On the University of Minnesota campus, students have noticed the presence of people handing out Bibles growing.  

The Gideons International, a Christian association of men that started in 1908, focuses on distributing the Bible and has given out around 2 billion Bibles worldwide.  

The Gideons International website states that their organization’s mission is to distribute the Bible in public areas, including college campuses.

“Moments of impact and Scripture placements now include prisons, hospitals, military facilities, hotels and motels,” the website said. “Testaments are distributed at schools, colleges, and many approved venues.” 

According to the Office of Institutional Compliance, groups who want to use a specific space on campus are required to have a permit. 

“Persons or groups distributing information are prohibited from: coercing others by demands, threats, or other means to accept publications,” the statement said. “Interfering with, disrupting, or otherwise advocating disruption or violation of any other lawful activity of any other person(s),” 

Andrew Hansen, a program director at the Anselm House, a Christian organization at the University of Minnesota, said in Christianity, the main mission is to spread the religion as the Bible connects with Christians. 

Hansen said the Gideons are allowed to distribute Bibles to students, and in terms of engaging with people, he is unsure whether there is a better alternative. 

“My understanding is that they’re perfectly within their legal bounds to be handing out Bibles on campus,” Hansen said. “The question I would have is what is going to be the most effective conversation or engagement?” 

The Anselm House provides the Bible to students and faculty in multiple languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic and Farsi, Hansen said.

The Office of Institutional Compliance’s policy statement said that if someone wants to distribute publications, they can’t interfere with the university’s mission. The office’s freedom of speech statement said groups can be prohibited if it’s deemed offensive. 

Gavin Bergman, a third-year student studying industrial engineering, said it’s important to hand out Bibles, whether or not some students engage with them. 

“I think it goes a long way to just hand these out, even if they’re not going to be read,” Bergman said. 

Bergman said he supports the distribution of the Bible on campus because it is protected by the First Amendment. 

“I think that the freedom of religion is something that should be expressed at our campus, whatever side you’re coming from,” Bergman said. “If you’re insulted by somebody handing out little Bibles up the street corner, I’d say that’s kind of bigoted.” 

Lacey Marsh, a rising third-year student studying developmental psychology with a minor in neuroscience, said the Gideons force Bible distribution to students on campus. 

“I think it’s a little bit kind of forceful,” Marsh said. “I think if you want somebody to follow Jesus, you don’t want to just go up to them and invade their space and their personal time.” 

Marsh said some students may or may not be offended by Bible distribution. 

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian association, sets up literature carts as a form of preaching, and the association said it has been more effective than preaching from house to house. 

“The house-to-house activity is still the primary way in which the witnesses make known bible truth,” the Jehovah’s Witness website said. “Yet, literature carts have proved to be very effective.” 

They have set up literature carts on the corners of the University of Minnesota campus and wait for students to approach them.