Alpha Gamma Omega
Alpha Gamma Omega (ΑΓΩ, or AGO) was founded in 1927 at UCLA as a Christ-centered fraternity. Alpha Gamma Omega now has chapters at universities in California, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.[2] It maintains a close relationship with its Christian sorority counterpart, Alpha Delta Chi, considered the fraternity's "sister sorority."
Alpha Gamma Omega | |
---|---|
ΑΓΩ | |
Founded | February 25, 1927 University of California, Los Angeles |
Type | Social |
Emphasis | Christian |
Scope | National |
Motto | Fraternity for Eternity |
Colors | Blue Gold |
Flower | Easter Lily |
Verse | 2 Timothy 2:15[1] |
Headquarters | 28000 Meadow Drive Suite 104 Evergreen, CO US |
Website | ago |
Constitution
The preamble to the fraternity's constitution is as follows:
Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal savior, we, as Christian young men of Alpha Gamma Omega Fraternity, purpose that it shall be the aim of this fraternity to win others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, to promote Christian fellowship, to present Christian ideals in word and deed, to search reverently for the truth, to uphold the traditions and ideals of the university, and to deepen the spiritual lives of the members.[3]
Fraternity letters
Alpha and Omega represent the sovereign majesty of God and His dominion and lordship over all things. These letters come from the book of Revelation, where Jesus Christ says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." The letter Gamma, the third letter in the Greek alphabet, represents Christ, which itself begins with "C", the third letter of the English alphabet. It is in the center to represent Christ being at the center of the fraternity and the lives of its members.[3]
National fraternity events
- Founders' Day – Scheduled annually on the last Saturday of February, the active and alumni members come together to celebrate the founding of the fraternity.
- All-AGO Pismo Beach Flag Football Tournament – Every October, the Kappa chapter hosts all chapters as they compete on the Pismo-Oceano Dunes against one another in a 7 on 7 flag football tournament.
- Annual alumni camping trip to Yosemite – Every summer, the fraternity hosts a camping trip open to all alumni members.
Membership requirements
Pledges may become active members of an AGO chapter at the invitation of the current active members. To become eligible for activation, pledges must complete a pledge program, unique to each chapter but governed by the National Executive Committee.
During the pledge semester, pledges take part in activities designed to promote Christ-centered brotherhood with each other and with the active and alumni members. They have opportunities to plan and participate in bible studies, meetings, and social events. During this time, pledges are required to learn the traditions of the fraternity and the university, and are required to maintain a high scholastic average.
Chapters
Since its founding in 1927, Alpha Gamma Omega has chartered new chapters all over the United States.[2]
- Alpha – UCLA (founded 1927)
- Beta – UC Berkeley (founded 1938)
- Gamma – California State University, Long Beach (founded 1962)
- Delta – California State University, Los Angeles (inactive; founded 1964)
- Epsilon – San Diego State University (founded 1965)
- Zeta – University of California, Santa Barbara (founded 1987)
- Eta – California State University, Fresno (founded 1987)
- Theta – Arizona State University (inactive; founded 1989)
- Iota – UC Davis (inactive; founded 1992)
- Kappa – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (founded 1992)
- Lambda – UC Irvine (inactive; founded 1993)
- Mu – Illinois State University (inactive; founded 1994)
- Nu – Baylor University (inactive; founded 1996)
- Xi – University of Colorado at Boulder (founded 1997)
- Omicron – University of North Carolina at Charlotte (founded 1999; rechartered 2017)
- Pi – University of Southern California (founded 2001)
- Rho – Colorado State University (founded 2011)
- Sigma – University of California, Riverside (inactive; founded 2012)
- Tau – Santa Clara University (founded 2013)
- Upsilon – Appalachian State University (founded 2017)
- Phi – University of Denver (founded 2017)
- Chi – Lynchburg, VA (founded 2018)
- Psi – West Chester University (founded 2018)
- Omega – The University of Virginia's College at Wise (founded 2019)
Notable alumni
- Burton L. Goddard, First general secretary and an editor/translator of the Committee on Bible Translation, which in 1978 produced, with the help of other scholars and stylists, the New International Version of the Bible. Dean and Professor at Gordon Conwell Seminary. UCLA Chapter[4]
- Percy Crawford, founder of The King's College, UCLA Chapter[5]
- Harold Lindsell, author, scholar, founding faculty member of Fuller Theological Seminary, editor of Christianity Today. UC Berkeley Chapter[6]
- Benjamin Weir, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), UC Berkeley Chapter
- Beau Wirick, actor, USC Chapter
References
- "Alpha Gamma Omega". Alpha Gamma Omega. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
- "Chapters of Alpha Gamma Omega". Alpha Gamma Omega. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- "Alpha Gamma Omega History". Alpha Gamma Omega. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- "Burton L. Goddard". Bowersox Funeral Home – via Find a Grave.
- Crawford, Dan D. (2010). "UCLA: "Atheism Was Rampant"". A Thirst For Souls: The Life of Evangelist Percy B. Crawford (1902–1960). Susquehanna University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-1575911489. LCCN 2010007945.
- Kucharsky, David E.; Johnson, Heather L. (March 2, 1998). "Obituary: CT Editor Emeritus Lindsell". Christianity Today. Vol. 42 no. 3. p. 67. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006.