Overcoming violence in the Context of Neo-colonialism

When:  October 8-11, 2010
Where:  TBD
Who:  Student Christian Movement USA

Launch Conference: Overcoming violence in the Context of Neo-colonialism

This event will mark the official launch of the resurrected Student Christian Movement USA (SCM USA), which will provide unique opportunities to students and young adults from across the USA as a student-led, grassroots social justice-oriented ecumenical movement.

The WSCF-NA launched its new phase of existence at an event held in San Francisco on January 29 -February 1, 2009. The conference, whose theme was “Raising New Prophets, Arising of a Movement” engaged approximately eighty students in analyzing student activism from a faith perspective and in envisioning as a group the building of a prophetic movement in North America committed to progressive social change, building peace among nations, fostering economic opportunities for everybody and promoting racial, environmental and gender justice. The former Student Christian Movement in the US called itself out of existence in 1969 and, although various attempts at reviving the student ecumenical movement in this country were made, it was not until early the San Francisco conference that a solid plan to revamp the SCM USA was made. Students gathered at the event in San Francisco were energized by the legacy bestowed upon them and the possibilities such a movement could offer.  Campus ministers saw new opportunities for radical ecumenism on campus and to draw students who are hungry for connecting faith and justice from a global and ecumenical perspective. Senior friends witnessed to the rebirth of a movement they had hoped to see happen again for many years and committed themselves to supporting the birth of an SCM in the USA, which so much had given to their lives.

Following the conference in San Francisco, a Steering Committee has been at work to lead the rebirth of the SCM USA and to ensure its full affiliation to the World Student Christian Federation by 2012. Planned around Columbus Day Weekend, the event will encourage students to address the issue of violence in the context of globalization, racism and neo-colonialism and will explore how Christian students can oppose systemic violence as part of a growing justice movement in the US.