Intervarsity Off the Rails

Memo of Concern for Intervarsity Urbana
           Rev. Bill Hofer
  
     During Christmas break 2015 I was asked to solicit financial support for a COS student by a local Inter Varsity representative.  Our Church had just decided to support that ministry to the tune of $100 per month via our Missions Committee.  I was happy to do so and $139 came in for the COS student’s expenses to attend the Urbana Conference.
   Towards the end of the Conference I tuned in to the event on the internet and was surprised to find a controversy brewing over one of the speakers.  It seems a Michelle Higgins, a local (St. Louis) worship leader and community activist, was there representing “Black Lives Matter.”  She was challenging students to participate in the removal of racism as a legitimate Christian mission.
    I have no problem with that viewpoint, per se.  However, she took the opportunity to criticize the Pro-Life movement as serving in an area that is “comfortable” and not doing the “heavy lifting.”  I, and thousands of other Christian pro-lifers, took umbrage at that.  It prompted me to look into Ms. Higgins’ affiliations.  I am aware that people are not necessarily “guilty by association” but she is not in the least interested in distancing herself from these other groups of which she is a part and in some cases leads:
  •          M.O.R.E. (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment)
  •      O.B.S.  (Organization for Black Struggle)
  • ·      Right to the City

    My concerns are not that Inter Varsity wants to make a strong statement regarding respect for “people of color” as Greg Jao, Vice President of IV and Director for Campus Engagement, put it in a statement defending IV’s use of Ms. Higgins as a key note speaker.  I get that. 
   Herein lies the problem.  Rather than reply to the growing outcry from concerned supporters of IV and clarify their mistake – Mr. Jao took the opportunity to lecture others on the importance of race relations.  His response was an exercise in missing the point.  Many Christians understand the need for racial reconciliation.  But Higgins’ remarks, and more importantly her affiliations, go far beyond that.  She is an active member in the above organizations whose stated goals are inconsistent with traditional Christianity’s stance on social issues in general and Inter Varsity’s in particular. Such as:
  • ·         Opposition to our republican form of government
  • ·         Opposition to capitalism as evil
  • ·         Opposition to the death penalty for capital crimes
  • ·         Supports abortion
  • ·         Supports homosexuality and LGBT as legitimate Christian choices
  • ·         Supports penalizing white society for past evils


   Inter Varsity offers a clear statement on the Biblical basis for sexuality to which Ms. Higgins would not adhere. It is my contention that there are literally thousands of “Christians of Color” who could have better represented IV’s legitimate interest in racial reconciliation. I implore those who have the ear of Inter Varsity leadership to appeal to them for an adequate response to this offensive presentation.  If not, I believe funds will dry up for IV support locally and nationally.      
   Originally published January 20, 2016        

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