scene. to see these cities be - tors. Many of the most influential leaders Currently, these cam- come known for their in academia, the arts, business, educa - puses are extremely love for and devotion to tion, government, media, medicine, and secular in their out - Jesus Christ and His Christian Union Founder and law are decidedly secular in their individ - looks, representing a President Matthew W. Bennett, purposes. ual outlooks. Regretfully, the Christian slow-motion train wreck Cornell BS ’88, MBA ’89. community itself is mostly to blame for that has been nega - FOUR VALUES OF this sad state of affairs. More than a hun - tively impacting this THE MINISTRY dred years ago, large segments of the country and world for a generation. More In its mission, Christian Union has four Christian community decided that intel - than 90 percent of the students on these values of paramount concern that charac - lectualism and positions of cultural influ - campuses have no regular Christian input terize its approach. First, Christian Union ence were to be avoided and, therefore, in their lives. The campuses are Brown, works deliberately to engage students and left those arenas to secularists. Now, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, marketplace professionals. To have a re - Christians lament that so much of the cul - Penn, Princeton, and Yale universities. alistic chance of seeing such individuals ture is directed and shaped by those hold - Even with the help of local churches develop into Christian leaders in just a ing values contrary to the gospel of Christ. and godly national campus ministries, the few short years, the ministry utilizes Of course, this should be no surprise. proportion of Christian involvement and workers of substantial caliber to mentor strengthening on these key campuses has and teach. The Christian Union’s ministry WHY THE MINISTRY EXISTS not changed in 50 years. There is no good workers are called “ministry fellows,” and In 2002, Christian Union was founded reason to expect the United States will they possess exceptional professional and to rectify this imbalance by developing substantively change spiritually in the educational credentials. Many hold ad - Christian leaders to impact the larger cul - next 50 years if these campuses are not vanced seminary training, including mas - ture. The ministry strategically focuses on dramatically changed in our present day. ter of divinity and master of theology a highly influential and unreached seg - New approaches and energy need to be degrees, and several possess doctoral de - ment of the U.S. population—current and poured into making it a priority for the grees. Others have substantial experience future leaders who shape many of the de - Christian church to ensure the lives of fu - at some of the top companies in the cisions that affect the daily lives of all ture leaders are strengthened with the world, including Merrill Lynch and Americans. Such influencers are found in gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the mis - McKinsey and Co. Years of educational two primary places: the top tier of aca - sion of Christian Union is to develop training and life experiences give ministry demically-oriented universities and a Christian leaders at these colleges to re - fellows the ability to mentor successfully handful of powerful, “global” cities in the shape dramatically the direction of the students and professionals, as well as in - United States. nation. struct them in biblical depth, theology, a Christian worldview, and the integration UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN UNION CITY CHRISTIAN UNION of faith into academic disciplines and vo - One of the two branches of Christian In addition to University Christian cations. Union is known as University Christian Union, the second branch of the ministry, Secondly and perhaps more impor - Union, and it develops Christian leaders City Christian Union, concentrates on a tantly, Christian Union emphasizes the at eight university campuses with handful of the country’s most influential relevancy of seeking God wholeheartedly. extraordinary influence. Research has cities, starting with New York City. Other What’s the point of having a Christian in shown that just eight of the 2,500 universi - cities of focus to be given increasing atten - a position of cultural influence if his or ties in this country produce 50 percent of tion in the future include: Chicago, Los An - her devotion to God, faith, and spiritual the most powerful leaders. It’s incredible geles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and strength is so weak that the individual’s to consider that a tiny segment of only Boston. By many measures, these cities are values do not significantly differ from sec -
Winter 2013 | 39 CHRISTIAN UNION
ularist peers? Daniel of Bible fame serves expertise helps the ministry to be strategic personal mentoring as described below. It as an inspiration. He was organized and and purposeful in its goals and objectives. culminates in a leadership project that purposeful in his leadership, which was to Every quarter, the ministry compares its each student individually conceives and be expected of a man second in command progress against goals in a series of key in - implements. The initiative needs to im - in the most powerful nations in the world dicators. Jim Collins’ monograph, “Good pact the campus environment for good in his day: Babylon and Persia. He also to Great in the Social Sector,” has been a and can take a variety of different forms. was known to be extremely intelligent, which is why he was selected to enter the king’s service in the first place, learning the literature of the Chaldeans. Yet, he also possessed a devotion to God so strong that even under the threat of death, he would not eat food defiled by idols, bow down to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar, and cease praying three times per day. While teaching students and professionals to be good leaders or - ganizationally and developing their intel - lectual knowledge of the Christian faith, the Christian Union also instills a deep appreciation for the importance of seek - ing God wholeheartedly day and night. Participants learn to pray fervently, prac - tice humility, read the Scriptures often, repent of sins daily, and obey the Spirit promptly, persevering day in and day out in love and devotion to the only true God of the universe. Only with such qualities will Christian leaders have the spiritual power by the Spirit of God to fulfill His purposes for their lives. Thirdly, the Christian Union networks participants for the purpose of cultural engagement. Christians can make mis - takes on both ends of the spectrum. Ei - tremendous aid in providing direction for Among them, students may engage social ther, they are fully engaged in the culture, a disciplined, metric-driven approach. leaders on campus to reduce reliance on but lack Christian companions and con - alcohol or the hook-up mindset, interact tacts and become weak spiritually and ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS with professors who have been advocat - unable to call on a wider range of re - As of summer 2012, University Chris - ing anti-Christian worldviews, or reach sources for impact, or they have many tian Union is active at Princeton, Har - out evangelistically to peers. Christian friends, but do not expend the vard, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia, and energy to interact with the larger culture Cornell, and it plans to expand to Penn Bible Courses that needs the salt and light of Jesus and Brown in the near future. Christian The centerpiece of the ministry on cam - Christ. For Christian leaders to be suc - Union fulfills its mission on these cam - pus consists of Bible Courses comprised cessful, they need a network of close, like- puses through a variety of strategically of eight to ten students of the same sex minded friends who love and urge them conceived activities. The following are the and a Christian Union ministry fellow as on as followers of Christ. They also bring ministry’s principle offerings on cam - the leader. These are extraordinarily pop - additional resources to bear in key cul - puses. ular, and there is often a waiting list for tural struggles, and they need to be out - students to join. Students need sponsor - wardly focused, looking for ways to Leadership Certification Curriculum ship to be able to join a Bible Course, so engage and improve the larger culture Christian Union employs a proprietary there is great need for additional support and make sacrifices for the purposes of two-year curriculum to develop students to touch the lives of more young people. Jesus Christ. intellectually, spiritually, and socially for (For information, see www.christian- Lastly, the ministry is organizationally the purposes of cultural engagement. The union.org/sponsorship.) Every under - disciplined in its approach. Several lead - curriculum comprises 2,000 pages of graduate sponsored means one more ers in the ministry possess master of busi - reading, participation in Bible Courses, student receives the opportunity to de - ness administration degrees, and their attendance at weekly lecture series, and velop into a Christian leader.
40 | The Ivy League Christian Observer Weekly ceive through NYCU Salons Leadership the above activi - Christian leaders need periodic interac - Lecture Series ties, the min - tion and inspiration from the leading in - Every week on istry also hosts a tellectuals and influencers of the day in campus, the stu - variety of con - order to make the impact for which they dents are taught ferences and re - have been called. Salons are periodic in a lecture set - treats during the gatherings of 10 to 20 participants, ting by Christian academic year hosted by an NYCU member, to hear from Union’s ministry and longer pro - a leading, Christian cultural influencer. fellows or special grams during lecturers from the summer CONCLUSION across the nation months. World- Christian Union exists because of Je - and beyond. Topics include biblical class theologians, leaders, and speakers sus’ words in Luke 12:48: “Everyone to depth, theological grounding, Christian convene to inspire and teach students in whom much was given, of him much will vocational or academic integration, and a context of worship, fervent prayer, and be required.” All who have received much other subjects. To succeed as Christian relationship building. The power of in terms of education, industry influence, leaders, students need deep teaching these weekend or week-long gatherings wealth, and prestige need to be inspired, from the Scriptures and role models of is so strong that often more Christian strengthened, and equipped to use what Christians in various vocational fields. growth and strengthening happens dur - they possess for the purposes of God for Weekly lectures provide the necessary in - ing a conference than through a whole the world. He blesses His people so that tellectual strengthening for success. semester of other programming.
Personal Mentoring ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK CITY Educational theorist and University of THROUGH CITY CHRISTIAN UNION Chicago Professor Benjamin Bloom dis - Ministry to New Yorkers began in covered years ago that one-on-one in - 2005, but only recently is New York City struction dramatically increases a Christian Union able to make a stronger student’s learning when compared to con - impact because of the hiring of both a di - ventional teaching methods. Reducing rector and an event manager. The min - class sizes down to four or five students istry is expanding its impact through the only modestly improves learning. How - following programs: ever, one-on-one input radically improves understanding because tutors are able to NYCU Bible Courses give tailored feedback and allow students The New York City Christian Union to master a subject before moving on to Bible Courses are similar to the ones they can turn and be a blessing to others. other concepts. Because of the impact of offered to students on campuses, except We look forward to the day when the one-on-one interaction, Christian Union that the application of the biblical text is United States is dramatically changed be - ministry fellows provide personal mentor - geared toward working professionals cause of the selfless leadership of count - ing to guide students spiritually, and to and parents. The emphasis on rela - less devoted Christians using their provide leadership coaching. tionship building and deep biblical positions of leadership for the purposes of teaching remains the same for the pur - Jesus Christ. Conferences poses of spiritually strengthening the For more information about Christian To augment instruction students re - participants. Union, see www.christian-union.org. ■
Because of the impact of one-on-one interaction, Christian Union ministry fellows provide personal mentoring to guide students spiritually, and to provide leadership coaching.
Winter 2013 | 41 PRAYER FOR THE IVY LEAGUE By Jim Thomforde THE STRENGTH WE NEED
f you are anything like me, you often pray for strength. You through his Spirit in your inner know that you need God’s power in your life. Whether we being, so that Christ may dwell in face ordinary tasks or particularly heavy burdens, we ask your hearts through faith - that GIod for the strength to accomplish (or endure!) the things He you, being rooted and grounded has called us to do. And we can ask God for strength because He in love, may have strength to is the source of all strength and power, and He promises to give comprehend with all the saints strength to His people. Psalm 10:17 reads, “O Lord, you hear the what is the breadth and length desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart...” Psalm and height and depth, and to 29:1 and 11 states: “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, as - know the love of Christ that sur - cribe to the Lord glory and strength…May the Lord give strength passes knowledge, that you may to his people!” be filled with all the fullness of God.” But do you ever find yourself praying for strength, and yet still For what strength is Paul praying? He’s praying ultimately for feeling weak? Even as I pray quite often, I frequently feel like I’m spiritual strength to comprehend and know the love of Christ! lacking the strength I could have. I have a God of all power, who Paul prays that they would be strengthened by the power of the promises to strengthen me, and I pray, but something, it seems, Spirit, not just to do something, but to know something – is still missing. So I get to thinking, maybe I need to pray more “strength to comprehend what is the breadth and length and often or perhaps more fasting will do the trick, or music, or more height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses sleep? Now don’t get me wrong – all these things are good things knowledge…” And this knowledge is not merely intellectual, but – especially sleep! But every good thing given by God will fail to experiential and transforming because the word of Christ is strengthen you, apart from one supreme and specific thing – the power! As Paul concludes, this strength to know the love of gospel. Christ is for something: “that you may be filled with all the full - Now this probably sounds either very strange or quite obvious, ness of God.” The strength we need (but often neglect praying but here’s the thing: As a Christian, the bottom-line source of for) is the strength to grasp the love of Christ – in order that we your strength is all that God promises to be for you in Jesus might be filled with the Spirit of God to live lives worthy of the Christ . While it is certainly the content of the gospel that accom - gospel! plishes all that we desperately need done for us (the cross of At Christian Union, we are deeply grateful for the prayers of Christ) and in us (the Holy Spirit), we continually receive Christ our friends and supporters as we help train future Christian and His Spirit day by day through the powerful word of the leaders. To that end, let us all pray that the students would gospel. Listen to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the be filled with all the fullness of God so as to walk in a manner word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us worthy of the gospel, that we might “have strength to compre - who are being saved it is the power of God .” Note the present hend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and tense. Paul doesn’t say, “The word of the cross was the power of height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses ■ God.” Rather, the word of the cross of Christ is the power of God! knowledge!” And Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes …” Jim Thomforde, Christian Union’s director of undergraduate I think this is why, when we look closely at Paul’s prayers, he ministry at Cornell, is an alumnus of Trinity College. Jim doesn’t merely pray for strength to do things. He also prays for earned a master of theology and a masters in church history strength to know something: the love of Christ, the gospel. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is studying In Ephesians 3:16-19, Paul prays: “that according to the riches toward a PhD in systematic theology from the University of of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power Edinburgh.
The strength we need (but often neglect praying for) is the strength to grasp the love of Christ – in order that we might be filled with the Spirit of God to live lives worthy of the gospel!
42 | The Ivy League Christian Observer DISCOVER YOUR CALLING
ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM COLLEGIATEACADEMY A prestigious one-week summer program that launches highly accomplished college upperclassmen and recent graduates on a path to future leadership in law, government, and public policy. Strengthen your competence, credentials, and character for your future career – your calling.
The cost of airfare, lodging, and materials is fully covered for those selected to this program.
AllianceDefendingFreedom.org/Collegiate
PRAYER REQUESTS
BROWN HARVARD
■ Pray for Brown’s student athletes, that they would balance ■ Pray for the many student-led prayer meetings and Bible their training with their studies. Also pray that Christian studies that have sprung up on campus during this aca - athletes would demonstrate true commitment to Jesus demic year. Christ. ■ Pray for unity within individual Christian ministries at ■ Pray for the student leaders of Cru, that their walks with Harvard, as well as for Christian students to be burdened the Lord will be strengthened and for a commitment to with a sense of urgency to evangelize. disciple their peers. ■ Pray for continued growth in the ministry to Harvard stu - ■ Pray that the meeting space at Christian Union’s Judson dents by Grace Street Church and its Sunday afternoon Center will continue to serve as a catalyst for the advance - services in Holden Chapel. ment of the gospel.
COLUMBIA PENN
■ Pray that the Lord will raise up leaders for campus min - ■ Penn for Life joined the March for Life in Washington, istries, both for direct work with students seeking the truth D.C. in January. Pray that their efforts promote and foster and for general oversight. a culture of life at Penn. ■ Pray against the common tactics of the enemy: depression, ■ Pray that the students with Penn Cru who attended the Ra - workaholism, selfishness, and lack of close friendships, diate 2012 conference over the winter break were encour - fellowship, and accountability. aged and stretched in their walks with Christ. ■ Pray for Christian faculty members, that they will be bold ■ Pray for the business students at Penn, that they integrate in sharing their faith with colleagues and students who their faith with their work lives. Pray that they do not fall cross their paths. Also pray for those who eagerly assist the into unethical business practices. ministries at Columbia.
CORNELL PRINCETON
■ Pray for members of campus ministries, as they meet with ■ Pray for graduate students who are raising their children. God in prayer. Pray that they will be strengthened in their Pray that God will bless their efforts and provide for their faith. daily needs. ■ Pray for the recipients of blankets, winter coats, hats, and ■ Pray for the two Christian Princeton students who have gloves collected by the Cornell Catholic Ministry for those been selected to participate in The Scholars in National in the Ithaca community who are less fortunate. Service Initiative, a program preparing outstanding indi - viduals on a path toward public service. ■ Pray for students struggling with issues related to alcohol, sexuality, stress, sickness, and relationships. Pray that ■ Pray for The Alternative, a new organization that is work - they meet Jesus and turn their lives over to Him. ing to engage and educate Princeton students regarding an alternative to the hook-up culture.
DARTMOUTH YALE
■ Pray for the students from Agape Christian Fellowship ■ Pray for the Graduate Students Christian Fellowship and who attended the Urbana Missions Conference over New its times of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Year’s weekend. Pray that these students will be inten - ■ Keep in prayer the students who write, edit, publish, and tional about reaching out to others on campus. distribute The Logos , Yale’s undergraduate Christian mag - ■ Pray for the Dartmouth Faculty and Staff Christian Fellow - azine. Pray that it will be used to proclaim the good news ship as they meet regularly to encourage one another of Jesus Christ and stimulate discussions of a Christian through Bible study and times of prayer. Pray that mem - worldview. bers of this ministry will boldly share their faith. ■ Pray for the continued impact of the Alpha Course, and ■ Pray for an even greater unity among the ministries and those who have given their lives to Christ and been Christian faculty at Dartmouth. baptized.
44 | The Ivy League Christian Observer From the bottom of our hearts, “!ank You!” Through your generous giving, Christian leaders are being developed to change culture.
rinceton ’14 Bernice Fokum, P wn: Spring.eld, IL Hometo & Health Policy cate: Global Health thropology; Certi. Major: An n board member; bal AIDS Campaig vities: Student Glo board member Campus Acti n of Black Women rinceton Associatio P ast year I ence with them. L to make a differ nd He expects us n AIDS ts and passion, a nal Conference o God gives us gif at the Internatio panel discussion nce pia to serve on a n 10,000 confere traveled to Ethio s one of more tha ns in Africa. I wa ority nsmitted infectio interested in min and sexually tra alth issues. I am hese pressing he rest. On king to address t ssion of that inte participants wor natural progre and studies are a with my college work d my experiences health issues and lege. God has use amatically in col ith. I have changed dr to live out my fa the other hand, I d to teach me how istian identity an nd role to shape my Chr dicated teacher a Christian Union istry fellow, a de istian Union min ith ateful for my Chr y involvement w am especially gr ched because of m been deeply enri e experience has ssible. model. My colleg ho make this po l for the donors w and I am gratefu Christian Union,
www.ChristianUnion.org/Giving [email protected] CHRISTIAN UNION 240 Nassau Street Princeton, NJ 08542 USA
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Trinity International University is comprised of four schools in multiple locations and confers a wide range of bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.
Trinity College Centers Locations Undergraduate Programs Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding Deer eld, Illinois Adult Undergraduate Programs The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity South Chicago Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Jonathan Edwards Center at TEDS Florida Trinity Graduate School Southern California Trinity Law School Online
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) is in Deer eld, Illinois, with extension sites in Akron, Chicago, Columbus, Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and south Florida.