Leaders at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship look forward to submitting statements to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights about incidents where universities have attempted to restrict the religious liberties of student groups in the name of non-discrimination, the organization said Thursday.

Over the last several years, some colleges have tried to, and in some cases successfully, implemented policies that call for religious student groups to not use religious criteria in leadership selection. The Civil Rights commission announced last month a briefing to be focused on reconciling non-discrimination policies with religious liberties scheduled for later this month.

"We're very excited and very pleased that the commission is looking into this issue," Intervarsity National Field Director for the Northeast Greg Jao told The Christian Post. "For universities to suggest that leaders don't need to hold their beliefs imposes a very foreign theology on these groups. A theology that says leadership requirements don't matter. more >>

Known for his creative work in social causes, the author of the new book, More or Less – Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity, asks the question, "What would happen if we created a culture in which we gave away whatever was more than enough for us?"

Jeff Shinabarger, 33, is a social entrepreneur and experience designer. By his work as the co-founder of the Q event, and as the creative director for the highly successful leadership conference Catalyst for almost a decade, it's easy to see why he qualifies for just such designations. He is also the founder of GiftCardGiver.com and Plywood People, an innovative community addressing social needs through creative services.

The Christian Post interviewed the East Atlanta Village, Ga., resident about More or Less, a book that he hopes will help readers learn how to "draw a line of 'enough' in their consumer choices, how to see generosity as a chance to experience freedom in a greedy world, and how to make small changes now that will help others forever." more >>

State teen pregnancy rates have been released indicating that New Mexico has the highest rates of teen pregnancies in the United States. However, the statistics showed that teen pregnancy and teen abortion rates have declined across the nation, and the rate of teen abortions hit their lowest levels since the legalization of abortion in 1973.

The information has been released from the reproductive rights agency, the Guttmacher Institute, and surveyed pregnancy and abortion rates among teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years of age in the year 2008.

The report indicated that New Mexico was the state with the highest rate of teen pregnancies and that New Hampshire had the lowest rate in the country. In New Mexico, 93 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant, where as in New Hampshire only 33 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant more >>

Brevard Community College in Florida revealed last week that it is seeking to fire a faculty member who apparently pressured students last year to vote for President Barack Obama in November's general elections.

The Brevard County, Florida college said that it contacted 85 students who took a mathematics class with associate professor Sharon Sweet last September, who has been granted leave following the investigation. Of those students, 43 responded to a written survey that revealed Sweet had used several tactics to try and guide the pupils into choosing Obama over Republican candidate Mitt Romney in the presidential elections.

"Professor Sweet strongly encouraged or mandated that students from several classes sign a card that stated, 'I pledge to vote for President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket," Brevard's investigation, released on Friday, revealed. more >>

Attorneys for a former New York 8th-grade student have asked the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to weigh in on a three-judge panel's ruling against a New York 8th-grade student who wanted to include a religious blessing at the end of her graduation speech.

The Alliance Defending Freedom legal group announced Monday that it had filed the "petition for rehearing en banc" last week that seeks to overturn the Second Circuit panel's ruling, which approved the censorship of the student. Co-counsel David Gibbs originally filed the case, A.M. v. Taconic Hills Central School District, in 2010.

"Public schools should encourage, not shut down, the free exchange of ideas. The personal well-wishes of a student are no different just because they mention God," said Senior Counsel David Cortman. "Public school officials have no legitimate basis to shut down personal speech just because it has a religious reference." more >>

Former Financial Aid Specialist Terry James is suing San Diego Christian College for wrongful termination after being fired for engaging in pre-marital sex.

James, who is currently six months pregnant, announced her lawsuit during a press conference in California on Thursday stating that she is suing the university due to discrimination on the account of gender, pregnancy, and marital status.

"San Diego Christian College did not show any mercy or grace towards me, and acted completely un-Christ-like," said James to reporters, according to ABC local news station KABC-TV Los Angeles. "They made more of a business decision than showing God's love." more >>