InterVarsity’s Multi-Ethnic History

11 am on Sunday still remains the most segregated hour in America, and for most Christians the best way to deal with race is to be colorblind and simply disregard it as not important. With that said I’m really proud to be apart of an organization that has kept ethnic reconciliation and multi-ethnicity as a core value of our movement. Since its conception in the US, InterVarsity has remained a catalyst of racial reconciliation not only in the church, but in the culture as well.  I believe what we have done and what we are going to do is going to continue to bless, challenge, and transform the church’s view on culture and ethnicity for years to come.  It is so exciting to be part of what God is doing!

Here are a few examples of our multi-ethnic legacy from our history that I am particularly proud of (from Multi Ethnic Ministries Website):

• 1944-1948- Jane Hollingsworth (Haille) in NYC confronted an IV Board member when she refused to permit Black students in her home for the city’s monthly meetings. Jane’s Biblical honesty breaks the Board member’s racism and her home is opened to all students.
• 1948- On June 5, the IVCF Board passed a 3-point resolution:
  1. A Christian group in a Negro College shall be accepted without distinction as an IVCF Chapter.
  2. All national IVCF conferences shall be on a non-segregational basis.
  3. Since colored people relate segregation and the Christianity which we represent, we must demonstrate that in Christ there is neither black or white.
• 1952- The Board of Trustees approved the IVCF policy of appointing Negroes as full time InterVarsity staff. In the debate over this with the Board, each IV staff said they would tender their resignation if a Negro staff did not have the same status as the rest of us.
• Check out more here: History of IV’s Multi-Ethnic Journey

As you can see InterVarsity was always way before its time in terms of racial equality. What happened within InterVarsity truly was a prophetic act that led into the Civil Rights movement of the 50s.  I still remember when I heard this history presented to us as National Staff Conference and felt a deep sense of pride as I heard the incredible legacy of faith that I follow in.  I was particularly moved by the story of all the staff in the US ready to tenure their resignation if a Black staff wasn’t given full status as a staff member! I mean what must it have been like to sacrifice your position and job for the sake of justice?  I deeply admire the courage and love of the staff who have come before me, and it is a challenge for me to be the same. 

I hope I can continue this rich legacy as we continue to seek after racial reconciliation and celebrating diversity in our chapter and on our campus.  I pray that like my predecessors I could sacrifice and advocate for the sake of those who lack a voice and that we could consider being the cutting edge of racial equality in the Church.  I truly envision a fellowship where any person of any ethnicity could walk in, feel welcomed, and experience God.  Dream with me as we chase after that!

Kingdom Come.  Now.