Daily Egyptian Spring 04
Spring '04 Edition
Campus Ministries to reconsider Judeo-Christian exclusivity
Monique Garcia
Daily Egyptian
Just weeks after facing a storm of controversy following the decision to remain strictly Judeo-Christian, Campus Ministries officials have decided to formally reconsider.
In a meeting Tuesday, Hugh Muldoon, representing four groups who voted against allowing only followers of Christian and Jewish religions into the organization, put forth a resolution to reconsider the excluding vote.
"We propose a resolution to return to the old wording of the constitution, to return to the old language, before it said 'Judeo-Christian,'" said Muldoon, director of University Christian Ministries. "And return to an open group for qualifying faiths."
While the group unanimously voted to reconsider, a decision will not come until its next meeting on May 12.
Muldoon said because there is such a diverse religious makeup in Carbondale, it would be unjust to exclude some religions.
He cited Carbondale's strong Hindu make-up as a perfect example, saying they should have the right to join Campus Ministries in order to further their organizational structure.
"Hindus in Carbondale gather in their homes," Muldoon said. "They are very active, but they don't have that corporate structure. If we participate in events with Hindus, there would be more structure if they were a part of this group. They represent so many citizens in this area and millions worldwide."
While Hinduism was cited as a possible religion to be included, some members expressed concern for illegitimate religious groups.
"The problem is we cannot say that we are open or that we are closed," said Campus Ministries President Bob Gray. "We need to be inclusive within limits. Certainly we don't want to encourage cults or groups destructive to religion."
Muldoon agreed with Gray, but cited the group's bylaws as a safeguard.
Within the bylaws, there are particular rules and regulations a group must meet before being accepted into Campus Ministries.
Organizations requesting membership must first undergo a two-year trial period and demonstrate service to the University community in that time.
Additionally, applicants must agree to attend at least half of the regular group meetings, be involved in at least one committee and abide by ethical regulations.
Those regulations include being forthright in ministry goals, representing the beliefs of other faiths accurately and being sensitive to the positions of other members.
"There is a process for discerning legitimate religions," Muldoon said. "But in this modern age when there is such a diverse interfaith dialogue, it is hard to determine what is a faith and what is a religion."
Joan Friedenberg of the Hillel Foundation, one of the four opposing groups, said while they hope to come to an agreement, it is possible some groups may drop out of Campus Ministries or form a separate organization if the group remains exclusively Judeo-Christian.
"This doesn't mean all of these groups will drop out of Campus Ministries," Friedenberg said. "Although it is certainly a possibility. Some groups may be in both. I guess it will have to wait to be seen."
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