By: Diane Benjamin
The Campus Ministry Association has been a registered student association at Illinois State University since 1996. It was called Ecumenical Campus Ministries until 2011. For 22 years they participated in recruitment events through the Department of Admissions.
I’m hearing two sides to this story. A member of the Campus Ministry Association says the University told them they aren’t the “right fit” within ISU guidelines, therefore participation in events will be limited.
I emailed the President Deitz’s assistant. This was my question:
I received this response:
Before asking ISU for an explanation, I did some searching on their website. I did find links to the Campus Ministry Association.
Click this link:
https://search.illinoisstate.edu/?q=Campus+Ministry+Association
Next try clicking on the link shown. You will see:
Page Not Found
I emailed Brent Paterson again asking for another explanation. He claimed he couldn’t find it, so I emailed the link above. I’m waiting for a response. The story will be updated if I get a response.
Since the link doesn’t work, I have no idea what religious organizations make up the Campus Ministry Association. I do know Christian churches are members.
Below is a description of the relationship CMA formally had with ISU:
ISU needs to explain why a 22-year-old organization is suddenly not the “right fit”.
As an ISU alum, it’s depressing to see how far left ISU has sunk. America’s first textbooks were based on the Bible. Now God is not allowed or discouraged in schools.
See this link for more: http://eph6-13.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-public-education.html
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Who made this decision? Remember when ISU hosted an event and students from Central Catholic were told they had to turn their T-Shirts inside out? This is a problem for sure. Maybe Christian Schools in Illinois need to be made aware that Christianity is no longer “the right fit” at Illinois State University. I’m pretty sure there is at least one Board member who would not be really happy about this either.
Send this to them!
AND send it to every Christian and especially every Catholic High School in IL. To multiple Chiristian churches and let the word spread on it’s own.
On it’s face, the University’s response makes sense. But then I haven’t seen who else is represented at the figurative Preview table. I highly suspect there is an ‘ISU recycles!’ booth, which by the reasoning of the letter, should not be there either…
ISU lists 20+ religious student organizations, mostly Christian. I don’t know what if any affiliation CMA may have with any of them, but perhaps they could form what amounts to a joint marketing agreement?
That is what CMA is.
Not a ‘Registered Student Organization’ unless they were recently stripped of the title. https://deanofstudents.illinoisstate.edu/involvement/organizations/directory/religious/ Not denying their long-standing relationship, but if the bar is set at ‘RSOs and Departments’, then CMA is not there.
Though in the process of looking, it looks like the Only place they’re mentioned is in the snippet you cite above, with a link to nowhere. Not sure if it’s purely leftist politics or some other reason, but it would appear ISU has cut all direct ties with CMA, though several of its constituent groups are still RSOs..
They were an official organization, interesting.
Just STOP, ANY and all private donations to the radicals, and then see how much they pray! Maybe the terrorists HAVE won. The CMA was a rather large organization when I went there, maybe now we’re dealing with a bunch of Philistines!
I’ll bet the “use any bathroom you want” club and the “choose your gender” club and “down with Trump” club and the “knit your own pu**y hat” club are the right fit.
Well, this is somewhat concerning. But there are many religions, other than Christianity. Either everyone gets accepted if they apply for a table, or no one. I’m not the proselytizing type and comfortable quietly celebrating my faith with my congregation and not promoting it. We could take ISU at their word: they’re an off-campus organization and space is limited. Have you looked to see if other religious organizations are being permitted…or other off campus groups, other than registered student organizations?
http://www.isuministries.org/
https://deanofstudents.illinoisstate.edu/involvement/organizations/directory/religious/
The second link did exist yesterday, it was the umbrella link that didn’t work. CMA is not ISU Ministries.
Did you read the isuministries.org site?
Yes, why?
The link to Campus Ministry Association did not work. That has been their name since 2011. I don’t know if that page existed yesterday or not, but why is the name different?
I don’t know, maybe they changed it. As for ISU restricting organizations like this, that simply isn’t true. I see these organizations at every Open House. If you go to the Quad today, you’ll see every single one of them represented at Festival ISU. The old guys were here passing out bibles last week. I see ladies talking about creationism, the list goes on. I’m sure Bother Jed will be here soon to provide his unique brand of religion. He’s always a big hit.
I guess the war on Christmas is coming early this year 🙂
They will be on the Quad today. They were not allowed at something that took place at Bone, it meant they encountered far fewer parents and students.
Because of your ‘CMA is not ISU Ministries’ comment.
A “registered student organization” and “organization of the university” are different things, Diane. They cut all clubs and groups out of the Expo, and it’s only actual components of the university there–academic departments, student affairs divisions, etc.
The schedule is right here:
https://guidebook.com/guide/105326/list/616624/