Christian unions (student groups)

Since their split from the Student Christian Movement in the early twentieth century, most Christian Unions in the United Kingdom are affiliated to the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF). Some UK Christian Unions have had difficult relationships with the students' union due to their policy of allowing leaders to choose their successors in order, they argue, to ensure a Christian leadership (students' unions often require democratic processes be followed), opinions on issues such as homosexuality{{cite web |last1=Slagel |first1=Jamie |title=EXCLUSIVE: OICCU and Oxford churches accused of homophobia |url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2020/11/06/102923/ |website=The Oxford Student |access-date=30 May 2021 |date=2020-11-06}} and the role of women,{{cite news |last1=Bingham |first1=John |title=University Christian Union bars women from speaking |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9722517/University-Christian-Union-bars-women-from-speaking.html |access-date=30 May 2021 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 December 2012 |quote=Bristol University Christian Union emailed members to say that women will not be asked to preach – unless, in the case of a handful of married students, they are accompanied by their husband. The decision represents the latest sign of the growing influence of conservative evangelical teaching, particularly among younger Christians. It sparked a furious reaction among fellow students and the university student union said it was investigating.}} and the requirement that leaders affirm a fixed conservative evangelical{{cite book |last1=Perfect |first1=Simon |last2=Ryan |first2=Ben |last3=Aune |first3=Kristin |title=Faith and Belief on Campus: Division and Cohesion: Exploring student faith and belief societies |date=2009 |publisher=Theos |url=https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/cmsfiles/Reportfiles/Theos---Faith-and-Belief-on-Campus---Division-and-Cohesion.pdf |page=115 |quote=UCCF, the broadly conservative, evangelical organisation to which 128 university Christian Unions are affiliated}}{{cite web |last1=Cawdell |first1=Dominic |title=Yes I'm a Christian, but not one of those |url=https://www.varsity.co.uk/comment/8548 |website=Varsity Online |access-date=30 May 2021 |language=en |date=28 April 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=Jemima |title=The Christian Union should change its name |url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/the-christian-union-should-change-its-name/ |website=Palatinate |access-date=30 May 2021 |date=11 March 2016}} Doctrinal Basis. Many, but not all, CUs require all members to sign this Doctrinal Basis. The latter includes doctrinal statements that go beyond the historic ecumenical creeds, e.g. recognising the Bible as the sole authority, and belief in penal substitution.[http://www.uccf.org.uk/about-us/doctrinal-basis.htm UCCF: The Christian Unions - Doctrinal Basis] A considerable number of Christian students have problems affirming these points, and feel excluded from Christian Unions. This has led to calls for local Christian Unions to change their name to something more specific, e.g. Evangelical Christian Union.[http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/united_we_stand_report.pdf United We Stand? A report on current conflicts between Christian Unions and Students’ Unions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074628/https://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/united_we_stand_report.pdf |date=2007-09-28 }}. Ekklesia, 2006. Pages 4, 7, 9, 12, 14.

Christian Unions are active in evangelism to fellow-students. As well as hosting traditional talks and debates, they may hold unconventional events such as "Text a Toastie".{{cite web|author=Nile Davies |title=On The Road With Text a Toastie |work=Wessex Scene Magazine |publisher=Student Union, University of Southampton |date=2012-03-26 |url=http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/features/2012/03/26/on-the-road-with-text-a-toastie/ |accessdate=2012-03-28 |archivedate=2012-06-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616120542/http://www.wessexscene.co.uk/features/2012/03/26/on-the-road-with-text-a-toastie/ |url-status=dead }} These particular events involve providing a number to students, to which they text a question about God, the bible, or Christianity more generally, and in response two members of the Christian Union deliver a toastie to them and answer their question. While considered unusual by some, this has proven an effective way of communicating with other students for many CUs.

• International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (international organisation)
• Campus Crusade for Christ (similar international organisation, principally American)
• Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF, UK national organisation)
• Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (CICCU)
• Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (OICCU)

;Other UK national organisations

• Student Christian Movement (SCM, established 1889)

{{Reflist|1}}

• [http://www.uccf.org.uk UCCF]
• [http://www.ifesireland.org IFES Ireland]
• [http://www.ifeseurope.org IFES Europe]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091007002414/http://www.ifesworld.org/home/ International Fellowship of Evangelical Students]

Christian Unions and Student Unions

• [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,1694646,00.html Student union suspends Christian group] Article about Birmingham University Evangelical Christian Union in the Guardian newspaper
• [https://archive.today/20051226235925/http://www.evangelical-times.org/etnews/Nov04/Nov04n04.htm Hull CU vindicated] Article from an evangelical publication
• [http://www.warwickboar.co.uk/boar/news/christian_union_returns_from_ban/ Christian Union returns from ban] Warwick University
• [http://www.cmf.org.uk/literature/content.asp?context=article&id=1304 Trials of 2004] An account of Christian Union at the University College London - disaffiliation from the Student Union and later re-affiliation
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6159456.stm Christians threaten legal action] BBC News article about Exeter University CU, and the ongoing dispute there.
• [http://www.uccf.org.uk/students/engaging-with-students-unions/equal-opportunities-policies-and-faith-based-student-societies.htm UCCF Position Paper - Equal Opportunities Policies and Faith-based Student Societies]

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Category:Christian student societies in the United Kingdom

Category:Fellowships