CSU De-recognizes Christian Clubs

This Fall we’ve experienced some of the greatest challenges on campus we’ve encountered in a long time. Read our prayer letter below to find out how the California State University system has made it very difficult for Christian clubs and organizations to charter on campus with their new policy. And read how God is working on one campus in San Diego in spite of being de-recognized.

In December of 2011, the Chancellor of the California State University system (23 campuses and almost one-half of a million students) signed an executive order extending the non-discrimination policy for student organizations (click here to read Executive Order 1068). The non-discrimination policy was extended to an organization’s leadership as well as membership. This becomes a problem when a Christian club has a requirement of their student leaders to hold to the Christian faith. Even though that makes sense, it is seen as discrimination based on religion. There is a good amount of authority given to the individual universities within the CSU system in how they will execute this order, so Cru teams have been engaging with individual university administrations up and down the state to become a recognized group. We’re really just feeling the effects of this order now, as the universities have taken time to figure out how to implement it themselves. Our campus teams have been holding in tension working to get official club status while not compromising Biblical integrity. So far, this has resulted in 2 campuses being recognized, several being de-recognized, and many more still in the process. The benefits to being a recognized student organization on campus vary, but can include more ability to meet on campus, reserve rooms, get significantly discounted fees, and to post media on campus. Taking these privileges away makes it more difficult to reach students on the CSU campuses.

But with God, every roadblock is simply a new opportunity! Our teams have seen the challenge through this lense and God is moving in significant ways! You can read about how God is doing that specifically at San Diego State University in our prayer letter this month.