The Third Degree

Christian Unions (CUs) have been at the heart of Britain’s universities for over 78 years, proclaiming the gospel and giving non-Christians the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Many CUs enjoy positive relationships with their Students’ Unions or guilds. Recently, however, some CUs have been criticised and banned by their Student Guilds. At the centre of these disputes is the need for Christian students to have the freedom to meet together, and express their historic beliefs which are increasingly rejected by secular society.

The controversy at Edinburgh University has revolved around UCCF’s PURE course which is designed to help Christian students engage with the biblical teaching on sexuality and relationships. What is the PURE course? Why is there so much debate over its content? How is it being used by students on their campuses?

An issue of concern

I spoke to the author of PURE, UCCF Team Leader Linda Marshall, who explained how the course began. ‘About four-and-a-half years ago, I was approached by the President of a CU who asked if we could do something on the biblical view of sex and relationships. He said that there were things going on in the CU, such as people falling away from faith due to going out with non-Christians, or others struggling to stay pure in their relationships. He said it felt like the issue was everywhere, but there was little on the market to help students with it.’

The only weekly time available for this pilot group to meet was at 7.30 on a Monday morning — not ideal for attracting large numbers of students! Nonetheless, Linda came prepared with her newly-written material and some breakfast: a loaf of bread for some toast and a pint of milk for a few hot drinks. When 97 students arrived, eager to begin, not only did they need more bread, but they were convinced that they had stumbled upon a pertinent need! This was clearly an issue that concerned many Christian students.

Linda explained that initial feedback from the course was very positive: ‘People said that they were so glad to hear something more than the yearly “relationships” talk at their youth group. They appreciated the chance to not only hear how they ought to live, but have the Bible opened in order to understand why they ought to live that way.’

From this point on, as the course was developed and honed, other CUs around the country asked after the material Linda had written, and soon PURE was being used in churches, and youth groups around the country — an organic growth that Linda says was ‘an accident’.

From God’s point of view

It is clear that the area of sex and relationships is a pressure point for many Christian students today. PURE aims to seek out what God’s Word says on this issue and help readers apply these truths to their own lives and relationships. It sets out to explore biblical teaching so that young Christians are able to balance out the pressures of living in today’s culture and the desire to be godly in relationships. Many students in CUs have found the course to be exceptionally helpful.

‘I expected the course to be all about sex and sexual purity. It turned out to be even more practical and applicable to everyday life’ — L, third year student.

‘This course has covered all I thought it would and far more — it was great to hear stuff from God’s point of view and get challenged from His Word’ — A, first year student.

‘There were a lot of things that challenged me in the course and made me really think about the way I love; how I view other people, marriage, singleness, God’s plan for men and women’ — M, third year student.

PURE in Edinburgh

Though PURE is clearly a huge success among its Christian readers, the course has been banned by Edinburgh University and its Students’ Guild who claim that it promotes homophobia and intolerance. I spoke to Laura Stirrat, vice-president of Edinburgh University Christian Union, who explained how the course has been received there.

‘We found out about the PURE course from our staff worker, and ran a pilot course in May 2006. We thought it was so good that we decided we’d definitely do it again. So we planned the course, booked rooms and arranged times. The Student newspaper then published an article which badly misrepresented parts of the course and there was outcry from students. So shortly after the article was published, the CU was banned from holding the course on campus.’

The CU was forced to change the venue for PURE at the last minute. Laura commented: ‘There’s been really positive feedback from the course. We have learned so much about God’s grace because PURE is so accessible and focused on practical things. We would definitely maintain that the course is not homophobic, even though the university has deemed it so. It’s a chance for Christians to study the Bible together and discuss the truth about relationships.’

To find out more about PURE, go to http://www.ivpbooks.com/pure. PURE is also available from all good Christian bookshops.

PURE controversy

An issue of concern

From God’s point of view

PURE in Edinburgh

Daniel Hames, UCCF

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