Christian Union under Threat, Students Prepare for Legal Action
Christian Unions across Britain are preparing to take legal action as they face increasing persecution from university authorities which deem them 'too exclusive'.
by Maria Mackay
Posted: Saturday, November 18, 2006, 10:32 (GMT)
Christian Unions across Britain are seeking legal advice after four university campus branches were banned from official lists of societies or denied access to university facilities and privileges.
Now Christian Unions at Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt and Birmingham universities are seeking legal advice in the face of accusations that they are excluding non-Christians, promoting homophobia and discriminating against those of transgender sexuality.
The 150-strong Christian Union in Birmingham was suspended this year after refusing to alter its constitution to allow non-Christians to address meetings and to amend its literature to include references to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and those of transgender sexuality.
Edinburgh University has banned an event run by the Christian Union called PURE which promotes a traditional biblical view of personal and sexual relationships.
The university defended the ban, saying that PURE was in breach of its equality and diversity policy because PURE claims that any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is not God-ordained. The pressure came principally from the Gay and Lesbian Society at Edinburgh University and follows the university’s decision last year to ban copies of the Bible in its halls of residence after protests from the students’ union.
The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship criticised the decision to ban PURE, saying, “This incident is an attack on freedom of speech in an institution where an open exchange of views and a search after truth should be strongly upheld.
“In this instance the Christian Union is being denied freedom of expression because what they say and believe is uncomfortable for some groups in the university.”
Christian Unions elsewhere are also coming under increasing attack. Christian students are threatening to take Exeter University and students’ guild to court over human rights breaches after the university temporarily suspended the Christian Union from the official list of student societies on campus.
The Exeter Christian Union – which has a 50-year history at the university - has also had its Student Union bank account frozen and has been banned from free use of students’ guild premises or advertising within guild facilities. Exeter University’s student guild claims the Christian Union constitution and activities do not conform to its Equal Opportunities Policies, which have only recently been introduced.
Copyright © 2006 Christian Today. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, August 21, 2008, 16:13 (BST)
To my brethren in Christ, go on, fight the good fight of faith and endure to the end. These indeed are the last days! If great Britain, the bastion of christianity, would turn around to join in the persecution of the church, then there's little hope left for humanity. However, the gates of hell shall not prevail...............the church must continue to soldier on, and NO ONE can stop the victory chant of HALLELUJAH!!!!!!! when the time comes!!!!!!!!
Bello James Barde, Bauchi, Nigeria
Added: Monday, November 27, 2006, 7:56 (GMT)
About 30 years ago I was an elected member of the council of the Students' Union at Birmingham University. It was a principle then that all affiliated societies had to be open to all students. This did not prevent free speech or stop any student preaching strong Evangelical views. It seems reasonable that a students' union should be able to stipluate that affiliated clubs and societies be open and democratic.
Francis McGonigal, Birmingham
Added: Wednesday, November 22, 2006, 21:38 (GMT)
Looking at the problem with attacks on Christians (that's the bottom line at the end of the day), it seems that overall, the whole issue of equality is very Communist based (old style). 'Every one is equal but some are more equal than others.'
Anything that is not bi-sexual is a perversion of nature and not what God intended for His creation. Why should Christians have to go along with this perversion in the name of 'Equality'? We have nothing against the Gays or the Transvestites (to call them by their proper address) as people, they were all created by God. We just cannot support their perverted way of life - it flys in the face of what we believe. If they feel free to live like that then they should respect our viewpoint also. If they feel they are above critiscism then they have a problem. The whole issue should always be open to discussion - not remain a closed shop in case someone is 'offended'!
Les Westley, St Laurent de Cuves. France
Added: Wednesday, November 22, 2006, 13:11 (GMT)
Indeed it pains to hear and read stories such as this. The once christian country as always been described is becoming a den of satan. I therefore encourage my fellow christian students to out clear for Christ in season and out of season.
Zechariah Marting, Bukuru/Nigeria
Added: Saturday, November 18, 2006, 11:07 (GMT)
It is not clear from the article why the CU was changed to the ECU. This has been reported inaccurately in the press and represents an impartial viewpoint.
The problem at Exeter was that the CU's doctrinal basis potentially excludes Catholics & other Christian denominations. Only those who signed the DB can join the CU committee, or speak at meetings. This has extended to refusing clergy who work at the university as Chaplains the opportunity to speak at meetings (yes, the Pope would not be able to talk as he would not sign their DB).
Therefore as a Catholic I refuse to go to join the CU. The CU's DB illustrates a highly Evangelical view, & as such it was deemed appropriate for its name to be changed to the ECU to correct the highly misleading impression that the CU was an umbrella organisation.
As the ECU has said, it does not represent non-evangelical Christians, so why the problem with changing the name? I am pro CU and think they do good work on campus, but due to their DB they are NOT a Union of Christian and this lead to the name change.
Dave, Exeter
