Georgetown reviewing Protestant-based ministries

Georgetown reviewing Protestant-based ministries

WASHINGTON — After banning six evangelical groups from campus, Georgetown University in Washington has formed an advisory board to review how it serves Protestant students at the Catholic university. Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America with about 6,000 undergraduate students. On Aug. 14, it discontinued the official status of Protestant “affiliated ministries” including InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Chi Alpha and Asian Baptist Student Koinonia.

The groups, which include about 300 Georgetown students, had been operating in cooperation with Georgetown’s campus ministry. Now they may not advertise their events as being sponsored by Georgetown or host staff members on campus.

The committee, composed of university faculty, campus ministers, students and off-campus leaders, will evaluate four aspects of the university’s relationship with the Protestant community on campus and determine the university’s next move in that relationship.