Student Christian Movement of Canada
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The Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM Canada) is an ecumenical and interfaith Canadian network of student collectives engaged in spirituality, progressive social justice issues, and building community.
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[edit] History
In 1895, leaders from North American and European countries established and united national SCMs within the first international student organization, the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).
Twenty-six years later, in 1921, SCM Canada was founded and incorporated into the WSCF.
Like its international counterpart, SCM Canada has had a complex history of fluctuations in membership, influence, and activity since its inception. It has felt the affects of the rise and decline of the ecumenical movement, the turbulence of the 1960s student movements, the mid-twentieth century shift in balance of power from liberal to evangelical Christian conservatism, the pressures of maintaining unity across the spectrum of Christianity and the tension between a theological study focus and a social activism focus.
[edit] Structure
SCM Canada is a grassroots organization composed of autonomous local unit collectives that associate with each other regionally and nationally. The national body of the movement is associated with regional bodies of the WSCF.
[edit] Local
University students run local unit collectives based on consensus decision-making that is facilitated by at least one Local Unit Coordinator or Animator. Local units are often allied with campus chaplains, other social activist and/or spiritual/religious groups on campus, and local organizations beyond the academy.
[edit] Regional
For the purposes of inter-regional communication and organizing, local unit collectives fall within one of three regions; Western, Central, or Eastern. Each region elects two representatives at National Council to act as liaisons between regional local units and the National Board of Directors.
The Western Region consists of all collectives west of Ontario.
The Central Region consists of all collectives in Ontario and Quebec.
The Eastern Region consists of all collectives east of Quebec.
[edit] National
All SCM members who attend National Conference (usually every May) comprise the National Council of SCM Canada. National Council is the highest decision-making body of SCM Canada. The National Council elects and empowers a National Board of Directors to continue the Movement's business throughout the year.
Two National Coordinators facilitate the work of the local unit collectives and board members throughout the year from a National Office in Toronto, Ontario.
[edit] International
SCM Canada is part of the North American Region of the WSCF.
The WSCF North American Region includes SCM Canada and the Student Christian Movement of the United States of America. Its Regional Office is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Inter-Regional Office of the WSCF is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
[edit] Local Unit Collectives
SCM Canada has eleven collectives currently operating across the country.
[edit] Western Region
- University of Manitoba
- University of Saskatchewan
- University of Victoria
- University of Winnipeg
[edit] Central Region
- Carleton University
- Concordia University
- University of Toronto
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- York University
[edit] Eastern Region
- Halifax
- Memorial University
[edit] See also
Affiliated Organizations
Affiliated Churches
Allied Movements
Ideologies & Philosophies
- Christian anarchism
- Christian communism
- Christian feminism
- Christian left
- Christian socialism
- Ecumenism
- Environmentalism
- Liberation theology
- Postmodern Christianity
- Progressive Christianity
- Social Gospel
- Social justice
[edit] External links
International
National
Local Units (Western Region)
Local Units (Central Region)
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