Chi Alpha

Chi Alpha | ΧΑ (sometimes XA, χα, xa, or SfC - Students for Christ,[3] officially known as Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship), is an international and interdenominational, coeducational Christian fellowship, social club, student society, and service organization founded in 1953 on the campus of Missouri State University (then known as Southwest Missouri State College) in Springfield, Missouri. Chi Alpha is sponsored by the Assemblies of God USA,[4] a Pentecostal denomination established after separating from the historically African American Church of God in Christ in 1914 over race and administration.[5][6]

Not to be confused with Chi Alpha Omega, Lambda Chi Alpha, Chi Alpha Delta, or Chi Omega.

Chi Alpha
ΧΑ
Founded1953 (1953)
Missouri State University
(fmr. Southwest Missouri State College) in Springfield, Missouri
TypeChristian fellowship
Social club
Student society
Service organization
EmphasisPentecostalism
ScopeInternational
Motto"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20)[1]
VirtuesPrayer, Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Mission
PillarsCommunity, Creativity, Diversity, Excellence, Integrity, Servant-Leadership, and Evangelism
Colors Black   White   Gray   Red  [2]
SymbolChristogram
Flag
PhilanthropyConvoy of Hope
NicknameChrist's Ambassadors[1]
AffiliationsAssemblies of God USA
HeadquartersChi Alpha Campus Ministries
1445 N. Boonville Ave
Springfield, MO 65802, United States
WebsiteOfficial website

Chi Alpha defines as mission as "to reconcile students to Jesus Christ, thereby transforming the university, the marketplace, and the world..."[7] It describes its core values or pillars as community, creativity, diversity, excellence, integrity, servant-leadership, and evangelism. Its self-described five-fold approach is prayer, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission.[8] Its philanthropic and service organization affiliation is the Convoy of Hope. Through its campus ministries and fellowships, Chi Alpha operates a missionary internship program through the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, requiring doctrinal assent.[9][10][11]

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship's campus ministries have fluctuated from 310 locations in 2010,[12] to 350 in 2019,[13] and 275 in 2022.[14] The organization and its leadership have also been subjected to controversies involving the LGBT community,[15][16] and sexual and psychological abuse with former members alleging "cult-like" personalities.[17][13] In May 2023, Christianity Today and other outlets reported a registered sex offender was knowingly allowed to continued ministering to Chi Alpha students for more than 30 years.[18][19] Since these reports, a website has been launched and dedicated against abuses within Chi Alpha and Assemblies of God.[20]

Etymology

The name Chi Alpha was inspired by the contemporary Assemblies of God youth movement, Christ's Ambassadors (a phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:20). The initials "CA" were changed to the Greek alphabet initials "ΧΑ" (and its Latin Script's stylized equivalent of "XA") in order to resemble the names of other college organizations, in particular Greek-letter fraternities and sororities.

History

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship originates from within Assemblies of God USA as a ministry to collegians in 1947 at the urging of J. Robert Ashcroft (father of John Ashcroft), consisting of a newsletter sent to college students to encourage them in their faith.

After Ashcroft's newsletter publications, it soon became apparent that a newsletter by itself was inadequate, and so in 1953 Dr. J. Calvin Holsinger chartered the first Assemblies of God student group at Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri where the Assemblies of God headquarters is located;[21][22] the Assemblies of God USA and its World Assemblies of God Fellowship were originally established in Arkansas upon separating from the historically African-American Church of God in Christ in 1914 in disagreement with episcopal governance and other controversies pertaining to race relations in the United States.[5][6] The movement inspired and sponsored by Assemblies of God quickly spread to other campuses. For example, the first Chi Alpha to own property was the UC Berkeley chapter, which purchased a house next to campus in 1964.

Chi Alpha began its development internationally in the 1970s, establishing chapters in Europe under the name Students for Christ,[23] and also into Latin America under various names.

In 1978, Dennis Gaylor became national director of Chi Alpha, and served until April 2013. Chi Alpha is currently led by Scott Martin.[24]

Annie Dillard wrote a widely reprinted essay—"Singing with the Fundamentalists"[25]—about her experiences singing with a group of students from the Chi Alpha chapter at Western Washington University (a chapter which operated under the local name of Campus Christian Fellowship).

Chapters

Chi Alpha within the United States has a large presence throughout the South and Midwest.[26][27] Globally, its second-largest presence is in Europe, within some predominantly and historically Catholic and Eastern Orthodox countries of Western, Central, and Mediterranean Europe.[28] At the beginning of the 21st century, there have been Chi Alpha ministries and fellowships on over 310 campuses throughout the United States as of 2010.[12] As of 2022, Chi Alpha had a presence at 275 campuses throughout the United States.[14]

Controversies

Throughout the organization's history, it has been involved in numerous controversies involving the LGBT community, sexual and psychological abuse, and religious abuse.[15][17][13]

The Chi Alpha chapters at Georgetown University and the University of New Hampshire were highlighted in a 2003 article in The New York Times entitled "Of Bart and Homer, and the Many Ways of Faith"—an article about their use of The Simpsons as a Bible study tool.[29]

In the 2014-2015 school year, Chi Alpha at CSU Stanislaus was removed from campus because they required that their leaders be Christians. The case gained national attention through conservative news channel Fox News.[30][31][32] The chapter was eventually reinstated after a year-long dispute between Chi Alpha and the campus.[33]

In 2020, a student from the University of Virginia alleged discrimination after coming out and being forced to step down.[34] A year later, from 2021-2022, the fellowship was highlighted for leadership's accusations of discrimination against the LGBT community, students having premarital sex, and students who consume alcohol.[35][16][36][37]

Sexual abuse

In 2019, Chi Alpha's Winona State University fellowship was highlighted by former members for allegations of students following "cult-like" personalities. Its campus leader was alleged of favoritism and shaming student party-goers and drinkers; additional allegations included mishandling sexual abuse and psychological abuse.[13]

In July 2022, a pastor working for Chi Alpha was arrested for "continuous sexual abuse of a child," pleading innocence.[17][38]

In May 2023, Christianity Today and other outlets reported the organization's platforming of registered sexual offender, Daniel Savala, for more than 30 years.[18][19][39] Following, according to a Dallas, Texas-based law firm, demands have been made to limit the activity of Chi Alpha on multiple college and university campuses.[40] A website was also published, dedicated against abuses within Chi Alpha and the Assemblies of God.[20] On 21 May 2023, board members and elders of a North Texas Assemblies of God church dismissed a pastor of the Texas A&M Chi Alpha chapter and Mountain Valley Fellowship linked to the sex abuse scandal.[41] On 25 May 2023, a Chi Alpha campus minister for Baylor University was arrested on child sex abuse chargers.[42] At the Baylor ministry, the campus chapter has opposed the university allowing an organization for LGBT students. The Baylor chapter was suspended during the sex abuse scandal.[43][44][45]

In June 2023, Savala was arrested;[46][47][48][49] according to The Christian Post, the Assemblies of God USA noted that Savala was never on staff with Chi Alpha and took steps to sever ties as they learned of his sex offender status. Whistleblowers reportedly disputed the claims.[50] Following Savala's arrest in June, an Alaskan minister linked to Chi Alpha was charged with sexual abuse.[51]

In August 2023, Assemblies of God pastors from Texas and Louisiana called for the resignation of the denomination's leaders over the Savala scandal.[52] A pastor from Orange, Texas criticized his denomination's general superintendent, Doug E. Clay, and alleging minimization of the abuse Savala has been accused of. Clay described the scandal as a series of "hiccups," while Orange, Texas-pastor Armstrong responded, "Hundreds of victims of sexual abuse is not a spot on a spectrum."[53]

In October 2023, it was revealed from a 1989 yearbook for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, that Savala was mentioned as a Chi Alpha staff member alongside campus minister Eric Treuil.[54] Treuil reestablished the local Chi Alpha chapter for the university in 1987, and since 1994, has led the Cajuns 4 Christ athletic outreach program.[55]

Prior, in 2012, former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun football players were arrested for sexual assault allegations. Following, some members of the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns sought baptism through Chi Alpha and Treuil responded:[56]

I believe it played a bit into it, from the angle of the reality that anybody can get into trouble—easily. And less you make some choices and decisions, it’s easy for anybody to mess up. I do think it played a part. They stepped over and decided to make some good, strong decisions. It’s saying, ‘Hey, I’m telling everybody I’m living out the Christian life. Now, they’ve put themselves out there for some accountability.

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Who We Are".
  2. "Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A. Style Guide" (PDF). Chi Alpha. Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, U.S.A. June 8, 2017.
  3. SfC, Students for Christ, or Studenten für Christus in German, is the most common name used in Europe. "SfC Europe: About Us". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  4. "Our Story". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved September 3, 2022. Chi Alpha is sponsored by the Assemblies of God (AG). That means the AG provides each local campus with support, resources and connectivity to a larger worldwide movement. They also work to equip the leaders of each local XA, both the vocational missionaries associated with each group and the student leaders. The sponsorship by the Assemblies of God does not mean that you have to have a history with the AG. You don't have to have any particular denominational connection to be welcomed in our groups.
  5. Randal Rust. "Mason, Charles Harrison". Tennessee Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 3, 2022. Mason dreamed of an integrated church and believed that all races were entitled to equal rights and authority. From COGIC's inception, Mason ordained and allowed whites to join his denomination. From 1907 to 1914, Mason ordained hundreds of white ministers. In 1914, a group of whites left COGIC and established the Assemblies of God. Throughout his tenure, Mason continued to integrate COGIC. A white COGIC pastor named Leonard P. Adams pastored Grace and Truth in Memphis, and COGIC's first general secretary was a white man named William B. Holt. Mason also conducted integrated funerals, baptisms, and worship services. At the height of Jim Crow, Mason allowed blacks and whites to sit next to each other in church. In the 1930s, Edward Hull "Boss" Crump told Mason he could not continue to allow blacks and whites to sit together. However, Boss Crump did not stop Mason from holding integrated meetings. Mason used COGIC as a platform to fight against segregation and encouraged blacks and whites to embrace racial unity.
  6. "Race and the Assemblies of God Church: The Journey from Azusa Street to the "Miracle of Memphis" By Joe Newman". Cambria Press. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. "Grundsätze". October 12, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  8. "Why We Exist". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  9. "Campus Missionary-in-Training". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  10. Smietana, Bob (May 6, 2015). "Many Evangelicals Wary of Faith Requirements for Campus Groups". News & Reporting. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  11. Smith, Samuel (March 31, 2015). "'Attending College Should Not Cost Me My Faith,' Says Chi Alpha President Whose Chapter Lost Official Status on Campus for Requiring Leaders to Be Christian". The Christian Post. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  12. "Group Locator | Spotlight". Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
  13. Swenson, Madelyn. "Student allegations spark controversy". The Winonan. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  14. "Group Locator". Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  15. "An Open Letter to Chi Alpha from a Fellow Roadrunner and Christian". Her Campus. February 18, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023. Even as a believer in Christ, your members have tried to make me and others feel bad for not wanting to be a part of your organization. I've politely told your members before as they approached me on my way to class that I am already part of a church family, only for them to try and grill me about the church I attend, and how involved I am to see if it fits their standards of Christianity and tell me "that's not good enough." I can distinctly remember a situation on campus last year that I had to witness in disgust where some of your members purposefully set up next to the LGBTQ club, just so that you could scream at them and harass them for their life choices. The LGBTQ members stood there silently and with dignity as you made complete fools out of yourselves with your hypocrisy towards religion.
  16. "SA drafts formal complaint against Chi Alpha after discrimination accusations". The Rice Thresher. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  17. "Pastor arrested on allegations of continuous sexual assault of a minor". KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi. July 11, 2022. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  18. Shellnutt, Kate (May 10, 2023). "Registered Sex Offender Continued to Minister to Chi Alpha Students". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  19. "Chi Alpha Campus Ministries Platformed Convicted Sex Offender for Decades". The Roys Report. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  20. "XA & The Lions Den". XA & The Lions Den. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  21. Harrup, Scott (2009). "What can be learned from history?". ag.org. Assemblies of God. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  22. Bixler, Frances (2002). "Chi Alpha". In Stanley M. Burgess (ed.). The new international dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements (Rev. and expanded ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. p. 521. ISBN 0310224810.
  23. "SfC Europe: About Us". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  24. "National Leadership".
  25. The Yale Review Vol. 74, No. 2 (Winter, 1985), 312. It has been reprinted several times (see her bibliography for info on the reprints).
  26. "Religion Plays Growing Role on Campuses". The New York Times. January 5, 1986. p. Sunday Late City Final Edition, Section 1, Page 37, Column 1.
  27. "The Palm Beach Post - Google News Archive Search". July 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  28. "Find a Group". Students for Christ - Europe. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  29. Zezima, Katie (June 14, 2003). "Of Bart and Homer, and the Many Ways of Faith". The New York Times.
  30. "Faith under fire at Cal State". Fox News. March 29, 2015.
  31. "Christian Student Group Claims Religious Discrimination from CSU Stanislaus". FOX40. March 21, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  32. Naidu, Pawan (March 27, 2015). "Chi Alpha loses recognition from university, proposed bill hopes to fight against similar cases". California State University, Stanislaus. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  33. Kim, Christine (November 27, 2015). "Christian Student Organization to be Recognized at California State University After Year-Long Dispute". Christianity Daily. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  34. "UVirginia Christian Group Member Alleges Gay Discrimination". The College Post. December 2, 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  35. ""I love the Lord, and I don't see any error in my ways": Students navigate being queer in religious organizations". The Rice Thresher. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  36. "'This is in your best interest to leave': LGBTQ+ students share discriminatory experiences in Chi Alpha". The Rice Thresher. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  37. Breen, McKinley (May 10, 2019). "A conversation with a former Chi Alpha member". Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  38. "10 Texas pastors have been charged with sexually abusing children this year". Newsweek. December 9, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  39. Gutteridge, Nicholas (May 2023). "Chi Alpha organization took students to church with links to a sex offender". The Battalion. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  40. "Law Firm Asks Texas Universities to Expel Campus Ministry with Ties to Sex Offender – MinistryWatch". Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  41. "TX Pastor Linked to Chi Alpha Sex Abuse Scandal Dismissed From Church". The Roys Report. May 24, 2023. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  42. Kyle, Matt (May 25, 2023). "Waco police: Baylor-based minister let 'mentor' sexually abuse family members". Waco Tribune-Herald. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  43. Wingfield, Mark (May 26, 2023). "Leader of Assemblies of God student group at Baylor arrested on child sexual abuse charges". Baptist News Global. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  44. "Baylor Campus Ministry Leader Charged with Sex Abuse of Two Boys". The Roys Report. May 25, 2023. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  45. Martinez, Sarah (July 6, 2023). "Texas youth ministers arrested, accused of sexual abuse of minors". MySA. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  46. Kyle, Matt (June 2, 2023). "Sex offender linked to arrest of Baylor Chi Alpha minister arrested in Houston". Waco Tribune-Herald. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  47. Witherspoon, Tommy (May 24, 2023). "'Spiritual mentor' of ex-Baylor campus minister arrested in sexual abuse of two Waco boys". KWTX. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  48. Witherspoon, Tommy (June 12, 2023). "'Spiritual adviser' to ex-Baylor campus minister held on $250K bond on child sex abuse charge". KWTX. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  49. "2 ministers, one with ties to Baylor University, accused of forcing kids to perform sex acts in sauna at Houston home". KPRC Click2Houston. July 3, 2023. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  50. Blair, Leonardo (June 6, 2023). "Minister with outsized influence in Assemblies of God's Chi Alpha ministry arrested for abusing boys". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  51. Bowman, Colin (June 12, 2023). "Leader at Church Linked to Chi Alpha Abuse Scandal Charged with Sex Abuse". The Roys Report. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  52. Shepherd, Josh (September 28, 2023). "Assemblies of God Pastors Call for Leaders to Resign Over 'Shameful' Response to Chi Alpha Sex Scandal". The Roys Report. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  53. Blair, Leonardo (September 29, 2023). "Assemblies of God pastors say denomination's leaders should resign over Chi Alpha scandal". The Christian Post. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  54. Kyle, Matt (October 16, 2023). "More charges added against sex offender linked to ex-Baylor Chi Alpha minister's arrest". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved October 23, 2023. Savala has been associated with multiple chapters of Chi Alpha since at least 1989. A 1989 article from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette yearbook refers to Savala as a "Chi Alpha staff member and world traveled missionary," but Assemblies of God officials said in a statement that was a "captioning error," and that Savala did not hold credentials with Assemblies of God and never served as an official Chi Alpha staff member.
  55. "Ragin' for Christ". PENews. September 28, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  56. Akers, Shawn A. "After Sex Scandal, Ragin' Cajuns Get Baptized to Pledge Commitment to Christ". Charisma News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  57. Elliot, Peter (May 5, 2009). "Arkansas Pastors Shed Light on Idol Finalist Kris Allen". Everyday Christian. Archived from the original on May 9, 2009.
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