While most of the traditional women's fraternities or sororities were founded decades before the start of the 20th century, the first ever specifically Christian-themed Greek Letter Organization formed was the Kappa Phi Club, founded in Kansas in 1916. Kappa Phi was a women's sisterhood that developed out of a bible study and remains one of the largest nationally present Christian women's collegiate clubs today. Later organizations added more defined social programming along with a Christian emphasis, bridging the gap between non-secular traditional sororities and church-sponsored bible study groups, campus ministries and sect-based clubs and study groups.

History

All collegiate fraternities and sororities, beginning with Phi Beta Kappa in 1776, had, at inception, either a tacit or overt spiritual component. This may have been as simple as an official opening or closing prayer, expanding to Biblical lessons contained within rituals, and rules regarding behavior that are modeled on various Christian, or Jewish strictures. Over time, traditional (~original) fraternities and sororities have relaxed some of the wording of their rituals and codes to allow a more pluralistic model and open membership to a broader group of collegians.[1][2]

Insularity, then integration

The rise of specifically Jewish, then Catholic, then Black, and then specifically Christian fraternities and sororities was a response (by the Jewish and Catholic groups first, then by students of non-white ethnicity) to the desire for fraternal membership where membership was barred. But it was important to note that, in context, America was far more insular in the pre-WWII era; in many cases Jewish and Catholic families, and their rabbis and priests wished to ensure that their children socialized primarily within their own religious traditions, thus establishing their own, competing Greek Letter organizations (GLOs) distinct from the "WASPy" traditional Greeks. After the integration of WWII GIs and the war's immediate aftermath, colleges and workplaces were abruptly far more integrated. Prior to WWII, relatively few Black or Hispanic students entered college in the US. But this would change with the passage of the G.I. Bill. Soon, the separate Jewish national fraternities and scattered locals began to merge, responding as traditional Greek chapters became more open to religious integration, adding Jewish and Catholic members. Today, only a fraction of Jewish fraternities remain, after multiple mergers. Similarly, Catholic nationals and locals merged, began opening chapters on non-Catholic campuses and to welcome students of Protestant heritage. Yet Black, then Hispanic and Asian GLOs which likewise began to form have remained widely popular, some using the moniker "Multicultural", though all national GLOs have removed "bias clauses" from their governing documents and policies, and all are racially integrated.[2][3]

The idea of separate, thematic-focused fraternities and sororities continued to interest Christian students, their families and spiritual leaders. Long-established Bible study groups took on Greek Letter names, the first being Kappa Phi, a Bible-study and service club on twenty-four campuses; Yet the Kappa Phi Club still does not self-identify as a social sorority. Some organizers, assuming that the traditional GLOs lacked sufficient moral guardrails in pursuit of social programming, emerged to create the first objectively Christian (Protestant, then Evangelical) fraternities and sororities.[4][5]

Traditionally, formation of the Christian sororities, later to become national organizations, has followed establishment of Christian fraternities, some as independent groups, and some in a "brother/sister" relationship, except in the case of Alpha Delta Chi, the first such Christian-emphasis organization on its campus. That sorority was founded in 1925 while Alpha Gamma Omega was founded in 1927, two years later, likewise at UCLA. Viewed broadly, these Christian Greek organizations enjoyed local success in their early years but they did not experience the national growth seen by more traditional Greek organizations.

1980s resurgence

A more novel situation occurred in 1987 when Chi Alpha Omega was founded as a co-educational Christian Greek organization. It wasn't until 1998 that Sigma Alpha Omega broke off from Chi Alpha Omega to form a women's-only ministry. Sigma Alpha Omega is now governed by a separate national president and board of trustees, and has grown to include 33 chapters throughout the country.[6] Chi Alpha Omega continues as a men's organization.

In 1988, the founding of Sigma Phi Lambda on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin sparked new growth among Christian sororities. "Phi Lamb" was founded by women who saw value in the brotherhood exemplified by Beta Upsilon Chi and wished to create a female counterpart, since ΒΥΧ was a male-only organization.[7] Sigma Phi Lambda today has an executive director, national board of directors, and regional directors, and is the largest Christian social sorority in the nation, with thirty-one chapters.[8]

Multicultural sorority expansion

There has been a surge in the multicultural segment of Christian sororities in recent years, with the establishment of sororities such as:

  • Alpha Lambda Omega Christian Sorority, Inc. (1990)
  • Delta Psi Epsilon Christian Sorority, Inc. (1999)
  • Psi Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. (1994)
  • Pi Iota Chi Christian Multicultural Sorority, Inc. (2001)
  • Alpha Theta Omega Christian Sorority, Inc. (2002)
  • Zeta Iota Chi Christian Sorority, Inc (2003)
  • Theta Sigma Lambda Christian Sorority, Inc. (2008)
  • Delta Phi Psi Christian Sorority, Inc. (2008), a member of Association of Fraternal Christian Organizations and Ministries,
  • Tau Rho Omicron Christian Sorority, Inc., a Christian sorority for business and professional women (2011).

These are largely or exclusively organized as non-collegiate chapters.

Non-conventional Christian sororities

These might be categorized as mission-oriented, serve African-American or nominally Multicultural populations, and are typically non-collegiate. Often tightly controlled by a founding pastor:

  • Theta Chi Gamma Christian Fellowship, founded in 2008 by Mario Jimerson as a Christian fraternity and sorority.
  • Delta Alpha Omega (aka Devoted to Alpha & Omega) began on November 7, 2009 in Saint Louis, Missouri.
  • Theta Phi Sigma Christian Sorority, Inc., also known as the Pink Society, was founded in 2009 in Montgomery, Alabama by Jessica Martin. This organization aims to combat teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates in high school and college.
  • The Daughters of Christ, Inc. (aka the Daughters of Christ "SOARority") was founded by Darnella Moore.
  • Zeta Nu Delta Christian Sorority, Inc. was founded by Besceglia Hall in 2012.

List of sororities

Where collegiate, several are noted in the Baird's Manual Archive online. Where there is no current information on the number of chapters, a question mark appears; these groups may be dormant.[9]

Name Symbols Chartered Founding location Scope Type Emphasis Active
chapters		 Status References
Alpha Delta Chi ΑΔΧ 1925 University of California, Los Angeles National Collegiate Christian, Social 22 Active [10][11]
Alpha Lambda Omega ΑΛΩ April 9, 1990 University of Texas at Austin National Collegiate (primarily) Inter-denominational Christian, Multicultural 16 Active [12]
Alpha Nu Omega ΑΝΩ November 3, 1988 Morgan State University National Collegiate Christian, Multicultural 21 Active [13]
Alpha Omega ΑΩ 2005 National Collegiate Christian, Multicultural 7 Active
Alpha Omega Chi ΑΩΧ 2019 Local Non-collegiate Christian, African-American 1 Active [14]
Alpha Psi Gamma ΑΨΓ 2007 Local Collegiate Christian, Multicultural 0 Inactive [15]
Alpha Sigma Delta ΑΣΔ March 15, 1990 Oakwood University Collegiate Christian, African-American [16]
Beta Phi Omega ΒΦΩ 1969 University of Cebu Collegiate coed
Delta Alpha Chi ΔΑΧ 2006 Local Collegiate Christian, Social 1 Active [17]
Delta Alpha Omega ΔΑΩ 2009 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 8 Active
Delta Iota Delta ΔΙΔ 2019 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 7 Active [18]
Delta Lambda Gamma ΔΛΓ 2008 Local Collegiate Christian, Multicultural 0 Inactive [19]
Delta Phi Psi ΔΦΨ 2008 Regional Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 2 Active
Delta Psi Epsilon ΔΨΕ January 16, 1999 Oakwood University National Non-collegiate (primarily) Christian, Multicultural 18 Active [20]
Elogeme Adolphi ΕΑ 1987 National Collegiate (primarily) Christian, Multicultural 16 Active [21]
Eta Gamma Zeta ΗΓΖ 2004 St. Xavier Local Collegiate Christian, Social 0 Inactive [22]
Eta Iota Sigma ΗΙΣ 1992 Texas Christian University Regional Collegiate Christian, Social 2 Active
Gamma Alpha Lambda ΓΑΛ 2003 National Collegiate Christian, Social 4 Active [23]
Iota Chi Kappa ΙΧΚ 2007 National Non-collegiate Christian, African-American 8 Active
Kappa Phi ΚΦ 1916 National Collegiate Christian 33 Active [24]
Lambda Alpha Chi ΛΑΧ 2021 Regional Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 2 Active
Lambda Chi Omega ΛΧΩ 2020 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 4 Active [25]
Lambda Omicron Chi ΛΟΧ 2002 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 3 Active
Lambda Omicron Gamma ΛΟΓ 2005 Local Christian 0 Inactive [26][27]
Mu Alpha Mu ΜΑΜ 2016 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 25 Active [28]
Phi Beta Chi ΦΒΧ March 26, 1978 University of Illinois National Collegiate Christian, Social 7 Active [29]
Pi Iota Chi ΠΙΧ 2001 Regional Christian, Multicultural 3 Active
Psi Delta Chi ΨΔΧ 1994 Regional Non-collegiate Christian, African-American 2 ? Active [30][31]
Psi Lambda Theta ΨΛΘ 2019 Local Collegiate Christian 0 Inactive
Sigma Alpha ΣΑ 1988 Regional Collegiate, Social Christian 2 Active [32]
Sigma Alpha Omega ΣΑΩ January 1998 North Carolina State University National Collegiate Christian, Social 36 Active [33][34]
Sigma Omega Mu ΣΩΜ 2010 Local Christian 0 Inactive [35]
Sigma Phi Lambda ΣΦΛ November 14, 1988 University of Texas at Austin National Collegiate Christian, Social 32 Active [36]
Tau Rho Omicron ΤΡΟ 2011 Local Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 1 Active
Theta Alpha ΘΑ 2006 National Collegiate Christian, Social 4 Active [37]
Theta Chi Gamma ΘΧΓ 2008 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 4 Active
Theta Sigma Lambda ΘΣΛ 2008 Local Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 0 Inactive
Theta Phi Sigma ΘΦΣ 2009 National Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 4 Active [38]
Zeta Alpha Omicron (Zeta Phi Zeta) ΖΦΖ 2001 National Non-collegiate (primarily) Christian, Multicultural 17  ? Active
Zeta Iota Chi ΖΙΧ 2003 Local Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 1  ? Active
Zeta Nu Delta ΖΝΔ 2013 Regional Non-collegiate Christian, Multicultural 3 Active [39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. I-3. ISBN 978-0963715906. Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. 1 2 Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003), Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945, Wayne State University Press, ISBN 0-8143-2857-1
  3. ↑ The first "ethnic"-themed national fraternities included Alpha Phi Alpha for Black Americans, formed in 1905, Rho Psi, for Asians sojourning in America, formed in 1916, and Phi Eta Mu, serving Puerto Rican students, formed in 1923.
  4. ↑ Tucker, Susan; Willinger, Beth (2012-05-07). Newcomb College, 1886-2006: Higher Education for Women in New Orleans. LSU Press. ISBN 978-0-8071-4338-4.
  5. ↑ Boyett, Colleen; Tarver, H. Micheal; Gleason, Mildred Diane (2020-12-07). Daily Life of Women: An Encyclopedia from Ancient Times to the Present [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 794. ISBN 978-1-4408-4693-9.
  6. ↑ Explained more fully in the Who We Are section of its national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Noted among the member testimonies provided by the national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "Home - Sigma Phi Lambda". Archived from the original on 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
  9. ↑ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 5 April 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  10. ↑ Noted in the Baird's Archive, "A" listings, accessed 5 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Alpha Delta Chi national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Alpha Lambda Omega national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  13. ↑ Alpha Nu Omega national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  14. ↑ Alpha Omega Chi national website, accessed 7 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Former Alpha Psi Gamma national website, accessed 6 April 2022.
  16. ↑ Appears dormant, after a 2019 hazing incident.
  17. ↑ Delta Alpha Chi' FSU campus portal, accessed 7 April 2022.
  18. ↑ Delta Iota Delta national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  19. ↑ Appears to have been formed at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. No longer on campus, no information via Google search.
  20. ↑ Delta Psi Epsilon national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  21. ↑ Elogeme Adolphi national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  22. ↑ Apparently no longer active at St. Xavier University, Chicago.
  23. ↑ No known national website; several campus portals available.
  24. ↑ Noted in the Baird's Archive, "K" listings, accessed 5 April 2022.
  25. ↑ Lambda Chi Omega national website, accessed 5 March 2022.
  26. ↑ Appears to have been a local Christian sorority in Illinois. No information readily available via Google search.
  27. ↑ Not to be confused with the originally Jewish men's professional fraternity in Osteopathic Medicine.
  28. ↑ Mu Alpha Mu national website, accessed 29 August 2022.
  29. ↑ Noted in the Baird's Archive, "P" listings, accessed 5 April 2022.
  30. ↑ Psi Delta Chi national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  31. ↑ Not to be confused with the Military Sorority of the same name.
  32. ↑ Not to be confused with the national Agricultural professional sorority of that name.
  33. ↑ Noted in the Baird's Archive, "S" listings, accessed 5 April 2022.
  34. ↑ Sigma Alpha Omega national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  35. ↑ Sigma Omega Mu national website appears dormant, accessed 5 April 2022.
  36. ↑ Sigma Phi Lambda national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  37. ↑ Theta Alpha national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  38. ↑ Theta Phi Sigma national website, accessed 5 April 2022.
  39. ↑ Zeta Nu Delta national website, accessed 5 April 2022.


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