LONDON - 27 November 2006 - 554 words
Church
leaders and academics support student Christian Unions
Following attempts by several
universities last week to ban Christian Unions from campuses,
on the groups that they did not meet with new Equal Opportunities
legislation, several Anglican and Catholic bishops, together
with a number of academics expressed their support for the Unions.
The full text of their letter follows.
Dear Sir,
Your front page story, Students sue over Christian rights at
colleges (November 18, 2006), clearly shows how Christian
students at many of our universities are facing considerable opposition
and discrimination in violation of their rights of freedom of
expression, freedom of belief and freedom of association.
In recent times, some Student Guilds, in Exeter, Birmingham and
Edinburgh in particular, have changed their anti-discrimination
provisions to discriminate against Christian students. We believe
this to be intolerant and unlawful, and that the Christian Unions
currently suspended by the Student Guilds/Unions/Associations
should be re-instated with full society rights forthwith.
Of course university Student Guilds/Unions have a responsibility
to ensure that official societies are run in a proper and lawful
manner. However, this does not give them, or anyone else, the
right to restrict or change the essential beliefs of those societies,
or impose as leaders people who do not share those core beliefs.
Christian Union meetings and events are open to all students to
attend. In fact, as a faith-sharing organisation, CUs specifically
invite people who do not share the Christian faith to attend their
meetings. Therefore there is no restriction imposed on who can
and who cannot join with the CU.
However, the Executive Committee of CUs act rather like charity
trustees, and as such, they are responsible for two things: firstly,
that funds donated to the CU are only used to further the stated
objects, and secondly, that the object of the Union, the proclamation
of the Christian gospel (as understood by millions of orthodox
Christians around the world), is advanced.
It would therefore be inappropriate for anyone who does not agree
with the aims, objectives and beliefs to be Executive Committee
members, although it would be totally in order for them to attend
CU events, Bible studies, discussion groups or missions, and put
forward their views with conviction and passion. Thus the only
restrictions limit the right to amend the constitution and select
leaders to those who can affirm the core beliefs of the society.
Yours faithfully
The Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt
Bishop of Winchester
The Rt Revd Michael Nazir-Ali
Bishop of Rochester
The Rt Revd Peter Forster
Bishop of Chester
The Rt Rev George Cassidy
Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham
The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill
Bishop of Lichfield
The Rt Revd Stephen Venner
Bishop of Dover
The Rt Revd Pete Broadbent
Bishop of Willesden
The Rt Revd Crispian Hollis
Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth and lead Bishop of Higher
Education
Canon Dr Christina Baxter, CBE
Chairman of the House of Laity, Church of England General
Synod
Professor Nigel M. de S. Cameron
Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy, London
Professor John Wyatt
Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, University College London
Dr Don Horrocks
Head of Public Affairs, Evangelical Alliance
Andrea Minichiello Williams
Public Policy Officer, Lawyers Christian Fellowship
Mr Peter Saunders
General Secretary, Christian Medical Fellowship
The Revd Richard Cunningham
Chief Executive Officer, UCCF
Dr Peter May
Chairman, Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship
(UCCF)
© Independent Catholic
News 2006
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