Department of Religious Education - Student Work
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official5817
- Date
- 1937 August
- Source
- General Synod. Minutes
- Type
- Resolution
- Text of motion
- In 1931 we called the attention of the General Synod to the importance of the work of Christian education amongst the students of our colleges and universities, and made special reference to the work of the Student Christian Movement.
- Among the recommendations contained in our Report at that time, and which was received favourably by the Synod, was the following, viz:
- "That the Church should be more friendly towards, and co-operate more fully with, the Student Christian Movement in its work in behalf of the religious life of the student body generally."
- The Student Christian Movement is a fellowship of students based on the conviction that in Jesus Christ is found the supreme revelation of God and the means to the full realization of life. It seeks through study, prayer, service and other means to understand and follow Jesus Christ and to unite in its fellowship all students in the colleges of Canada who share the above conviction, together with students who are willing to test the truth of the conviction upon which the Movement is founded.
- Any Christian Society in any University or any place of higher learning in Canada, whose aims are in harmony with the aims of the Movement may become a local unit of the Student Christian Movement of Canada.
- The Movement is directed by a General Committee composed of representatives elected annually by the students and of the officers of the Movement.
- As an evidence of the strength of the Movement, it may be pointed out that between Victoria and Halifax, there are about 17 local units. Summer and Spring Conferences are held annually which, although organized primarily for students in a given area, are also a meeting ground for students, professors, and friends from other areas.
- The Movement is affiliated with the World's Student Christian Federation and appoints representatives to that body.
- The following extract from an editorial, which appeared in one of our Church papers, is a splendid sidelight on the Movement:
- "If a man could pass invisibly through the colleges of the world he might surprise many an earnest group of young men and women who were sitting late into the night to talk of religion...The chances are he would be listening to groups of the Student Christian Movement, one of the most striking and significant phenomenon of the religious world today.
- It is a silent thing this Student Movement. It is not a denomination, it is not a church. It is the loosest of organizations, existing mainly in the colleges of the world. Its members number Christians of all denominations. Its favourite method is study and discussion and, if, at times, it seems heterodox or feeble, dangerous or harmless, it is well to remember that it is vital, that it represents a living interest in religion, that it expresses a craving of youth for religion.
- What will be its outcome?...To many of our clergy and church people, the Movement is only a name; to some it is a dangerous tendency towards unbelief, to others it is a sign of a reviving religious faith amongst the intellectuals...What matters most to the Church today with respect to the Movement is that it should understand it, and meet it on any terms. At their conferences, held yearly, there is always a ready invitation to church speakers to present religion from their own angle, and to speak of faith as they receive it. Youth is interested in religion, and here is a golden opportunity to tell youth of religion."
- It is just because we feel that the Church cannot afford to hold itself aloof from these gatherings that the G.B.R.E. has frequently sent representatives to the Student Christian Movement Conferences, not only to study the Movement itself but, by personal contact with the students, to bring to them that help and guidance which they welcome gladly when it is not forced upon them. It is our hope, in this way, to make some definite contribution to the religious training of those thousands who, today, are to be found seeking the higher education which our colleges and universities are providing so splendidly.
- It is a matter of great gratification that one of the General Secretaries of this Movement is, at the present time, one of our own Clergy, viz, the Reverend Philip Beatty. CARRIED in both Houses.
- Subjects
- Student Christian Movement - Canada
- Church work with students - Anglican Church of Canada
- Universities and colleges - Canada