The Third Degree

The Christian Union (CU) at Exeter University hit national headlines recently by becoming the first ever CU to take legal action against its student association. The committee of the group filed papers against the Student Guild at the university on January 5, claiming that the university has denied them freedom of speech, belief and association.

The legal action comes after the 50-year-old CU was suspended from the official list of student societies on campus, had its Student Union bank account frozen, and was banned from free use of Student Guild premises and advertising facilities. Exeter Student Guild claims that the CU’s constitution and activities do not conform to its Equal Opportunities Policies, which have been introduced only recently.

Mainstream Christianity?

Initially the Guild had forced the CU to change its name to the ‘Evangelical Christian Union’, alleging that the group was not broadly representative of mainstream Christian belief. When the CU argued that it stood for widely held orthodox Christian positions, the Guild demanded that it amend its constitution, accept the name change and disaffiliate from UCCF on threat of expulsion. The CU disputed the Guild’s ruling and served a Letter Before Action on the University’s Registrar, advising that proceedings would commence unless the Exeter Christian Union was fully re-instated as a student society by the Guild with full rights and was allowed to call itself the Christian Union.

Legal action a last resort

The Guild refused to reinstate the CU, who has, therefore, advised them that their action will be taken under the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Education (No.2) Act 1986. Ben Martin, a member of the CU committee said: ‘Legal action was the very last thing we wanted to take. We are all students trying to concentrate on our studies, but the action by the Guild, in blatant infringement of our rights, and their reluctance to reinstate us, has left us with no alternative.’

The Guild had suggested to the CU that mediation and negotiation might help, but the CU is adamant that when it comes to fundamental human rights. ‘There is nothing to mediate or negotiate about’, said Mr. Martin. The students have said that if the Guild were to reinstate the CU as a full society, they would willingly look afresh at how its Equal Opportunities Policies related to religious societies. Thus far the Guild has refused to back down.

The CU expects the first hearing of the case in the High Court in London around March/April. They will be represented by leading civil rights barrister Paul Diamond, and are hoping the court will quash the Guild’s decision to suspend the CU.

As other CUs around the country face similar treatment by their student associations (notably in Edinburgh and Birmingham), Exeter’s legal action is a significant test case. The story has gained a great deal of attention from the national press, taking the front page of The Times (November 18 2006), as well as being featured on BBC 1’s Six O’Clock News and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The outcome of this case will have weighty implications for all CUs around the country as well as many other Christian ministries. The issue at stake is not simply the presence of confessional Christian societies on university campuses, but of the freedom to preach the gospel openly, and to meet together in the name of Christ.

Precedent for gospel freedom

The ruling of the High Court will set a precedent in every context of gospel ministry; either allowing evangelism and proclamation to continue, or gravely damaging the church’s liberty to speak for Christ in the world. While taking legal action is a difficult and un-pleasant path to take, the Christian students at Exeter University see that the gospel is paramount and are willing to stand up publicly for its sake. Their action now not only affects their short years in university, but may influence the opportunity of many later generations to hear the good news of Jesus Christ explained to them.

Please support the Christian Union at Exeter by praying for them as they make a stand for Christ: they would value your prayers. You can also give financially to the Christian Union Freedom Fund which will help UCCF support students in their fight to preserve freedom to preach the gospel on campus.

For more information on prayer and giving, please contact Jema Ball in the UCCF office on 0116 204 7694. Also keep checking http://www.uccf.org.uk for updates and suggestions on how you can support CUs (for example, supporting the Early Day Motion in Parliament).

Exeter CU to take Guild to court

Mainstream Christianity?

Legal action a last resort

Precedent for gospel freedom

Daniel Hames

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