According to SSA President Harrison Hopkins, the group’s purpose includes providing “community for atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics and other freethinkers and the collective nonreligious” as well as fostering “acceptance of nonreligious students.”

A Christian college recently recognized a pro-atheist group as an official campus organization, despite the possibility that the club may not agree with the college’s mission.

In October, the student government council of Presbyterian College (PC) in Clinton, S.C. formally approved the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) – an approval which may entitle the group to college funds.

“This organization followed every protocol required of it to become an RSO and has been approved by each appropriate level of governance,” PC President John V. Griffith said in a recent interview.

“Appropriate level of governance” means the group garnered approval from the Student Government Association, the faculty and the president. PC policy states: “Students are free to form student organizations and have them recognized by the college so long as the aims and purposes of such organizations are not in disagreement with the aims and purposes of the college.”

Founded in 1880, the 1,200-student, liberal-arts college publishes a mission statement stating the college exists in part to “develop within the framework of Christian faith the mental, physical, moral and spiritual capacities of each student in preparation for a lifetime of personal and vocational fulfillment and responsible contribution to our democratic society and the world community.”

The school’s website also claims one of its goals is “to acquaint students with the teachings and values of the Christian faith.” The SSA’s stated motto on its Facebook page reads: “Don’t believe in God? Join the club!”

According to SSA President Harrison Hopkins, the group’s purpose includes providing “community for atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics and other freethinkers and the collective nonreligious” as well as fostering “acceptance of nonreligious students.”

Hopkins said the group plans to sponsor discussion on topics such as intelligent design and evolution as well as participating in college and community service projects.

PC shares a covenant with the Synod of South Atlantic of the Presbyterian Church (USA). According to the covenant, the synod, its presbyteries and congregations offer financial support to PC.

The document also states that PC “seeks to serve the church in its mission to the world by promoting the spiritual lives of its students.” Messages left with the synod office, seeking to find out how much financial support was given annually to PC, were not returned.

According to Griffith, none of the money from the synod will find its way into the SSA’s coffers.

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