Student Christian Movement of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Student Christian Movement of Great Britain
is a part of the World Student Christian Federation
.
SCM seeks to promote a vision of Christianity that is:
According to Archbishop William Temple, without SCM the Edinburgh conference which was to give birth to the modern ecumenical movement would never have taken place. SCM went on to play a vital role in the formation of the British and World Council of Churches
and continued to be a leading voice on ecumenism
.
In the fifties and sixties the radical message, always important in the movement, became increasingly radical, and the movement began to appear less relevant to most students, and further outside the christian mainstream. Since then the movement has realigned itself and is growing once more.
Throughout its history SCM has urged the worldwide Christian community to discuss often controversial social and theological issues. It has encouraged a Christian response to all forms of prejudice, descrimination and injustice.
. Each link takes the form of either a student group or chaplain
cy who subscribe SCM's aims and objectives. Some of the student groups carry the SCM name (for example Sheffield SCM) whereas other do not, some are denominational societies who are connected to a particular church. The characteristics of each link vary, with SCM making no determinations as to how groups should be run, however, most SCM affiliated student groups follow the principle of student leadership.
For a complete list of SCM links see website
SCM also has a number of individual members, these are students, or recent students, who want membership independent of a local group or chaplaincy; either because they want to support the movement, or get more involved in the movement, or because there is no local group for them to join.
Membership is currently priced at GBP£10 per annum.
SCM comprises groups alongside a large network of individual members and friends. An online discussion forum, electronic newsletters and print publications connect members to the rest of the network.
SCM often collaborates with other like-minded organisations to offer a wide range of events to its members. Events such as termly gatherings, the SCM Annual Conference and the training weekend offer people the opportunity to explore a theme together, and also enable them to forge new and deepen old friendships.
SCM's Movement magazine and resources are well-known for their high quality and accessibility. They are aimed at students and young people but also appeal to a wider audience. Each resource addresses a particular issue, such as fundamentalism, sexuality, Reading the Bible
or images of Christ
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
is a part of the World Student Christian Federation
World Student Christian Federation
The World Student Christian Federation is a federation of autonomous national Student Christian Movements forming the youth and student arm of the global ecumenical movement...
.
Vision Statement
SCM is a movement seeking to bring together students of all denominations to explore the Christian faith in an open-minded and non-judgemental environment.SCM seeks to promote a vision of Christianity that is:
- Inclusive. All people are welcome because diversity is a gift to be celebrated.
- Aware. It recognises the importance of respect for and openness to other faiths.
- Radical. Faith and social justice cannot be separated - Christians must be equipped to engage with contemporary theological, political and social issues.
- Challenging. Thinking through and questioning one's faith ensures that it remains alive and dynamic.
History
SCM began in 1889 and set out to unite students with an interest in overseas mission, but it rapidly broadened its aims and became the largest student organisation in Britain. It went on to help establish the National Union of Students.According to Archbishop William Temple, without SCM the Edinburgh conference which was to give birth to the modern ecumenical movement would never have taken place. SCM went on to play a vital role in the formation of the British and World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
and continued to be a leading voice on ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
In the fifties and sixties the radical message, always important in the movement, became increasingly radical, and the movement began to appear less relevant to most students, and further outside the christian mainstream. Since then the movement has realigned itself and is growing once more.
Throughout its history SCM has urged the worldwide Christian community to discuss often controversial social and theological issues. It has encouraged a Christian response to all forms of prejudice, descrimination and injustice.
"If the SCM of today can be as farsighted and determined as its founders over a century ago, it will do much to reshape our thinking about mission and reinvigorate our practice in a very different world"Revd Prof Michael Taylor, SCM Patron
Groups and Members
SCM has links in approximately 60 universities and other higher education establishments across the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Each link takes the form of either a student group or chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
cy who subscribe SCM's aims and objectives. Some of the student groups carry the SCM name (for example Sheffield SCM) whereas other do not, some are denominational societies who are connected to a particular church. The characteristics of each link vary, with SCM making no determinations as to how groups should be run, however, most SCM affiliated student groups follow the principle of student leadership.
For a complete list of SCM links see website
SCM also has a number of individual members, these are students, or recent students, who want membership independent of a local group or chaplaincy; either because they want to support the movement, or get more involved in the movement, or because there is no local group for them to join.
Membership is currently priced at GBP£10 per annum.
What SCM offers
- Community
SCM comprises groups alongside a large network of individual members and friends. An online discussion forum, electronic newsletters and print publications connect members to the rest of the network.
- Events
SCM often collaborates with other like-minded organisations to offer a wide range of events to its members. Events such as termly gatherings, the SCM Annual Conference and the training weekend offer people the opportunity to explore a theme together, and also enable them to forge new and deepen old friendships.
- Publications
SCM's Movement magazine and resources are well-known for their high quality and accessibility. They are aimed at students and young people but also appeal to a wider audience. Each resource addresses a particular issue, such as fundamentalism, sexuality, Reading the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
or images of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
.
See also
- Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship which had its origins in evangelical students who separated from the SCM in 1910.