Our Mission

FOCUS

The purpose of FOCUS is to provide a Christ-centered environment at UNC-CH in which graduate and professional students can grow spiritually, develop intellectually, interact socially, and share their Christian faith with others.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

The purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, of whom we are a chapter, is to establish and advance, at colleges and universities, witnessing communities of students and faculty 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.

Our Constitution

Article I: Name

Section 1. The name of this organization is FOCUS, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

Article II: Doctrinal Basis

Section 1. The Basis of Faith of this organization will be:

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 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,
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.

Section 2. All officers of this organization, leaders of Bible study groups, and speakers must subscribe to the above Basis of Faith.

Article III: Purpose Statement

Section 1. In response to God’s love, grace, and truth:

The purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty 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.

Article IV: Membership and Participation

Section 1. Membership and participation in this organization is open to all students, faculty, and staff members.

Article V: Leadership

Section 1. The leadership of this organization will consist of an executive committee (and/or any officers and others the group desires).

Section 2. Only those persons committed to the Basis of Faith and the Purpose of this organization are eligible for leadership positions.

Section 3. The responsibilities of the leadership of this chapter are:

To carry out the purpose, general policies, and program of this organization.
To call an annual meeting for selection of new leadership and to evaluate the various activities of the year.
To be responsible for the continuance of this organization from year to year.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1. Meetings for Bible study and prayer will be held at times decided by the members. Bible study meetings will usually be held weekly, prayer meetings daily.

Section 2. Other meetings for the discussion and presentation of matters pertaining to the life and purposes of the organization will be held as occasion warrants.

Section 3. The executive committee may call special meetings on occasion to invite speakers who do not subscribe to the basis of faith for the purposes of debate, dialogue, or to address areas of expertise.

Article VII: Selection of Leadership

Section 1. The Selection Committee will consist of the Executive Committee and any other leaders whom the Executive Committee feels would be helpful for the process.

Section 2. The Selection Committee will receive recommendations for new leaders from members of the chapter.

Section 3. The Selection Committee will be responsible to see that all prospective leaders subscribe to the organization’s Doctrinal Basis and Purpose Statement as stated in Articles II and III.

Section 4. New leaders will be selected on an annual basis by the selection committee for a term of one year.

Article VIII: Constitution and Amendments

Section 1. This constitution will be adopted with a consensus of the leadership of the organization.

Section 2. This constitution may be amended by a consensus of the leadership of the organization, providing that no change is made in Article II and Article III.

Section 3. Amendments to this constitution will not become valid until a copy of said amendment has been placed in the office of Student Activities & Organizations of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and with the campus staff member assigned by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Who We Are