Members of the Christian Union have claimed that their suspension was due to their refusal on religious grounds to change their charitable constitution to be more ‘politically correct’. Specifically to mention lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people (LGBT).
The Christian Union’s use of the words ‘men’ and ‘women’ was criticised on the grounds that it could be regarded as excluding transsexuals and transgendered students.
The trouble began when the organisation Christians in Sport, of which Olympic Gold Medallist, Jonathan Edwards is a supporter, attempted to book a room in the name of the Christian Union. The Birmingham Guild of Students, when checking the Christian Union’s constitution found there to be a number of clauses to which they objected.
A Christian Union staff worker in Birmingham, Mr Andy Weatherley said of the decision: ‘The guild insists the Christian Union constitution must be amended to include mandatory clauses, insisting on more control by the guild and open membership to those who would not call themselves Christians.’Matthew Crouch, a member of the Christian Union, spoke against the suspension of the Union at a recent Guild meeting, pointing out that: “All guild members can attend our meeting but only members can vote.” But one of the guild vice-presidents, Stuart Mathers said that all student groups had to follow guild council policy.
The Birmingham Christian Union is affiliated to the University and Colleges’ Christian Fellowship whose communications director, Pod Bhogal said of the situation: “We support the Birmingham Christian Union. We would not dream of telling a Muslim group or a political society how to elect their leaders or who could or could not become a member. The same applies to a Christian Union.”
The Christian Union has instructed lawyers and is threatening to take court action against the Birmingham Guild of Students.
