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Bryn Mawr College InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (BMCIVCF) is an interdenominational, evangelical, student-led ministry serving students, faculty, and staff at the college. We welcome students from any church background, as well as those who are curious about the Christian faith and would like to know more about it and the God we worship. We are a part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a nationwide organization of Christian students, and we have the support and guidance of an InterVarsity staff member who is assigned to our chapter. If you would like to know more about the umbrella InterVarsity organization, please visit their website at www.ivcf.org.
We believe in:
The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - full of love and glory. The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and supreme authority of the Bible. The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God's wrath. Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord. Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service. The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world. The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life. To God be glory forever.
In response to God's love, grace and truth:
The purpose of The Bryn Mawr Christian Fellowship is to advance witnessing communities of students, faculty and staff members who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord growing in love for: God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture and God's purposes in the world.
A student committee is responsible for the official leadership of this organization. An executive team consisting of two or more Bryn Mawr students is to lead the Bryn Mawr InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The exec team is responsible to carry out the purpose and programs of this organization in their Fellowship as prayerfully, effectively and efficiently as possible. The team also oversees, and helps to plan and coordinate joint Fellowship activities with Haverford and Swarthmore.
Only students in agreement with and who are committed to the Basis of Faith and the Purpose Statement are eligible for executive leadership positions. Adherence to biblical authority is a key tenet of this organization; thus exec leaders must seek to follow biblical standards and belief in all areas of their lives. The current exec team (in consultation with IVCF staff) is responsible for clarifying, when necessary, specific beliefs or standards of conduct they believe are biblically very clear but are not specifically mentioned in the Statement of Faith. They should display the kind of godly living described in the church leadership qualification lists mentioned in such passages as 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The exec is responsible to determine and define any further official leadership roles in their Fellowship, which they believe are necessary or beneficial to the organization. Specific suggestions and qualifications may be attached to the By-Laws of this organization. The exec is responsible to select leaders to these positions and to oversee their work. Leaders in the Bryn Mawr Fellowship, whether exec or other, may be impeached or suspended upon at least two-thirds agreement of their exec team. Any participant in the Fellowship may make a complaint against any Fellowship leader. Following the complaint, the exec shall meet (with IVCF staff for advice and counsel) with both the complaining individual and the accused. No leader may be impeached or suspended without first receiving a full and fair hearing from their exec team. In the event that a complaint is made against an exec member, then that leader may only be impeached or suspended by at least two-thirds agreement of the remaining exec leaders of that team. If there is only one or no remaining exec leaders, the leader may be impeached or suspended by two-thirds agreement of the combined remaining exec leader and/or voting seniors (or, if necessary, voting juniors then sophomores) to have at least two or three in agreement). Grace and mercy are to be shown toward all; treatment as brothers or sisters in Christ should be extended toward any who repent.
The executive officers, in consultation with InterVarsity staff, may select one or more faculty advisors who agree with the basis of faith and purpose. He/She will help represent the chapter to the Colleges where necessary and assist exec and InterVarsity staff in accomplishing the stated purpose of the organization.
InterVarsity staff workers are to partner with and assist the exec teams in their leadership of the chapter. Staff workers act in various degrees as player/coaches for the chapter's ministry, depending on the year-to-year needs of the organization.
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