InterVarsity Sues SUNY Broome Over Leadership Requirements

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has filed a lawsuit against SUNY Broome Community College in New York, challenging the institution's refusal to grant the group official recognition. The college denied the ministry status because the club requires its leaders to adhere to the Christian faith, a policy officials claim violates the school's non-discrimination regulations. Without official recognition, the student group is barred from accessing campus meeting spaces, funding, and recruitment resources.

Represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the ministry argues that the college is infringing upon its First Amendment rights. The lawsuit asserts that religious organizations maintain a fundamental right to select leaders who share their beliefs, particularly as those leaders are responsible for conducting prayer, worship, and Bible study. While the ministry welcomes students of all backgrounds to participate in its activities, it maintains that leadership roles must be reserved for those who embrace the organization's core religious tenets. The case is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.