The Enemy Within: Confusion on college campuses

[British One]

Unless you are a Christian student, living on a university campus, you will be unaware of the current fiasco that Christian students face at this moment in time, and have been facing for the past 7-8 years.

For over 125 years, Christian Union's around the UK have been the main source of support for Christians away from home, and the only organisation that fulfils the need for evangelism to UK students. Supported by UCCF (Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship) the CU has impacted on many many lives, and helped produce generations of church leaders.

In 1996, a new organisation was set up with the name 'Fusion'. With the support of Christian leaders like Phil Wall (Salvation Army); Rev Joel Edwards (Evangelical Alliance); Steve Chalke (Oasis); Clive Calver (World Relief); J. John (Philo Trust); Mike Pilavachi (Soul Survivor) and John Burns (Youth for Christ) - it looked like a fantastic opportunity for finally the CU to be supported by a well financed national organisation.

According to their website*, Fusion would come to a university campus 'if invited'. They would 'serve 'CU's, Chaplaincies and local Churches' and 'provide Cell Group material, training and a mechanism to channel the investment of local Christian leaders into the students through our Associate network.' They also said; 'Fusion is not a new 'Christian Institution. We do not have a large staff or set ourselves up in isolation. Our aim is to provide cutting edge resources and a model of operation to; 1) strengthen the effort of those already working with students, 2) to act as a catalyst so that more is done to encourage and disciple students.'

Quite clearly Fusion attempted to revive college and university campuses up and down the country, filling students with the knowledge of God and what he did for them. But unfortunately for many Christian Union's they didn't find the support they desperately needed - they found competition.

In this article, I can only talk from the experience of the higher education college I attend in the North West, and the comments I have received from other CU's around the country. I can't name my college because I want to protect certain individuals privacy but I can assure you that the following words are true, and have not been embellished or exaggerated.

When Fusion first came to my university it was a shock to start with because it was a former CU Exec member who started the group. With support from the local Community church the Fusion leader set up some small groups, and attracted a small number of Christians to these. Some communication with the CU was maintained but most of Fusion's meetings and events were advertised and planned without the knowledge of the CU. Instead of being on campus to 'strengthen the effort of those already working with students' they actually created competition, and created confusion among non-christians.

I don't want to talk about Fusion's theology in this article, as it was covered in detail by an article written in Evangelical Now (March 2003) by Rupert Evans former President of CICCU (Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union).** But I do want to cover the difficulties and problems Fusion has caused at my college since it arrived last year. I also want to bring attention to some of the practices that Fusion enforces in its cell group meetings, and question whether Fusion is competent in its approach to Christian support on campus.

Points of conflict and concern:

- Fusion meetings are single sex. Men and women are split up into separate cells. If Fusion were left as the only Christian campus organisation, guys and girls would never meet to worship God together. The CU meets for a worship meeting once a week, with everyone together – men and women can learn from each other and pray for each other.

- The Fusion men’s meeting was moved to a Monday night, the same night that the Christian Union meets and has met for many years - bringing obvious conflict.

- The men who go to both the CU and Fusion were told by Fusion to make a choice between the organisations. Fusion wanted total commitment. The CU has always been happy for members to attend both meetings.

- One member of the CU Exec was asked by a Fusion leader to leave the CU and join Fusion. Of course he declined. This one act alone shows that Fusion is not here to support the CU, but is in direct competition with the CU.

- One member of Fusion was asked at a meeting to pray out loud. He told the leader that he would prefer to pray in quiet because he wasn’t very confident. The leader told him that he would "let him off this time" but next time he would expect it to be different.

- Fusion has continually pushed for its members to attend Frontline church in Liverpool (the Fusion church headquarters of the North West). This is a charismatic church and many Christians attending my college are not charismatic. The CU is open to all denominations and does not put one church denomination over others – we help all members choose which local church they want to go to.

- The Fusion group is not run by students. It is not a democracy and its members do not get a say in the way it is run. The CU involves all students in both leadership and planning. Young people are trained in leadership skills to lead CU’s – thus creating the future church leaders. Because Fusion is led by outside individuals it is open to both unbiblical teaching; and a taught doctrine which could lead a student into thinking that this one taught doctrine is the only one that should be thought of as correct. The CU remains independent of contraversial topics like spiritual gifts, women preachers etc and encourages its members to read the bible for themselves, whilst thinking and interpreting the text under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing I want more, than for students on college campuses to realise the everlasting love that God has for them, and the fantastic changes that Jesus Christ brings to an individuals life. As far as I'm concerned living for Christ is the best way to live, and the only way to gain eternal life. So it saddens me a great deal when the gospel message is confused for non-christians attending higher education.

One non-christian at my college actually asked me why their were 2 Christian societies on campus. I struggled to find an answer to her question because in all honesty, I don't know why Fusion did show up.

I pray that the situation on campuses around the UK will change and that for the moment these two organisations will find a way to work together, and support each other. If this doesn't happen immediately then the work of both organisations will fail in their aims, because they will be too busy fighting with each other. I'm told by many people that unity is the answer to solving the Fusion problem. I believe they are correct, but I feel that sometimes unity is only achieved after a period of disunity - a time when both organisations can speak freely (without fear of offending the opposite side) about how they feel, and what they think is best for the future of Christian students around the UK.

In my mind the future can only be secured with the removal of Fusion from university campuses.

Regards,

J. Techilovsky
Former CU Leader


* http://www.fusion.uk.com
** http://www.e-n.org.uk/Fusion.htm

 

[welshchick]

thats pretty awful in my opinion. no christian organisation should do that. i will pray that i will be sorted out, and that both the CU and Fusion will be able to work together to the glory of God. I know how important CU's are to Christian students, and thsi Fusion group does not seem to be doing anyone any favours.

 

[theFijian]

I am no longer in uni but was involved in the CU exec when I was studying and UCCF were an amazing support to us in terms of guidance, wise counsel and resources. About a year ago my minister alerted me to what Fusion were up to and it was his opinion that it was an extremely worrying development. Pray for the UCCF support workers in the universities!

cheers,

Andy

 

[British One]

Pray for the UCCF support workers in the universities!

Absolutely Andy. UCCF are overstretched and underfunded. Churches send their money overseas and forget that the future leaders of this country need the good news of Jesus presented to them at university.

 

[Tangnefedd]

Hi Techie, Any movement that wants single sex cells stinks in my opinion, and could be challenged under the sex descrimination act, couldn't it?

 

[ed_m]

could be challenged under the sex descrimination act, couldn't it?

i doubt it, cos it's voluntary thing..?


there have always been different groups operating within universities, where i was there was:
the CU
a local student based church
chinese christian fellowship
cathsoc
methsoc
other church cell groups.

luckily mostly with a common goal as you'd expect but not without friction at times.
and the proliferation of groups was already confusing to those outside of them.

i was about when the fusion thing started up, and the support & resources were very good, and useful. from the original remit of fusion i don't recall anything about setting their own groups up.

obviously i can't comment on the particular situation but there is usually an amount of speck/plank on both sides.

 

[Tangnefedd]

Even if it is voluntary it could still be challenged, all men's clubs are having problems keeping women out. Even the hallowed portals of the WI may have to admit men!

 

[The Midge]

And pose on the calendars ???

The seem to be doing a group of each which may not be considered discriminatory.

We also had "Navigators" meetings whilst I was studying in Edinburgh. Whilst having a fresh slant and impetus may be a good thing but it should be done with cooperation at the local level. I did a year out in Louisianna. There were so many fragmented little groups from almost every denomination that there was no over all group capable of making a real impact across the campus.

 

[CJ.23]

Our local CU appears to me, as a non-member (i'm not a Student anymore) to have suffered from a local Church setting up it's own Student Ministry. But in our case the Fusion movement and CU seem to be cooperating very well? I am too far removed from the debate to be able to pass any useful comment, but I will say that I love and will pray for the contuing strength and growth of the Christian Union movement, even though I was briefly involved with the SCM which reflected a liberal stance when our CU seemed a little too Charismatic for some of us, about 15 years ago. My gues is local conditions vary. I'm not sure the phrase 'The Enemy Within' used in the title is actually very helpful!

cj x

 

[British One]

I'm not sure the phrase 'The Enemy Within' used in the title is actually very helpful!

cj x

If they are getting in the way of the gospel being spread (either whilst realising it or not) are they indeed not the enemy?

 

[CJ.23]

Well, perhaps. I read the critique of the movement, but in some cases they appear to work well with the existing CU. And while the CU always say it is non-denominational, it odes really require a commitment to a single model of Atonement. I happen to agree with the theology in question, but I am not convinced that a genuinely non-denominational organisation can actually restrict itself to one doctrinal interpretation of the Atonement, and in the past the CU has in our locality represented a fairly Charismatic emphasis, at variance with my own position.

cj x

 

[ed_m]

i also found the OP a little too filled with emotive language to be totally objective.

 

[British One]

...and in the past the CU has in our locality represented a fairly Charismatic emphasis, at variance with my own position.

cj x

Although this is clearly your own personal experience of the CU, and I fully accept that, it is unusual for the CU to be seen as charismatic. More often than not the CU is blamed for being too conservative. Fusion on the other hand is linked much more with the charismatic movement than any CU I've ever been to. Fusion's main source of income is through the Community church, a charismatic denomination.

i also found the OP a little too filled with emotive language to be totally objective.

Isn't the salvation of students something we should be emotive and passionate about? I know how frustrating it can be when you've worked so hard for the Lord on a campus and then a new group come in and cause disunity amongst the christian community.

 

[Yahweh Nissi]

I agree that that is a crucial topic British, but it is important to avoid language that might unecessarily cause hurt and damage the cause of unity. This is a difficult issue and one that must be discussed and delt with sensitively.

I am in my third year at Oxford University and have been a CU member (OICCU - Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union) from the start. There is a Fussion group in Oxford, based at OCC (Oxford Community Church). I know at least two people who go to OCC, and they are both wonderful, commited, loving Christians and both were CU college reps at the same time as I was. There are dissagrements between the OICCU and Fusion on some issues and there is perhaps a little tension at times but we really try to work together. The pastor of OCC was invited to speak at an OICCU meeting this term and spoke really well. OICCU pulicised a big prayer and praise event Fusion put on and Fusion were supportive of the OICCU mission.

I do not agree with a fair bit that Fusion has done in Oxford, but then I may be wrong. They have also certianly been a very great blessing to the Universtiy and the whole city in many ways.

God bless,
YN.

 

[ed_m]

our CU was also considered charismatic.

 

[shout2thelord]

well are CU is not involved with fusion only UCCF and its a bloody nightmare to be honest its the sort of place that you would keep anyone interested in christianity away from. many of the students arent connected to church there is an average attendance of 6-8 usually different people each week. The discussions get no where because of the denominational differences sum which are just really abscure. we seem to have had people who say there christian but dont beleive that Jesus is the son of God. well basically i could go on forever. But the local church i go to has started to get involved and run Bible studies which have been good because that means there is some structure and stability to what goes on and there is good teaching and commitment. so where fianlly getting somewhere but im leaving soon

 

[British One]

well are CU is not involved with fusion only UCCF and its a bloody nightmare to be honest its the sort of place that you would keep anyone interested in christianity away from. many of the students arent connected to church there is an average attendance of 6-8 usually different people each week. The discussions get no where because of the denominational differences sum which are just really abscure. we seem to have had people who say there christian but dont beleive that Jesus is the son of God. well basically i could go on forever. But the local church i go to has started to get involved and run Bible studies which have been good because that means there is some structure and stability to what goes on and there is good teaching and commitment. so where fianlly getting somewhere but im leaving soon

Why don't you do something about then my friend!! You're 20, you're an adult, you're a Christian - and I presume you have a bible. What else do you need?

Don't leave it to someone else to pick up the pieces, but have a go yourself! I really want to encourage you to try and get some like minded Christians meeting together and then see how it goes. If you're not sure about how a society should run, ask for help from your SU - that's what they are there for.

If your CU really is in a total shambles then contact your local UCCF branch and get someone to come down and talk to you about what to do next. UCCF are very much under-funded, and very busy - but once you get hold of the support it is amazing how much having a mature Christian at hand can help.

If you need advice or want to talk to someone about running a CU, PM me. I've been a CU leader for 3 years now.

 

[shout2thelord]

There is already one CU we have already been told we would be kicked out of uni if any of us met togther as christians on campus apart from the christian union. I was a new christian a became a christian in my first yr in Nov and boycotted christian union after that cos it was so difficult to get to and i had a lot i needed to know about being a christian and they werent helpful - we have to campuses and the CU was always run on the opposite campus to what i was one - this has been well debated. Anyhow my church yoputh group were i had just become a christian ran on the same night it was in the same town and people went out of their way to get me there. i really grew as a christian there and learned how to use my spiritual gifts. By my second yr i felt i had grew enough to brave christian union. Though as i had still been a christian less than a year i was still quite immature in the way i sometimes said things. I am passionate for God and at the time i just saw people living such lose lifestyles and at first just said it how it was and offended practically every1. though by the end of the year most people were dissatisfied and many of the likeminded christians left CU. I had started to understand why some of the other christians at CU behaved why they did many were hurt or confused and looking to alcohol instead of God. At that point i knew how i could help some of them but then the 2nd yr finished and many people left.
This year i started with pasion to see new christians there and they were somewhat more organised than last year (they dont like my veiws so i couldnt be a leader and i dont think they think ive been a christian long enough). but it looked to be improving but they are still resistant to any kind of change and my life just hit crazy point. My dad died before christmas and my mum ided when i was 16 so im trying to finish a degree and sell the house, check up on my younger sister (15), go to inquests, talk to the soliceter, manage my finances and catch up on the work im behind on.
Unfortunately at the minute a failing CU is not my main worry - really im fed up of struggling with it. UCCF have been in berfore a few times but have no problem with it.

 

[ed_m]

bless you shout2thelord.

i think you have enough on your plate without trying to co-ordinate students (herding cats anyone?).. but i'd be interested to know who would kick you off campus?.. i know of at least one university that had a CU split resulting in two seperate groups.

nice quotes too.

 

[CJ.23]

There is already one CU we have already been told we would be kicked out of uni if any of us met togther as christians on campus apart from the christian union..

OK, this is wrong. I'm not accusing you of being wrong: they may have actually implied this - but as a former NUS worker and with 14 years experience of Student Union societies - they simply can't do that! -

a) You can not expel a student for an offence against the SU. That would be a university matter, not an NUS matter. Even if you blatantly broke NUS rules, we would expel you from the NUS,not from the University.

b) Each NUS at each University has a constitution. So long as you meet the minimum requirements to register as an SU society, and do not break any of the anti-discrimination and poublic order rules, you can forma Christian group today. Often you will require 15 or so memmbers to sign a proposal, a cosntitution, and a meeting with the Societies officer. I'll gladly help you work through this.

c) If the Su does not allow you to form your society, I will cheerfully speak to the President, and the president of the NUS on your behalf if need be. I am an Honourary Lifetime Member of the NUS, and will certainly defend your right to form a Christian group on Campus. If you private message me I will give you my contact details.

However, as a Christian, I would strongly advise you to not set up a rival organisation, but join the existing one... that is become involved in the Christian Union.

I was a new christian a became a christian in my first yr in Nov and boycotted christian union after that cos it was so difficult to get to and i had a lot i needed to know about being a christian and they werent helpful - we have to campuses and the CU was always run on the opposite campus to what i was one - this has been well debated. Anyhow my church yoputh group were i had just become a christian ran on the same night it was in the same town and people went out of their way to get me there. i really grew as a christian there and learned how to use my spiritual gifts. By my second yr i felt i had grew enough to brave christian union. Though as i had still been a christian less than a year i was still quite immature in the way i sometimes said things. I am passionate for God and at the time i just saw people living such lose lifestyles and at first just said it how it was and offended practically every1. though by the end of the year most people were dissatisfied and many of the likeminded christians left CU. I had started to understand why some of the other christians at CU behaved why they did many were hurt or confused and looking to alcohol instead of God. At that point i knew how i could help some of them but then the 2nd yr finished and many people left.

Hey sister, I think we all experience frustrations at some of our Christian Fellowships. I have long since realised I can be wrong, and have decided to humbly accept others may see things wrong with me that I can't see. Did you raise your problems with them? I see you say you offended people - it could just be you need to pray about what you would like to achieve, and then try and see their position? I very much doubt you have! And if you did, maybe they needed rebuking! If you were in my CU I would try and make you a leader because of your obvious passion and enthusiasm. If you did not offend anyone I would be more worried!

I'm sorry you are not happy there though. Unfortunately when large numbers of Christians desert a CU it does not help to reach the others in the university - and bear in mind it is possible that some of the teachings of your church could be in error as well, and may not necessarily reflect ALL Christian practice? There are many ways to respond to the lord - I can't stand choruses for example, they make me want to murder not praise, but I love Liturgy. However my theology is Evangelical, and I love the warmth of the Charismatic Spirit filled churches - I just personally can't relate to the worship. So I say listen, and try to bring your voice within the CU - it's your best chance to reach out and avoid a Christian ghetto.

This year i started with pasion to see new christians there and they were somewhat more organised than last year (they dont like my veiws so i couldnt be a leader and i dont think they think ive been a christian long enough). but it looked to be improving but they are still resistant to any kind of change and my life just hit crazy point. My dad died before christmas and my mum ided when i was 16 so im trying to finish a degree and sell the house, check up on my younger sister (15), go to inquests, talk to the soliceter, manage my finances and catch up on the work im behind on.
Unfortunately at the minute a failing CU is not my main worry - really im fed up of struggling with it. UCCF have been in berfore a few times but have no problem with it..

Your circumstances are exceptional, and I do hope you find support in your Church and among spirit filled Christians who will love and assist you.
Perhaps some of your fellow Christian Students from the church could arrange a cooperative mission, trying to reach out with the CU to the whole university?

Anyway take care, and pm me if you ever need help with Student Union stuff or if I have offended you, so i can humbly apologise!

cj x