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Beta Upsilon Chi

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 156.33.18.196 (talk) at 16:21, 13 June 2006 (→Inspiration for new fraternities). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Beta Upsilon Chi
ΒΥΧ
The official crest of Beta Upsilon Chi.
The official crest of Beta Upsilon Chi.
FoundedSpring, 1985
University of Texas
TypeReligious/social
ScopeNational
MottoBehold how good and how pleasing it is well brothers dwell together in unity! --Psalm 133:1
ColorsPurple and White
SymbolBuck (male White-tailed Deer)
Chapters18 in the United States, 1 provisional
PurposeBeta Upsilon Chi exists for the purpose of establishing brotherhood and unity among college men based on the common bond of Jesus Christ.
Headquarters7321 Weatherwood
Fort Worth, Texas
USA
Websitehttp://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 (soon to be nineteen with the chartering of the provisional chapter at Wake Forest University) across the United States. It is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States.

History

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.

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.

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.

Today, the national fraternity is headquartered in Fort Worth, and an expansion program oversees the establishment of new chapters.

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).

Organization

National 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. 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.

National 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 Forth 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.

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.

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.

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, athletics competitions, and seminars on Fraternity issues attracts the largest gatherings of Brothers Under Christ in any given year.

Uniqueness

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". 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.

Inspiration for new fraternities

Twice already in its history, the influence of Beta Upsilon Chi and the witness of its members has led to the foundation of national, independent Greek organizations, both of which continue to minister today.

  • Sigma Phi Lambda, the nation's largest Christian sorority, was founded in 1988 by female students of the University of Texas at Austin who saw the unique Christian brotherhood that members of BYX had enjoyed for three years, and desired the same for themselves. Their official name, Sisters for the Lord, and their system of "cable groups" closely mirrors BYX.
  • Kappa Upsilon Chi, a brother Christian fraternity also headquartered in Texas, was formed by men at Texas Tech University when the four men, after carefully and prayerfully considering BYX, felt led to form their own fraternity instead. Because two of the founders were initiates of Phi Gamma Delta, the group decided to form a Fraternity from scratch using many of Phi Gamma Delta's traditions as a base of reference for forming the new fraternity.

Today, where there is a BYX or KYX chapter, there is usually a Phi Lamb or Theta Alpha chapter, and the two or three organizations work together -- with the men and women often engaging in friendly competition -- working to further their common goals. BYX, KYX and Phi Lamb have expanded outside of Texas to serve chapters in numerous States. Theta Alpha continues to grow in the state of Florida.

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.

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
  • Colors. Purple and white.
  • Coat of arms. The arms of Beta Upsilon Chi are emblazoned: "Per bend purpure and argent, a cross buttonnee gules between a dove volant argent in chief and a wafer proper over a chalice or in base, over all a trefoiled crown or with a Labarum sable and three jewels gules all resting on a cord of three strands or, under all a scroll purpure with a motto or BROTHERS UNDER CHRIST."
  • Mascot. Buck (male White-tailed Deer).
  • Signature event. Island Party

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.

Trivia

Chapters

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:

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[2]:

Notes

  1. ^ "Fraternity recruitment decreases slightly." The Vanderbilt Hustler, Vol. 123, May 7, 2006, p. 1, col. 1.
  2. ^ Hoyt, Jason. "Expansion Update." Beta Upsilon Chi National Newsletter, June 2006 ed., p. 1.
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