Sigma Theta Epsilon

Sigma Theta Epsilon () was an interdenominational national Christian fraternal organization whose last active chapter appears to have ceased operations in . Its first name as an emerging national fraternity was Delta Sigma Theta in , but due to the threat of a lawsuit over that name by a sorority with prior use, in the new name, Sigma Theta Epsilon Christian Fraternity, was chosen. Sigma Theta Epsilon traces its history (through a series of name changes and mergers) from Phi Tau Theta (local)'s founding in at Lincoln, Nebraska and Sigma Epsilon Theta (local)'s founding on at Indiana University.

Background

Origin of the Name

The name "Sigma Theta Epsilon" finds its roots in the Greek words, "Sunergoi Theou Esman", meaning "Fellow Workers with God". This is taken from I Corinthians 3:9, and should be a constant reminder of our duty as a Christian Brotherhood.

History

A group of Methodist men in the Wesley Foundation at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, had been carrying on a program as a religious fraternity, which they called Phi Lambda Phi, for some time when it occurred to them that perhaps the men in other Wesley Foundations had similar groups which could be mutually helpful if they should form a union. The idea was brought up at the student council retreat at Ames, Iowa, in 1924 and 1925. They sent an invitation to all Wesley Foundation units asking those interested to send representatives to an organizational meeting. This meeting was held at Lincoln, Nebraska on February 6–7, 1925. The delegates drew up articles of federation and elected National Officers, thus a National Religious Fraternity for Methodist Men became known as Phi Tau Theta (meaning "Friends of God").

On October 8, 1936, another group of Christian men met and started a fraternity. The meeting was held at Indiana University, and there, Sigma Epsilon Theta was formed.

In 1939, a delegation of Phi Tau Theta approached the National Officers of Sigma Epsilon Theta and proposed a merger of the two National Fraternities. During Thanksgiving break, 1941, "Delta Sigma Theta" was formed. The transition from two fraternities to one was smooth, largely due to careful preparation by the officers. However, when all seemed to be going well, Delta Sigma Theta (a sorority) threatened suit against the new fraternity for use of their name. The name Sigma Theta Epsilon was selected during Easter break 1949.

After a period of expansion, inactivity of the chapters (high in number - low in spirit) persuaded the National Conclave of 1968 to appoint a committee to examine the philosophy of the fraternity. The committee suggested that the fraternity change from its original emphasis as a National Religious Fraternity for Methodist Men. This change saw a decrease in enrollment due to lessened support by the Wesley Foundation. The National Cabinet Meeting of 1972 realized that Sigma Theta Epsilon had evolved into a National Christian Service Fraternity, and thus adopted purposes centered on three main areas: religious, service, and social. These purposes were revised at the Conclave of 1975 into the four Purposes of Sigma Theta Epsilon identified today.

Still, chapters were lost to dormancy. A low point was reached in 1975 when only two active units remained: ''Alpha Gamma chapter'' at West Virginia Wesleyan College and newly formed ''Epsilon chapter'' at Ohio Northern University. The following years almost saw the dissolving of Sigma Theta Epsilon as a National Fraternity. The addition of a new ''Delta chapter'', the second of that name, at Mount Union College in April 1980 stimulated new optimism and growth for the fraternity.

In 1988 Sigma Theta Epsilon struggled again through some growing pains. ''Delta chapter'' had all but disappeared while ''Alpha Gamma chapter's'' numbers began to fall. But 1988 also saw the start of the ''Beta Alpha chapter'' in Oklahoma City. This new chapter grew rapidly, and soon vied with ''Epsilon chapter'' as the fraternity's largest. Beta Alpha's designation marked what was hoped to be a rebirth for the fraternity, and all chapters from this point on would be named in succession following ''Beta Alpha''.

Whereas previously the Fraternity had used a standard naming system of Greek alphabetical succession, at some point it began to use a state model, naming a new chapter ''"Alpha chapter of Texas"'' for example, that had been formed in 1999.

This excitement carried into Spring 1993, when ''Beta Beta chapter'' at Miami University of Ohio was formed. An excited group of men gathered together and quickly grew to be as solid as any chapter. In the fall of 1993, ''Delta chapter'' at Mt. Union put together its first pledge class in almost five years. Led by an alumnus of ''Epsilon chapter'', who had been teaching at Mount Union College, these men revived the ''Delta chapter'' just weeks before the National Fraternity was to absorb their charter and assets.

The fraternity didn't see National Growth again until 1998, when on January 31, the ''Beta Gamma chapter'' was initiated at the University of Cincinnati. Thus began a substantial period of National Growth that continues today. Spring Conclave 1999 saw the formal initiation of a group of men from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas as ''Beta Delta chapter''. This group of men would mark themselves as one of the most active chapters in the Nation.

At the 2000 Spring Conclave, a group of men from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois pledged as a temporary club. These same men were formally initiated as ''Beta Epsilon chapter'' at The English Chapel at Ohio Northern University during the East Regional Fall Gathering on October 21, 2000.

At the West Regional Fall Gathering at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a group of men from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma were formally initiated as the ''Beta Zeta chapter'' on October 26, 2002. Their road to establishing a chapter was a rocky one to say the least, but their persistence prevailed.

On April 5, 2003, the ''Beta Eta chapter'' was formally initiated at Spring Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri. These men from West Virginia University were blessed to have pledged under the supervision of the sitting National President, Chad Burdette, while he was completing graduate studies there.

The addition of the ''Beta Kappa chapter'' brought the number of chapters nationally to eleven. This was the highest number seen since the 1960s.

A period of growth ceased, and as of there appears to be a single active chapter, at Our Lady of the Lake University; the other chapters of the fraternity are dormant.

Chapters

Chapters of Sigma Theta Epsilon include the following. Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in ''italics''.

''Alpha'' – Iowa State University, 1925–1967

''Beta'' - University of Nebraska, 1925–1965

''Gamma'' – University of South Dakota, 1925–1960

''Delta'' – University of Minnesota, 1925–1951

''Epsilon'' – University of Iowa, 1927–1941

''Zeta'' – University of California, Berkeley, 1928–1931

''Eta'' – University of Northern Iowa, 1929–1962, 1966–1971

''Theta'' – Ohio University 1931-43, 1945–1972

''Iota'' – University of Wyoming, 1931–1934

''Kappa'' – Ohio State University, 1934–1968

''Lambda'' – Kansas State University, 1936–1943, 1952–1965

''Mu'' – West Virginia University, 1938–1970

''Nu'' – Oklahoma State University, 1939–1971

''Xi'' – Indiana University, 1936–1957

''Omicron'' – Miami University, 1937–1962

''Pi'' – Bowling Green State University, 1937–1942, 1952–1958, 1960–1962

''Rho'' – Fort Hays State University, 1948–1959

''Sigma'' – Kent State University, 1948–1971

''Tau'' – University of Oklahoma, 1949–1968

''Upsilon'' – University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1950–1953

''Phi'' – University of Michigan, 1950–1953

''Epsilon (2)'' – Oklahoma City University, 1950–1954

''Zeta (2)'' – University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, 1952–1954,

''Chi'' – Pittsburg State University, 1952–1953, 1960–1968

''Iota (2)'' – University of Iowa, 1954–1960

''Psi'' – Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 1955–1957

Omega – Unassigned. Memorial chapter?

''Alpha Alpha'' – Michigan State University, 1956–1962

''Alpha Beta'' – Western Michigan University, 1956–1974

''Alpha Gamma'' – West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1957–2012

''Alpha Delta'' – Pennsylvania State University, 1958–1965, 1967–1970

''Alpha Epsilon'' – American University, 1960–1969

''Alpha Zeta'' – Central Michigan University, 1961–1963, 1966–1971

''Gamma (2)'' – Mansfield University, 1967–1971

''Beta (2)'' – Lane College, 1974–1975

''Alpha chapter of Ohio'' – Ohio Northern University 1975–2021

''Eta (2)'' – Northern Illinois University, 1976–1977

''Delta (2)'' – Mount Union College, 1969-1975, 1980–1987, 1994-2011

''Beta Alpha'' – Oklahoma City University, 1988–2003

''Beta Beta'' – Miami University, 1993–2008

''Beta Gamma'' – University of Cincinnati, 1998–2011

''Alpha chapter of Texas'', Our Lady of the Lake University, 1999- 2022 The main archive URL i
The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage


''Beta Epsilon'' – Bradley University, 2000–2012

''Beta Zeta'' – Northeastern State University, 2002–2015

''Beta Eta'' – West Virginia University, 2002-2011

''Beta Theta'' – Ohio University, 2003–2006, 2009-2010

''Beta Iota'' – Illinois Wesleyan University, 2004–2006

''Beta Kappa'' – Missouri Valley College, 2006–2007

Notes

References

External links

Sigma Theta Epsilon

{{Christian fraternity

Christian fraternities and sororities in the United States
Student organizations established in 1925
1925 establishments in Nebraska