BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Campus Bible Fellowship and its president at State University of New York’s Broome Community College filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against school officials for discriminating against the club because of its Christian beliefs.
Led by student Jacob Seachrist, CBF is a student club with a mission to share and defend the Christian faith. As such, the club requires its student leaders—charged with “promoting, guiding, and leading the spiritual health of the organization and its members”—to be Christians. Doing otherwise would dilute the ministry’s Christian character and stifle its mission of spreading the Christian faith.
SUNY Broome claims that CBF is violating the college’s anti-discrimination policies by limiting its leadership positions to members who “profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Accordingly, the college refuses to officially recognize CBF as a student club, preventing it from reserving campus space and accessing financial resources. The lawsuit explains, however, that CBF’s establishment of leadership standards is an expression of faith at the core of the First Amendment’s protections.
“The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations are free to select faithful leaders,” said ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer. “But SUNY Broome’s policy undermines that right by seeking to control a fundamental aspect of CBF’s governance, doctrine, and faith. Forcing CBF to accept leaders who don’t share their religious beliefs fundamentally alters their religious expression. The First Amendment prohibits this type of governmental interference.”
ADF attorneys filed Campus Bible Fellowship at SUNY Broome Community College v. SUNY Broome Community College in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, Binghamton Division.
- Pronunciation guide: Langhofer (LANG’-hoff-ur)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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