tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post4083825163885048033..comments2024-03-27T05:50:16.659+00:00Comments on We Mixed Our Drinks: Bristol Christian Union and the "ban" on women speakersHannah Mudgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06367085612049349757noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-63515162503002613492013-09-13T13:44:38.271+01:002013-09-13T13:44:38.271+01:00This will not acceptable, please dont do any thing...This will not acceptable, please dont do any thing against for <a href="http://www.mypublicspeakers.com/womenhistory.php" rel="nofollow"><b>women speakers</b></a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360116935371169716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-81533370996403677042012-12-14T19:44:08.615+00:002012-12-14T19:44:08.615+00:00Akela, based on my experiences with a CU I agree w...Akela, based on my experiences with a CU I agree with you. It's clear that in many cases but not all, a conservative evangelical viewpoint is dominating and being seen as the correct way to do things which is hardly representative of Christians in general. There have been numerous disputes with people and groups who don't sign up to everything the conservatives believe in. It's really problematic. Evangelising is their main priority and as you say, incidents like this one don't help.<br />Hannah Mudgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06367085612049349757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-64827610785698253622012-12-06T06:38:13.399+00:002012-12-06T06:38:13.399+00:00OK, take 2 at this!
Anyway, long time no comment....OK, take 2 at this!<br /><br />Anyway, long time no comment. I do actually read this blog quite regularly and just don't comment very often.<br /><br />Anyway I wanted to comment on this from my particular perspective, ie as a Christian who feels generally disconnected from organised churches and Christianity in general.<br /><br />I agree with much of what you say here and I think that the line BUCU have taken reflects the very insular view taken by many CUs. It was the same when I was a student in Durham. There was an active failure of those that ran DICCU to recognise that they were a coalition of members of different churches. How many churches can you name? Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Southern Baptist Orthodox, Unitarian, Christ Scientists, Mormons, the list goes on and on. And many will have differing views on different aspects of Christianity.<br /><br />Yet the CU leadership fails to recognise it. Back in the late 90s the issue was homosexuality. DICCU proclaimed it to be sinful as an official line without ever once acknowledging that actually no, there were Christians of many demoninations, who simply did not agree. It wasn't that they acknowledged this and disagreed. It was simply ignored.<br /><br />In this case they claim to have recognised the differences on women is similar. I am not familiar with BUCU so have no idea what they publically acknowledged historically. However that a ban on women speakers existed until recently is testament to the fact that clearly, once again, a very conservative view has been allowed to dominate. At the idea that allowing women to speak if they are married is some kind of concession is laughable nonsense.<br /><br />If BUCU was a church my view would be slightly different. If they are a church set up by like minded individual who wish to worship in a certain way then they are welcome to. I would still totally disagree with their views but frankly let them get on with it.<br /><br />But that is not what they are, they are a Union. They are a coming together of members from different churches. And if that is what they are they MUST recognise and make REAL provision for those with differing views. And yes, that does include providing male teaching to those of a conservative view point who want it.<br /><br />And if what they intend to do is evangelise then they MUST look at their image and how they will be portrayed in the eyes of those to who they seek to bring their message. To be so completely at odds with how the rest of society has moved will do precisely zero to do this. All they will do is continue to turn off the likes of me and others off of organised Christianity.<br /><br />In short BUCU have failed on pretty much every level.Akelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11831868310005824686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-74414105633558950932012-12-05T22:34:29.993+00:002012-12-05T22:34:29.993+00:00This was one of two major issues that convinced me...This was one of two major issues that convinced me that while I may have a place in the love of Christ, I definitely was not welcomed or valued in His church. I don't think I'm alone. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18012932678470030819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-58547564520819772842012-12-05T10:44:48.370+00:002012-12-05T10:44:48.370+00:00Thank you for this well thought through response. ...Thank you for this well thought through response. It is sad that most reactions are not well balanced and only polarise the discussion. <br /><br />F.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-40474002098949733412012-12-05T10:37:52.726+00:002012-12-05T10:37:52.726+00:00It's a pity that the Bristol CU (and other CUs...It's a pity that the Bristol CU (and other CUs with the same policy) have not read these two articles by John Walker.<br /><br /><a href="http://botherer.org/2012/11/21/why-the-argument-against-women-in-church-leadership-is-theological-rubbish/" rel="nofollow">Why the argument against women in church leadership is theological rubbish</a> and <br /><a href="http://botherer.org/2012/11/24/the-bible-on-women-in-church-an-update/" rel="nofollow">The Bible on Women in Church - an update</a><br /><br />The Students' Union at Bristol should follow the precedent set by other SUs and bar the Christian Union from membership. This has happened at other universities where the CU is blatantly homophobic, for instance.Yewtreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02028699564003381058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-327544553976967122.post-49458663667864782762012-12-05T09:59:03.955+00:002012-12-05T09:59:03.955+00:00Your reflection resonates with me a lot. There nee...Your reflection resonates with me a lot. There needs to be some serious thinking about what 'middle ground' actually means. An ongoing and difficult story......Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12552478010158348497noreply@blogger.com