Think Tank Recommends Conciliatory Tactics For British Christian Student Groups

In Britain, evangelical Christian student groups, known as Christian Unions, find themselves in disputes on a number of college campuses with Students' Unions, the bodies that determine whether a student group will have access to campus facilities and financial support. The Christian think tank Ekklesia has just issued a report titled "United We Stand? A Report on Current Conflicts Between Christian Unions and Students' Unions". The report recommends a strategy that is at odds with that taken by Christian student groups facing similar issues on U.S. campuses-- do not take confrontational legal action; instead try mediation. If that fails, consider operating with funding from religious groups or other sources. Christian student groups that wish to belong to Students' Unions should open themselves to democratic elections, but with safeguards to prevent infiltration by non-Christian groups. A Christian Union should use a broad statement of values for its members, instead of a narrow doctrinal one. Or else it should change its name to reflect its narrower focus. Yesterday's Guardian Unlimited summarized the report.