For more on the continuing story of the persecution of CU’s in the UK, read what Cranmer has to say here. You might want to check your calendar first to make sure it isn’t the first of April. Any fictional writer who came up with a story line like this would be laughed out of court (except for the fact that some of our court officials seem to be mad as the proverbial hatters).
Mark Shaw QC, the independent adjudicator appointed by Exeter University, strongly criticised the Constitution of Exeter CU because it restricted the membership to Christians, despite the fact its meetings were open to everyone – of all faiths and none. He held it discriminatory that the CU should be run by Christians and held that the Guild policies in forcing the CU to be led by members open to other faiths was ‘laudable’. He concluded that Muslims should be able not only to attend meetings, but also to lead the Christian Union. Cranmer looks forward to the counter assertion, yet to be brought, that a Christian should be permitted to lead the Mohammedans’ Friday prayers.
4 replies on “Muslims Should be Allowed to Lead Christian Unions.”
I wonder what would happen if a Muslim were allowed to lead a Christian Union, which would be allowed to include “agree[ing] to the objectives of the CU” such as promoting Christianity and evangelism. I suspect that any such Muslim would be considered an apostate for doing so and would be in danger of his or her life.
Maybe Muslims should be allowed to lead Christian Unions. They could then learn the Bible etc. After all, sinners get to lead all sorts of things!
Universities could start Society Swap, when the leaders of one group go to lead another group. I think that could be very eye opening. Certainly would increase communication.
Besides, you can’t lead a group and then change it to something else… that just doesn’t work.
Sorry, am rambling. Partly because I keep changing my own opinion about the whole fiasco. I just feel sorry for the students who are involved, on all sides.
Hi. I’m a student at Exeter, and a Christian, and I have been really disappointed about how this story has been spread on the Internet. Every account I have seen has been inaccurate. I don’t even know where to start.
The problem was the CU kept violating it’s contract with the Guild in a way most Christian students were uncomfortable with. The situation is complex, but what started it is that most self-professed Christians were barred from holding any leadership in the society. Ben Martin also tried to sue every other student member of the CU, but I never see that part of the story told. There is a whole lot more to this story than is known – it’s not a case of Christian victimization though.
Chris, is the point that leaders were expected to accept the UCCF Statement of Faith, a long standing policy of Christian Unions, or were more restrictive conditions imposed on leaders?
The CU is not for “all Christians” and has never been intended as such. It is for evangelicals, and that is its aim, whether explicit or not. It is quite reasonable to ask them to add “Evangelical” to their name to clarify this. And in that case it is quite reasonable for leadership, and indeed membership, to be restricted to evangelicals, the group for which the society is intended.