Beta Upsilon Chi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Motto | Behold how good and how pleasing it is when brothers dwell together in unity! --Psalm 133:1 |
|---|---|
| Colors | Purple and White |
| Symbol | Buck (male White-tailed Deer) |
| Founded | Spring, 1985 at University of Texas |
| Fraternity type | Religious/social |
| Scope | National |
| Headquarters | 7321 Weatherwood Fort Worth, Texas, USA |
| Chapters | 18 in the United States, 1 provisional |
| Purpose | Beta Upsilon Chi exists for the purpose of establishing brotherhood and unity among college men based on the common bond of Jesus Christ. |
| Homepage | http://www.brothersunderchrist.org |
Beta Upsilon Chi (Brothers Under Christ or ΒΥΧ) is a Christian social fraternity whose purpose is "to establish brotherhood and unity among college men based on the common bond of Jesus Christ."
Since its founding in 1985, ΒΥΧ has spread to eighteen campuses. It is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States.
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding Fathers
ΒΥΧ was founded at the University of Texas in 1985 by the National Founding Fathers:
| Craig Albert | David Cortright | John Edson | David Givens |
| Scott Love | Tim Miller | Steve Patrick | Brian Rynne |
| Clayton Walther | Greg Young | Erik Bradford | David Daniels |
| Richard Foster, Jr. | Stever Hoehner | Mark McGee | Stuart Nolley |
| Roger Poupart | Kenneth Sapp | Wendel Weaver | Tse-Horng Yu |
| Micheal Brown | John Douglas | Jeff Garrett | Clayton Jewett |
| Jeff Miller | Keith Onishi | Don Reid | John Wilson |
This pioneering group of men saw the lasting bonds of deep friendship that Greek life fostered and felt that such an Order, dedicated to Christ and the edification of one another, could lead to a powerful social witness on their campus.
Thus, as an alternative to what was seen as the "normal" fraternity scene, the Founding Fathers of Beta Upsilon Chi established their Fraternity as Brothers Under Christ, and took the Greek letters Beta, Upsilon, and Chi to identify themselves to the world.
They chose to make public their true name, Brothers Under Christ, so that they might always wear the name of Christ and demonstrate that one could remain true to one's faith and yet enjoy life in fellowship with others.
[edit] Island Party
To announce the founding of their Fraternity, the Founding Fathers organized the first Island Party on the campus of the University of Texas. The event, now the signature event of BYX chapters around the country, is held annually as a free concert-festival that features top artists from the Christian contemporary music scene.
[edit] Going national
The process of growing from one chapter in Austin, Texas to a national organization across the country was slow at first. Initially, the brothers under Christ rejected requests from Christian men at other schools to be initiated into the Fraternity or to start new chapters.
Eventually, the leadership in Austin decided that this success of Beta Upsilon Chi should be shared with other campuses, and the Founding Fathers of Beta Chapter were initiated at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. The fraternity then expanded its presence across Texas starting the Gamma and Delta chapters at Texas A&M University in College Station and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.
Today, the national fraternity is headquartered in Fort Worth, and an expansion program oversees the establishment of new chapters.
[edit] Organizing alumni
In 2005, the national Board of Directors approved the creation of a national Beta Upsilon Chi Alumni Association. Prior to this organization, individual chapters had coordinated alumni activities with loose affiliation with the national fraternity. This move, designed to increase the services offered by the Fraternity while harnessing the resource of BYX's twenty years of alums, also meant that local chapters now had a pool of experience to call upon for assistance with the program of the fraternity on both the local and national level.
In addition to serving the local chapters, the alumni association was designed to enhance the benefit of BYX membership through the its extensive networking efforts. Under the auspices of the alumni association, BYX alums throughout the country have been organized into a national database that members and alums may access through the national website.
[edit] Continued growth and new chapters
As a Christian social fraternity, BYX seeks both to edify college men through Bible study, worship, and outreach and to promote brotherhood and friendship among its members.
With eighteen chapters (soon to be nineteen) across the country, BYX is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States, and it looks to continue to grow, as Christian men at other campuses continue to learn about the organization and petition to start new chapters through the BYX Expansion Process (see below).
[edit] Organization
[edit] Board of directors
At the national level, ΒΥΧ is headed by a Board of Directors. This board is the ultimate authority and is responsible for the guidance of the fraternity.
The Board comprises the governing body of the Beta Upsilon Chi corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization, which controls the assets of the fraternity. They appoint the National Executive Director to run the daily business of the Fraternity. In conjunction with this Executive Director, they approve any charter changes.
All members of the Board must be alumnus members of the Fraternity. The national executive director is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors; he has a voice in decisions, but no vote.
The current members of the National Board of Directors[1] are:
| Board member | Alma mater |
|---|---|
| Wendel R. Weaver, chairman | Texas Alpha |
| Chuck James | TCU Beta |
| John Sherman | TCU Beta |
| Kyle Hoover | Texas A&M Gamma |
| Brett Williams | Texas A&M Gamma |
[edit] Executive director
The BYX Executive Director is the national administator of the Fraternity. Through his staff, he coordinates the activities of the Fraternity from its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Executive Director's staff is equally responsible for the day to day operation of the national fraternity, and staff from National Headquarters frequently visit the chapters.
The following men have served as Executive Director[2] of Beta Upsilon Chi:
| Executive director | Term served | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Hoover | 1999–2001 | Texas A&M Gamma |
| Kevin Peck | 2001–2004 | Texas A&M Gamma |
| Jason Hoyt | 2004–Present | Texas A&M Gamma |
[edit] Chapter governance
Chapters are authorized by a Charter from the National Board of Directors and denominated by a letter of the Greek alphabet that corresponds with their order of admission into the Fraternity (for example, the University of Texas is Alpha Chapter.
The Charter authorizes each chapter to work under a Chapter Constitution that provides for the election of chapter officers: president, vice-president, chaplain, treasurer, secretary, and pledge trainer.
These officers are responsible for the administration of the Chapter for a calendar year, conducting ritual, overseeing meetings, organizing trips, implementing the pledging program, organizing parties, etc. The officers serve one year terms, and only may be re-elected once to a different office.
[edit] Alumni association
Upon graduation from the institution of higher learning with which their chapter is associated, active members in good standing become alumnus members of the Fraternity. As such, they automatically become members of the Beta Upsilon Chi Alumni Association.
The association is a division of the national fraternity, and it is headed by the Alumni Board of Directors. The leaders of the alumni association are appointed by the Executive Director and confirmed by the National Board of Directors for a two year term. The current members of the Alumni Board[3] are:
| Alumni board member | Alma mater |
|---|---|
| Rusty Fincke | Texas Alpha |
| Kyle Kight | TCU Beta |
| Loren Hsiao | Texas A&M Gamma |
| Travis Young | Texas State Zeta |
| Jeremy Boucher | Baylor Iota |
| Dillon Barker | Vanderbilt Nu |
| Caleb Martin | Oklahoma Kappa |
In addition to the Alumni Board, the national Executive Director designates an alumni coordinator to the national headquarters staff in Texas, who serves as a liaison between the Alumni Association and the national fraternity.
The association and its board implement the fraternity's activities and services for its alumnus members, ranging from networking in cities across the country, organizing and maintaining an alumni database, hosting fellowship and spiritual development opportunities (such as Bible studies for BYX alums and members in cities where there are BYX alums), and generally assisting the local chapters and active members in fulfilling the purpose of BYX.
[edit] National meetings
Once each year, the chapter officers gather together for a National Leadership Conference, which consists of all the officers of the Fraternity and the national staff. This meeting is in the fall, and shortly follows the election of the local chapter leaders.[4]
In the early spring of each year, often during February, the entire Fraternity is called together for National Summit, usually held near Dallas, Texas. The event is the primary unifying experience of BYX members outside of their common commitment to Christ and their shared experience in ritual and ceremony of the Fraternity. Its Bible studies, worship, fellowship, athletic competitions, and seminars on Fraternity issues attract the largest gatherings of Brothers Under Christ in any given year. It is also at Summit where the annual Delegate Convention of the Fraternity takes place.[5]
[edit] Affiliating with local universities
Since its inception in 1985, chapters of Beta Upsilon Chi have chosen not to affiliate with the Interfraternity Council ("IFC") at the school where they are established.
This has proven controversial on some campuses, because it means that BYX does not pay IFC dues. On the other hand, IFC membership sometimes involves sanctioning rules and regulations which would be contrary to the purpose of BYX. Because of the potential for conflict inherent in such affiliations, the National Board of Directors continues to uphold a policy prohibiting local chapters from affiliating with host university IFCs.
At the same time, at some campuses where BYX is established, the local IFC prohibits BYX from affiliating because the National Fraternity is not a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, the national group that oversees IFCs on campuses throughout North America.
Despite questions about organization and university structure, BYX continues to be an integral part of Greek life on the campuses where its Chapters have been established.
[edit] Uniqueness
[edit] Cell groups
As Christian fraternities have proliferated across the country and into college campuses throughout the United States, there have been those who have questioned what makes each fraternity different. BYX has continued to grow rapidly -- sustaining itself as the largest Christian fraternity in the U.S. -- by holding firmly to the traditions that have caused it to stand out from among the local and national fraternities vying for resources and interest among Christian men in college.
The attribute of BYX chapters that most clearly delineates it from other Christian fraternities -- and certainly from non-Christian social fraternities -- is that all BYX members are a part of "cell groups".[6] These weekly meetings bring four to six brothers (and pledges, when there are pledges) together into a group for close fellowship, Chrisitan accountability, and Bible study. Many times, brothers in Beta Upsilon Chi find that those with whom they share their cell group become their closest friends within the chapter and within their college.
The overall strength of the Fraternity's national and local unity is firmly rooted in this cell group structure, and their foundational place within Beta Upsilon Chi (cell groups were an original innovation of the Founding Fathers when they established the Fraternity at the University of Texas) has led to its continued growth and longevity. Indeed, cell groups are one of the primary means by which the Fraternity's Christian character is maintained.[7]
[edit] Inspiration for new fraternities
The influence of Beta Upsilon Chi on the Christian fraternity movement has been significant.
In 1988, only three years after its founding, women from Texas established Sigma Phi Lambda, or Sisters for the Lord. This women's Christian sorority was heavily modelled on BYX and is considered by many to be its sister sorority. Their official name, Sisters for the Lord, and their system of "cable groups" closely mirrors BYX.[8]
Likewise, Sigma Phi Lambda inspired the founding of Kappa Upsilon Chi in 1993 on the campus of Texas Tech University. Four men of different church backgrounds to quickly establish a male fraternity after the Sigma Phi Lambda colonized at Texas Tech. KYX, which stands for Keeping Under Christ, has grown greatly like many of the other second-wave Christian fraternities.
As Beta Upsilon Chi inspired Sigma Phi Lambda's establishment, Kappa Upsilon Chi inspired Theta Alpha's establishment at Florida State University and the University of Florida in the spring of 2006.
Today, fifty-two chapters of Christian Greek-letter organizations -- Beta Upsilon Chi, Sigma Phi Lambda, Kappa Upsilon Chi and Theta Alpha -- can trace their start to the men at the University of Texas in 1985.
[edit] Membership
There are three kinds of membership in the Fraternity: pledges, active members, and alumni members. Each local chaper is composed of its active members and pledges.
Active members form the backbone of the Fraternity, participating in ritual, leading worship, Bible study, and other chapter activities. Active members have voting rights within the chapter and become alumni members upon their graduation. Pledges become members by finishing the pledging process, a process that differs from chapter to chapter.
[edit] Traditions and symbols
As with any Greek letter organization, Beta Upsilon Chi is a ritualistic organization whose pledge induction, initation, and other ceremonies are esoteric and not open to the general public. Instead, these traditions serve to bind the brothers together such that any Brother Under Christ from across the country can feel welcome and among his brothers.
In addition to the usual Greek practices of grips, words, and memory work, Beta Upsilon Chi also utilizes several symbols whose meaning is open to anyone:
- Founding Scripture. "Behold, how good and how pleasing it is when Brothers to dwell together in Unity!" --Psalm 133:1[9]
- Colors. Purple and white.[10]
- Coat of arms. The armorial bearings of Beta Upsilon Chi are emblazoned: "Arms: per bend Purpure and Argent, a cross buttonnee Gules between a dove volant of the second in chief and a wafer proper over a chalice Or in base. Crest: a trefoiled crown Or with a Labarum Sable and three jewels Gules all resting on a cord of three strands of the first. Motto: On a scroll Purpure beneath the escutcheon, the motto BROTHERS UNDER CHRIST Or."[11]
- Mascot. Buck (male White-tailed Deer).[12]
- Signature event. Island Party[13]
The rest of the Fraternity's traditions and symbols are closely guarded by the members of the Fraternity, whose oaths and duty compel them to maintain the secrecy that has kept BYX unique in Greek life.
[edit] Trivia
- BYX is the largest Christian social fraternity in the world.
- BYX was the first national Christian social fraternity in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri.
- BYX chapters continue to do well despite declines in other areas of Greek life: at Vanderbilt University, Nu Chapter led all fraternities in pledges for the second year in Spring 2006.[14]
- The founding President of BYX was Wendel Weaver, from Texas Alpha Chapter.
- Sigma Phi Lambda was influenced by BYX in their development, with Phi Lamb's establishment designed to be a "female version of BYX."[15]
- BYX celebrated its Twentieth Anniversary in February 2005 at National Summit in Dallas, Texas.
[edit] In the news
In late 2006, Pi Chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi, at the University of Georgia, was prevented from registering as a student organization by University officials "because the group requires its members and officers to share the group’s Christian beliefs." [16]
After months of negotiation between University officials, student officers of the local chapter, and officials at the Fraternity's national headquarters in Texas, attorneys with the Christian Legal Society and Alliance Defense Fund filed a civil rights suit on December 6, 2006 in federal court against the University on behalf of the Fraternity.[17]
The next day, December 7, published reports in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicated that "the University [would] remove the religion clause from the [University's anti-discrimination] policy for the Christian fraternity to settle this particular situation and is discussing 'an exception to religious discrimination (that) could be put into place much like an exception to gender discrimination is in place for same-sex social fraternities and sororities.'"[18]
[edit] Chapters
[edit] Current chapters
Beta Upsilon Chi is the largest Christian fraternity in the United States. The Fraternity is currently composed of 18 chapters in 7 states. The chapters include:
- Α - University of Texas; Austin, Tex.
- Β - Texas Christian University; Fort Worth, Tex.
- Γ - Texas A & M University; College Station, Tex.
- Δ - Stephen F. Austin; Nacogdoches, Tex.
- Ε - Houston Baptist University; Houston, Tex.
- Ζ - Texas State University; San Marcos, Tex.
- Η - Texas Tech University; Lubbock, Tex.
- Θ - University of North Texas; Denton, Tex.
- Ι - Baylor University; Waco, Tex.
- Κ - University of Oklahoma; Norman, Okla.
- Λ - Sam Houston State University; Huntsville, Tex.
- Μ - Southern Methodist University; Dallas, Tex.
- Ν - Vanderbilt University; Nashville, Tenn.
- Ξ - University of Arkansas; Fayetteville, Ark.
- Ο - Mississippi State University; Starkville, Miss.
- Π - University of Georgia; Athens, Ga.
- Ρ - Oklahoma State University; Stillwater, Okla.
- Σ - University of Missouri; Columbia, Mo.
[edit] Prospective chapters
Several universities presently have an active BYX Expansion Process underway. The process, in which those who aspire to bring a chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi to their campus must complete three phases to be considered for a chapter, is administered through the Fraternity's official website. Schools where the Expansion Process is known to be active[19]:
- Wake Forest University; Winston-Salem, N.C.
- University of Colorado at Boulder; Boulder, Colo.
- Ohio State University; Columbus, Ohio.
- Pepperdine University; Malibu, Calif.
- University of Southern Mississippi; Hattiesburg, Miss.
- University of Maryland; College Park, Md.
- University of Florida; Gainesville, Fl.
[edit] External links
- Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity national website
- Article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Pi Chapter at the University of Georgia
- Blog article explaining the author's views on the differences between BYX and other, non-Christian fraternities
- Texas Alpha Chapter website
- TCU Beta Chapter website
- Texas A&M Gamma Chapter website
- Stephen F. Austin Delta Chapter website
- Texas State Zeta Chapter website
- North Texas Theta Chapter website
- Baylor Iota Chapter website
- Oklahoma Kappa Chapter website
- Vanderbilt Nu Chapter website
- Arkansas Xi Chapter website
- Mississippi State Omicron Chapter website
- Georgia Pi Chapter website
[edit] Notes
- ^ As found on http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/
- ^ Hoyt, Jason. "Executive Director's Report." Beta Upsilon Chi National Newsletter. July 2005.
- ^ As found on http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/
- ^ See http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/ and http://www.vanderbilt.edu/byx/
- ^ Hoyt, Jason. "Executive Director's Report." Beta Upsilon Chi National Newsletter. July 2005.
- ^ See the official website of Sigma Phi Lambda for the meaning of their name and an explanation of their cable group system.
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/about/
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/about/
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/about/
- ^ http://www.vanderbilt.edu/byx
- ^ http://www.brothersunderchrist.org/about/
- ^ "Fraternity recruitment decreases slightly." The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vol. 123, May 7, 2006, p. 1, col. 1.
- ^ Peck, Kevin. History of Beta Upsilon Chi, 1985-2000. Fort Worth, Texas: Beta Upsilon Chi Fraternity, 2000.
- ^ http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3938
- ^ The complaint in Beta Upsilon Chi, et al. v. Adams, et al. is available online from the Alliance Defense Fund at http://www.telladf.org/UserDocs/BYXcomplaint.pdf.
- ^ http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2006/12/07/1207uga.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
- ^ Hoyt, Jason. "Expansion Update." Beta Upsilon Chi National Newsletter, June 2006 ed., p. 1.
 |
Christian Fraternities |
|---|---|
| Ten or more chapters: |
Sigma Theta Epsilon, 1925 | Beta Upsilon Chi, 1985 | Alpha Nu Omega, 1988 | Kappa Upsilon Chi, 1993 |
| Less than ten chapters: |
Alpha Gamma Omega, 1927 | Chi Alpha Omega, 1987 | Gamma Phi Delta, 1988 | Men of God, 1999 |
