Virginia State must scrap its unconstitutional Christian-club policy
The policy puts Christian ministries under university control while the Muslim Student Association remains independent, a written double standard Virginia State should end.
Virginia State should scrap its unequal Campus Ministries policy. On Oct. 13, 2026, Alliance Defending Freedom posted this warning and pointed readers to Tyson Langhofer on EWTN: “Overnight, Christian groups like Women of Victory and Bethel Campus Fellowship lost their student organization status. Equal treatment isn’t a suggestion. It is a requirement of the First Amendment.”
VPM reports that the policy says the Muslim Student Association’s governance and funding “remain independent from VSU Campus Ministries” and it “maintains its status as a separate officially registered student organization.” The lawsuit says Christian groups cannot do what the Muslim Student Association and VSU Community Faith Alliance can do: plan and host events, receive and manage outside funding, and gather without campus-ministry permission. The groups filed their civil-rights action on Sept. 24.
William & Mary law professor Nathan Oman told VPM that, in his view, “The school can’t treat student groups differently on the basis of their religion.” University of Virginia emeritus law professor Douglas Laycock said, “That’s almost certainly unconstitutional.” Langhofer told VPM he would drop the suit if Virginia State returned to last semester’s policy, “which just treats all [faith-based] groups the same.”
VPM reports that under the policy, Christian groups can no longer affiliate with their national organizations, and campus minister Thomas Wynn can approve or reject their meetings, events and guest speakers. ADF filed Women of Victory at Virginia State University v. Branch in federal court on Sept. 24, 2026, and alleges that university officials used the policy to prohibit Christian students from gathering even for an informal pajama party in a residence hall.
“That’s almost certainly unconstitutional.”
The Muslim association keeps its independence
Virginia State's Campus Ministries office adopted the policy in August, removing student-led ministries from the ordinary registered student organization system1. Under the policy, ADF says, the Christian groups would be absorbed into VSU Campus Ministries, under the authority of Campus Minister Thomas Wynn and a board of faculty and staff advisers. ADF says the policy gives Wynn discretion to approve or reject requests for religious meetings, events, guest speakers and other religious activities on campus. Langhofer told VPM that VSU’s new rules require his clients to disaffiliate from their national organizations. Langhofer says those national groups provide pastors, curriculum and training, the kind of support students lose when the affiliation ends2.
The policy gives the Muslim Student Association a different arrangement2. It also keeps the association separately registered as a student organization.
- In AugustVirginia State adopted its Campus Ministries policy
- Sept. 24, 2026ADF filed the lawsuit
- Oct. 13, 2026ADF posted its warning and pointed readers to Tyson Langhofer on EWTN.
Legal scholars reject unequal rules for faith groups
Nathan Oman, a William & Mary law professor, told VPM that the university cannot set separate rules for Muslim, Christian and interfaith groups. Douglas Laycock said, “That’s almost certainly unconstitutional.” Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum told VPM that the policy is also in violation of Virginia law. Walter Weber of the American Center for Law and Justice put the principle in one line: it’s not the business of Virginia colleges — especially public colleges and universities — to manage religious student organizations2.
A public university is making Christian students ask permission while the Muslim Student Association keeps its independence2.
A welcome does not erase the unequal rules
Campus Minister Thomas Wynn said, “Students from all faith traditions are welcomed and respected.”2 The lawsuit says Wynn has broad authority to approve or deny Christian organizations' meetings, speakers, events and other activities3. Christian students need the rule changed.
For families, a promise of respect means little when students must hand administrators control over worship and fellowship. Parents should expect public universities to protect that freedom, not make it conditional on official supervision.
Virginia State can restore equal treatment
Langhofer says he would drop the lawsuit if Virginia State returns to the policy it had last semester2. The plaintiffs ask the federal court to block enforcement of the policy, [your]NEWS reports. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge David J. Novak in the Eastern District of Virginia3. Virginia State can end this dispute by restoring rules that treat faith groups alike.
Virginia State's leaders should give Christian groups the same independent, separately registered status the policy expressly preserves2 for the Muslim Student Association. Parents should press their public universities to honor the First Amendment in practice, so that Christian students can organize, meet and invite speakers without being singled out for university control.
Sources
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