New Ecumenical Campus Organization Formed
Diocesan Press Service. October 3, 1966 [47-8]
Theologians have written much about "death and rebirth" in the last few years, but rarely does one see such a clear example of what this means as at the recent meeting of the National Student Christian Federation. At that meeting the N.S.C.F. voted itself out of existence and reconstituted itself into a wider, more encompassing new national organization, the University Christian Movement.
This new organization includes two national Roman Catholic campus groups, the National Federation of Catholic College Students and the National Newman Students Federation, and the Orthodox campus groups. Among former N. S. C. F. members participating in the formation of the new organization was the National Canterbury Committee. The Young Friends, a Quaker group which was only "related" to the N.S.C.F., became a full member of the new organization; while the National Student YMCA retained its "related" status. Membership will also be open to local and regional ecumenical groups.
The U.C.M. hopes to continue as the World Student Christian Federation member for the U.S., as well as a related movement in the National Council of Churches. It also voted to seek membership in Pax Romana International.
The Articles of Operation were designed to provide a "flexible and relatively uncomplicated structure through which the new relationships could be explored," according to Leon Howell, N.S.C.F. secretary for study resources and publications. They provide for an annual assembly which all interested persons can attend. Officers will be elected by the assembly with each national group having five votes, regional groups, three, and local groups, two votes. In keeping with the U.C.M.'s stated concern for foreign students in this country, one-sixth of the general committee, or final governing body, will be students from outside the U.S.
In explaining the new organization, the Preamble to the Articles of Operation states that "The University Christian Movement will be a new chapter in a continuing history." It also makes clear, however, that "Outmoded structures have been shaken, the debris is being cleared and we hope that these Articles of Operation will provide at least a temporary arena in which members of the academic community can listen to, speak to, and serve their fellows in the University, the Church, and the rest of God's world."