I wrote about these guys on the blog long, long ago, during its early days. Back then, they were a few guys from University of North Carolina who desperately wanted the right to ban gays and Jews from the frat.
Well, the charming young scamps of UNC's Alpha Iota Omega house have won the legal right to discriminate against gays and non-Christians. And I for one say, it's about time! Our public universities have been hotbeds of racial understanding and diversity for too long!
Over at Pendagon's blog, they've been following this story for a while now. It seems this motley crew of 3 undergrads has been fighting the university for some time now, arguing that because it's charter commits the organization to spreading the teachings of the Bible, they should be allowed to expel anyone whom the Bible deems...um, unfit. Like gay people. And Jews. And, you know, all them morons what don't believe in Jesus.
It was founded in 1999 by nine UNC undergrads -- it currently has three members. Per its web site, "The fraternity is designed to equip leaders internally and exteranlly by upholding the Bible's true standard of righteousness." It has told the media that its mission is to lead members of other fraternities to Jesus Christ "through evangelism and mentorship."
AIO has the conservative "free speech" organization FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) fighting for their cause too. Per FIRE, the frat said that last year they suddenly noticed that UNC's student organization recognition agreement requires student leaders to sign UNC's nondiscrimination policy, which requires that membership be open to all student -- including non-Christians and homosexuals. AIO claimed that because their organization is dedicated to spreading Biblical beliefs, this was a problem, they refused to sign the agreement.
Let's take a look at that fraternity website, shall we? This is from the section labeled "Our Vision."
What started with 9 men has joined 38 brothers from all national, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. We stand for the true representation of the Kingdom of Heaven--all nations in one accord.
All nations, yes, as long as you don't want to date other dudes. Oh, and not Israel or any Muslim countries. And a lot of those Scandanavians are atheists, also, so we'd better take them out. But otherwise, just like the Kingdom of Heaven - 65% or so of nations in one accord.
There's also an advertisement of Jesus Awareness Week, from April 19th-23rd. Hmm...that's not quite a week, fellas. That's actually 4 days. Jesus only warrants 4 days of awareness? How else will people remember he exists? It's not like people talk about him constantly every day or anything. Besides, black people get a whole month! What up with that?
But back to the issue at hand...you might think it's okay for a fraternity to ban anyone who doesn't agree with the major tenets of the charter. Like preaching the Good News about Jesus. But bear in mind that fraternities are official campus organizations, that receive university funding, host events on university-owned property and so on. That's why they are beholden to the university's anti-discrimination policy, which says you're not allowed to ban people from your organization on the basis of religion or sexual orientation.
If they were an independant organization, like say The Boy Scouts, they'd be allowed to discriminate in this way legally. It would be crummy of them, but they could do it. This way, they have to go around the law, and it appears that they are winning the war thus far.
Pendagon's not done there, though. He turns up evidence that the AIO Fraternity has ties to...wait for it...a creepy cult called Marantha Ministries! Neato!
Per the NC News & Observer, they have ties to King's Park International Church in Durham, where many current and former IOA members worship (and where at least one of IOA's founders is involved with the ministry). However, the church's founding pastor, Ron Lewis, says there is no formal relationship between Alpha Iota Omega and his church ("Students come to our church based on invitation and desire, he said, which apparently means that, yes, IOA members, current and former, attend his church, but nobody is forcing them to).
The News & Observer story indicates that in the 1980s, Pastor Ron was affiliated with Maranatha Christian Church, which the paper calls "a national organization that disbanded after complaints about cult like practices."
I love that line about "students come to our church based on invitation and desire." The word "invitation" in there, it's so telling. This guy feels that you shouldn't be allowed to go to his church unless you're invited. Such a Christ-like attitude. We all know how selective he was about who could pray with him.
Now here's the really funny part. The AIO Fraternity and the Maranatha Ministries have a lot of the same policies. Such as their views on dating. Here's a former Maranatha member describing the group's view on going steady:
The Bible says, "the marriage bed is holy and undefiled." God instituted the family and purposes for us to be married, unless we are a eunuch. ... As you are just getting character worked into your life, and as your just being singlely devoted to God, then God will begin to reveal to you who your wife is going to be or who your husband is to be ... We do not date and 'mess around' in order to find a mate. There are no Scriptures in the Bible on dating because God did not institute it. ... When a person believes that God is speaking marriage, then he/she should submit it to the pastor. "Why talk to your pastor? Because, it needs to be spiritually discerned.
"God instittues the family and purposes for us to be married, unless we are a eunuch." And they say this shit doesn't have relevance to us in modern times! That is one hip, with-it kind of book! Does it come in paperback? I'll need some beach reading this summer.
And now here's the rowdy boys of Alpha House on dating, courtesy once again of Pendagon:
Members shall be above reproach at all times, the handbook says, and they should have "accountability partners or covenant brothers" to encourage them on their Christian journey [..]
The rules say students should not date, though serious courtship and engagement are acceptable. "We reject the notions of casual dating and flirting," the handbook says. "We also discourage any physical activity that stirs up passion that cannot be righteously fulfilled at that time."
Oh, engagement's acceptable? Whew, that's a close one. Otherwise, how would anyone ever get married? All the men would put their business card in a hat and go home with whatever lady picked it out, I suppose.
I don't mean to come down to hard on the frat brothers. I feel bad for them, really. Imagine wasting your collegiate days worrying about keeping Jews out of your frat house...Barely leaves any time for whippets and invite-only couple parties.
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