Living Up to Our Name, SCM

By SCM Sri Lanka

With regard to movement building, the first question that comes up will be what Student Christian Movement is. The nearest definition would be in terms of the fields of action. SCM is defined as - a student movement; a Christian movement; a socio-political movement; a humanitarian movement.

As a national student movement, we work in schools, universities as well as within the church. Where the schools are concerned, we would like to define ourselves as a forum where students gain a wider knowledge and a very different exposure in comparison with the school curricula. Our aims are for the student community to:

§ have more empowerment through enhancement of

§ Knowledge;

§ have more social awareness;

§ have a clearer understanding of society;

§ take an active stance in the struggles of the students;

§ do a deeper study of Christianity;

§ be a true witness to the society as followers of Christ;

§ discuss the socio-political practices;

§ respond to the social and political trends; and

§ Act in favor of human rights and women's rights.

Vision is a popular term of reference to the SCMers. Sometimes, it becomes just another concept that is handed down from generation to generation. If we do not analyze it carefully, it is likely to lose its significance even as a concept or ideal. As an international movement, we are in need of a subjective, dynamic and universal definition but which could be appropriated into our different situations.

To keep SCM vision alive within the movement, there should be a dialogue at the national and international levels, and both at practical and theoretical levels. Words such as vision, true Christian values, and humanitarian are given many definitions, usually due to our ignorance for we interpret them according to the narrow contexts we are in or the linear paths we tread on. If we are to survive, the ideological stand of our vision should be visualized through day-to-day activities and in long term planning,

Movement building involves the following areas for consideration:

§ Participation;

§ Imbalance of enthusiasm and adherence;

§ Discontinuity or the trend to lose new members;

§ Question of approach;

§ Questions faced in a cultural and religious context ruled by the conventional, traditional, feudal and reactive forces;

§ Questions arising with the freedom to hold different viewpoints in the context of societies influenced by reactive cultural traits, or the ethical substances of feudalism, and questions arising from challenging this blind belief of the cultural and religious dogmas;

§ Questions arising from the social, political, cultural and economic transformations; and

§ Questions regarding fundamentalists based in the universities.

The reasons for the development of fundamentalist groups could be the following: (a) individualistic interpretation of the church's mission which feeds fundamentalist thinking; (b) availability of resources, provision of suitable environment to develop local groups; (c) reluctance of establishment and institutionalization on the part of the SCM in comparison with the willingness of establishment and conversion of members on the part of these groups. For strategies, we need to go back to the basic definition:

+ As a Student Movement —

· Develop the identity of a true student movement;

· Have an active stand in the educational issues;

· Conduct sufficient studies;

· Create awareness among the student community — in schools and universities;

· Coordinate with other student movements in expediting the above;

· Take a stand on struggles for rights of students;

· Discuss and review violent actions;

· Condemn armed violence within universities and create awareness among students on the same.

· Act in a broader perspective, away from the exclusive strata of privileged student communities; and

· Open avenues for students belonging to other religions, not as a form of conversion, but for sustainable and effective operation.

⁺ As a Christian Movement —

· Build up a correct Christian identity founded on a theological base;

· Represent and stand for the true Christian identity, when working with other Christian organizations; and

· Carry the SCM identity, when working with the church and other Christian movements, institutions or organizations.

+ As a Socio-Political Movement —

· Create broader and deeper knowledge among students on social and political issues;

· Create dialogue and discussion on philosophical and sociological issues;

· Coordinate directly with other social and political institutions / organizations, guiding students towards the same.

+ As a Humanitarian Movement —

· Act in favor of human rights and women's rights through discussion, review of chauvinist cultural, religious and social institutions.

· Develop and adopt new and humanitarian approaches in addressing the students, which enhance knowledge and build up wisdom.