Sigma Phi Lambda (ΣΦΛ) Sorority is the largest women's fraternal organization for Christian women, or Christian sorority in the United States with 22 active chapters, and the third of its kind, behind Alpha Delta Chi, founded in 1925, and Sigma Alpha Omega, officially founded in 1988. The sorority's headquarters is located in Texas and the sorority is governed by a national board. For other uses, see Red (disambiguation). ... This article is about the color. ... The terms fraternity and sorority (from the Latin words and , meaning brother and sister respectively) may be used to describe many social and charitable organizations, for example the Lions Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Rotary International, Optimist International, or the Shriners. ... While the traditional womens fraternity or sorority was founded well before the start of the 20th century, the first ever Christian sorority was founded at UCLA in 1925 by ten women and named Alpha Delta Chi. ... ΑΔΧ - Alpha Delta Chi is a national Christian sorority founded at UCLA in 1925. ... Sigma Alpha Omega (ΣΑΩ) is a nationally incorporated Christian sorority for women-only, founded at North Carolina State University in 1998. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...

History

Sigma Phi Lambda was founded in 1988 at the University of Texas at Austin by Patricia Adams Hogan, Robin Maegen, Gina Williams Goveas, Jacqueline Goveas and Eileen Howell Barlow. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... University of Texas redirects here. ...

Phi Lamb was part of a broader movement to establish Christian sororities during the mid-1980s, as Evangelical Christian movement was on the rise in the United States. Evangelicalism, in a strictly lexical, but rarely used sense, refers to all things that are implied in belief that Jesus is the savior. ...

Phi Lamb itself was also a part of the same movement as it affected men's fraternities. The founding of Sigma Phi Lambda can be directly linked to the founders' experiences and interactions with their male friends, who had, three years earlier, founded what is today the nation's largest Christian fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi at Texas. Beta Upsilon Chi, Brothers Under Christ, ΒΥΧ (pronounced Bucks) is the largest Christian social fraternity in the United States. ... University of Texas redirects here. ...

Sigma Phi Lambda has also spread the idea of Christian Greek Organizations. After the establishment of the Texas Tech University chapter, a group of men founded Kappa Upsilon Chi to serve as a counterpart. Kappa Upsilon Chi (Keeping Under Christ or ΚΥΧ) is a national mens fraternity composed of Christian collegians seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. ...

Since the founding, the number of chapters has grown rapidly. The chapters on the campuses of the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Florida have well over 100 sisters, and the sorority continues to actively develop new chapters around the country.

Many local sororities arose during same period as Phi Lamb's founding across the country, but only a handful were successful in national expansion. Phi Lamb's success was accomplished through incorporation, a national board of directors and a national director.

Sigma Phi Lambda was the third National Sorority for Christian women, independent of a Greek council for colleges and universities. Alpha Delta Chi was first in 1925 founded at UCLA. Sigma Alpha Omega was the first sorority to be founded in the 1980s resurrgance of Christian Greek Life, founded at East Carolina University in 1987. Phi Lamb seeks spiritual development through their sisterhood. Their tradtions develop these standards. ΑΔΧ - Alpha Delta Chi is a national Christian sorority founded at UCLA in 1925. ... East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, intensive research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. ...

Structure and Traditions

Sigma Phi Lambda is not like most traditional sororities. While most traditional sororities and even some Christian sororities require potential new members to be initiated only into their sorority, Sigma Phi Lambda allows other initiates to be initiated into Phi Lamb and conversely the sorority allows members to hold multiple Greek affiliations.

Sigma Phi Lambda does not offer membership bids, the stance of the organization is that a woman is to choose Phi Lamb, Phi Lamb does not choose their members.

Sigma Phi Lambda has multiple social events each semester to promote external growth and outreach. These are sometimes done with other Christian organizations on various campuses.

Membership

Membership is open to any undergraduate or graduate student, another uniqueness considering most sororities close membership to the undergraduate level. Also, married women can become members of Sigma Phi Lambda. Members pledge for one semester where they are the "little sisters" before being initiated into the sorority.

Cable Groups

Small groups that operate within chapter meetings, used for discussion, prayer, and various activities.

Organization

National Alumni Board

Phi Lamb is governed by an Alumni Board of Representatives. Seven alumna help keep things running smoothly and guide the chapters assigned to them.

Executive Director

This is the person you work with if you'd like to start a chapter of Phi Lamb. The "ED" also helps keep things running by assisting the Alumni Board with daily tasks and she plans the All-Chapter Officer Retreat.

Alumni Councils

After a chapter has been established long enough to have alumni, an Alumni Council is formed. These three members can be former officers of that chapter. The Alumni Council provides guidance to the chapter and assistance to the Alumni Board representative.

Officers

Five officers are elected yearly in each chapter. The offices are President, Vice President, Chaplain, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers maintain the daily functions and lead the members of their chapter. Please view the Constitution for more information about officers positions and conduct standards

Actives

These members of Phi Lamb are considered the big sisters of their chapter. They hold voting rights and are may hold appointed officers positions that vary from chapter to chapter.

Pledges

New to Phi Lamb, these members are the little sisters. They are cherished by their big sisters and a vital part of Phi Lamb. Upon initiation into the sorority, they are able to vote and become Actives.

Sigma Phi Lambda Sorority Verse

Romans 15:5-6 ~ "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Chapters

• Alpha- University of Texas at Austin
• Beta- Texas A&M University
• Gamma- Texas Tech University
• Delta- Stephen F. Austin State University
• Epsilon- Texas State University
• Zeta- Southwestern University
• Eta- Houston Baptist University
• Theta- Baylor University
• Iota- Angelo State University
• Kappa- Sam Houston State University
• Lambda- Oklahoma Baptist University
• Mu- University of Oklahoma
• Nu- University of Florida
• Omicron- Tarleton State University
• Pi- Lamar University
• Tau- University of Arkansas
• Upsilon- University of North Texas
• Phi-Oklahoma State University
• Chi - University of Missouri-Columbia
• Psi- Mississippi State University
• Omega - University of Mississippi
• Alpha Alpha - University of Central Florida
• Alpha Beta - University of Central Oklahoma

University of Texas redirects here. ... Texas A&M University redirects here. ... Texas Tech University is a public, coeducational, doctoral/research university located in Lubbock, Texas (USA). ... Stephen F. Austin State University (commonly SFA or Stephen F) is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas. ... ... Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. ... Houston Baptist University (commonly abbreviated HBU) is a private Baptist institution founded in 1960. ... Baylor University is a private, Baptist-affiliated research university located in Waco, Texas. ... Angelo State University is a public, coeducational university located in San Angelo, Texas. ... Sam Houston State University, (known as SHSU and Sam, for short) founded in 1879, is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. ... Oklahoma Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Shawnee, Oklahoma and owned by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. ... University of Oklahoma, abbreviated OU, is a coeducational public research university located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma founded in 1890. ... The University of Florida (Florida, UFL, or UF) is a public land-grant, space-grant, research university located in Gainesville, Florida. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lamar University is a four-year university located in Beaumont, Texas, USA, and a member of the Texas State University System. ... The University of Arkansas is a public co-educational land-grant university. ... The University of North Texas (informally UNT or North Texas) is a public university located in Denton, Texas. ... Oklahoma State University Logo The Oklahoma State University System comprises of five educational instututes across Oklahoma. ... The University of Missouri-Columbia (abbreviated UMC and nicknamed Mizzou) is an institution of higher learning located in Columbia, Missouri and is the main campus in the University of Missouri system. ... Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in north east-central Mississippi, United States, in the town of Starkville and is situated 125 miles northeast of Jackson and 23 miles west of Columbus. ... The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. ... “UCF” redirects here. ... The University of Central Oklahoma, often referred to as UCO, located in Edmond, Oklahoma. ...

Future Chapters

Other Christian sororities

Though Sigma Phi Lambda has grown to be the largest of the Christian social sororities, it is not the only national Christian sorority. Others include (in alphabetical order):

• Alpha Delta Chi
• Phi Beta Chi
• Sigma Alpha Omega
• Theta Alpha

Each of these is both incorporated and presently undergoing expansion with the addition of new chapters, similar to Phi Lamb. ΑΔΧ - Alpha Delta Chi is a national Christian sorority founded at UCLA in 1925. ... ΦΒΧ - Phi Beta Chi is a national sorority formed to support collegiate women socially, spiritually and academically. ... Sigma Alpha Omega (ΣΑΩ) is a nationally incorporated Christian sorority for women-only, founded at North Carolina State University in 1998. ...

External links

• Sigma Phi Lambda's official website