Reactions against the group named University Bible Fellowship (ubf) have been loud and strong. Three of the most prominent public reactions have been signed petitions.
In 2004, over 100 people signed a public petition to the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) in the United States, entitled “National Association of Evangelicals: Revoke the UBF’s membership”.
We believe that these neutral party observations about the UBF, as well as the many reports in the Christian and secular press about the UBF, constitute evidence of the true nature of this group. We also believe that these neutral party observations and reports are evidence that the UBF’s problems are systemic and not isolated to a few individuals or chapters (churches). Though the UBF’s public statements of doctrine may appear to be sound, and though the UBF’s spokespersons may profess to hold to orthodox-sounding Christian beliefs, there is no question based on the evidence, that the UBF’s extra-biblical teachings and practices have caused undeniable harm and brought disrepute to the faith. Yet, in spite of all this, the UBF’s leadership has consistently rejected calls for change from within and without to this day. The UBF’s being allowed to use the names of mainstream evangelical Christian institutions such as the National Association of Evangelicals to give themselves the appearance of legitimacy will only reduce the likelihood that the UBF’s leadership will see the need for change. We do not believe that the UBF, in its current state, is a group that the NAE should be associated with.
Source: 2004 Petition against UBF
In 2016, over 100 people signed a public petition against three harmful and abusive practices practiced by the group, entitled “Stop the UBF Campus Shepherding”.
1. Stop appointing personal, lifelong moral supervisors (aka “shepherds”) over students’ young adult lives.
2. Stop arranging marriages between UBF members, a practice called “marriage by faith”.
3. Admit and acknowledge (and put and end to) the mountain of eye-witness testimony regarding many kinds of abuse the UBF shepherding system has allowed, including, but not limited to: Demanding unnecessary sacrifice of students, including ordering abortions as a requirement to become a missionary, cutting off ties with family and friends, and pressuring students to offer money. Training students to obey through “dead dog training”, such as by having them walk barefoot 5 miles, to drive 3 hours every week to attend meetings, and to stand in ice water. Intruding into students’ lives through undue religious influence, excessive daily, weekly and monthly meetings, and unhealthy indoctrination.
Source: 2016 Petition against UBF
In 2024, over 2,900 people signed a public petition against the toxic anti-family ideology of the group, entitled “Support a mother in her letter to the UBF on rebuilding her lost relationship with her son”.
I am a single mother and a senior citizen. My only child, 28 years old, has not returned home in the past 10+ years since he joined a Korean-based religious group University Bible Fellowship (UBF) in late 2013-early 2014, except for 1.5 years when he was sent back by the UBF to ‘reduce persecution’. We have known the UBF since 2006 when my son was 12 years old and the UBF Korean missionaries and their families were our friends. Now the Korean UBF missionaries and their families have also disappeared from my life together with my son. I get to see my son only a few times a year, typically with each time lasting no more than a meal. I do not know where he lives now since 2018. Our relationship has been increasingly estranged in the years he has been with the UBF.
I faced many accusations that have not been proven, by the UBF and my son. I tried in vain to reach out to them. I have had no meaningful opportunities to resolve issues raised by my son as mothers normally do.
His personal growth is puzzling, such as spending 6 years to obtain an undergraduate degree majoring in psychology but ending up taking a job that requires only a high-school diploma.
Source: 2024 Petition against UBF (still open as of September)
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