Vanilla-ized Pluralism

A couple of weeks ago I read about a denominational-affiliated Christian campus ministry that removed the requirement that their leaders be Christians from their constitution. This move was, of course, applauded by many as being very open-minded.

I think that it's pretty dumb. And not just because I object on theological grounds (although I do), but because it cuts against the very pluralistic ideals that the University preaches so vehemently.

The passion and priority of the University message is summed up in the oft-repeated phrase "celebrate diversity." It is preached from the rooftops with missionary zeal, particularly from the Student Life/Student Services department.

This seems appropriate and good, but let's call it what it is: it's a call to conversion. The University values students converting to a world view framework of pluralism and tolerance. They hope to graduate students who are fully-converted and who can then in turn go and convert others to the same set of values and faith statements.

Enter the move by this campus ministry to remove the requirement of being a Christian in order to be a leader. To be consistent, there should be some degree of concern even by secular pluralists.

If the mantra of the University is "celebrate diversity" then the only way we have anything to celebrate is if there is something preserved that is unique. Each group brings different things to the table. If in their leadership selection processes they cannot discriminate to a certain extent regarding idealogical issues, then suddenly we're just all in the same mush-pit of ideas and thoughts.

In other words, we don't want College Democrats to have to have a Republican on their leadership team. They would then cease to be the College Democrats. We actually don't want Black Student Movement to be forced to have a white white-supremacist on their leadership cabinet. That would rob them of their unique gift and voice as a black student movement. We don't want the Jewish student group to have to have a Muslim on their leadership board who thinks that the nation of Israel should be wiped off the face of the map.

If there is no room for idealogical discernment in establishing the leadership of a group, then eventually there will be no diversity to celebrate.

On the surface the Christian group opening up their leadership to anyone of any religious persuasion (or none at all) may seem very "open-minded." But multiply that move by several hundred different organizations and all of the sudden we've got nothing but a vanilla-ized version of pluralism.