University of Toronto SCM at a rally for accessible education

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University of Toronto SCM at a rally for
accessible education
www.scmcanada.org
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SCM's 'Liberation Cross'
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Our Vision

• SCM is a student youth-led movement passionate
  about justice, community spirituality.
• Our vision is to realize liberation and justice
  in this world by engaging the prophetic teachings
  of the revolutionary Jesus of Nazareth.

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Some Quotes About SCM

• Generation after generation, the SCM manages to
  recreate a radical space for transformation.
• -Joelle Morgan, Roman Catholic (SCM Senior Friend
  and World Student Christian Federation
  representative, 2004-8)?

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Some Quotes about SCM

• We're unified in our passion for justice, for
  working in solidarity with those who are
  oppressed, and also in our faith... I'm really
  excited to see the movement grow and keep going.
• -Bre Woligroski (left), Evangelical, elected
  National Representative (2007-8)?

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Some Quotes about SCM

• As someone who does not connect to notions of
  the divine... I have found community committed to
  celebration resistance grounded in long wisdom
  traditions.
• -Matt Abbott, Atheist (SCM National Board Eastern
  Rep, 2007-8)?

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Our History
Founding National Conference

• SCM was founded in 1921 out of the YMCA and the
  global ecumenical (Christian unity) movement. A
  motto was Putting Justice Into Faith.

Ecumenism Inter-denominational movement for
Christian unity, peace justice
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1920s

• Winnipeg General Strike labour movement brought
  churchpeople to the streets with workers
• Social gospel movement born (saw church as
  concerned with social change, Bible in a societal
  context)?

Unionists at the Winnipeg General Strike, 1919
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1930s
Work Camp poster, with SCM elected president Jean
Baynton, 1938

• SCM starts Student in Industry work camps,
  working in factories, unionizing sharing
  everything in common, co-ed community.
• Women were leaders of the movement

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1930-40s

• The Rev. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German SCMer
  prominent opponent of the Nazi Party, relied on
  SCM channels to communicate with the rest of the
  world before his execution.
• Founded dissident Confessional Church

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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1940s

• SCM protests the internment (imprisonment) of
  Japanese-Canadians during WWII, one of the only
  organizations to oppose this policy.
• Movement accused of supporting the enemy in
  wartime

Arrest notice prison camp in BC
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1950s

• SCM Canada works openly towards peace justice
  during the Cold War and is infiltrated by RCMP,
  accused of communism.
• Sometimes both the communists and the SCM are
  going in the same direction but for different
  reasons -Tom Walden, UBC SCM, 1949

Early Canoe graphic from book on SCM history
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1960s

• 1967 SCM registers as an organization in Canada
  for the propagation of the Gospel and
  evangelism.
• 1968 General Council embarks on radicalization
  of SCM (evangelism as justice-making)?
• Open discussions of sexual diversity gender
  justice

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1970s

• R.I.P. SCM?
• In the face of thoughtful Evangelicalism, SCM
  died
• - David Virtue in The End of an Era

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1970s

• Liberation Theology erupts, proclaiming Gods
  preferential option for the poor
• SCM active worldwide in post-1968 global
  transformation and social movements (student
  uprisings)?

Top Archbishop Romero, El Salvador, killed by
U.S-trained assassins, 1980. Bottom Liberation
heroes.
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1980s

• Bad Hair
• SCM tackles taboo subjects
• Feminism and Gender
• LGBT/Queer rights
• Racism and Racial Justice
• Anti-War

SCMers at National Conference.
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1990s
'Praxis' partnership banner SCM Canada
Philippines

• Global Solidarity blossoms with SCMs in the
  Philippines, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, and South
  Korea
• SCM Canada updates our mission to be more
  inclusive and committed to liberation theology
  radical ecumenism, unity in diversity, Gods
  preferential option for the poor and
  marginalized.

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2000s
Clockwise from top left 1. SCMer speaks at LGBT
pride march, Newfoundland. 2. Toronto SCMs
organize an Indigenous environmental rights rally
after imprisonment of tribal leaders. 3.
Participant in SOA Pilgrimage whose father was a
political prisoner in SCM Chile. 4. Pilgrimage
rally.
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2000s
Clockwise from left 1. Victoria SCM leads 2003
march against impending Iraq invasion. 2. SCMers
doing 'home church' communion. 3. National
Conference, Halifax, Solidarity.
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Influential SCMers

• J.S. Woodsworth, Canadian labour activist
• Desmond Tutu, South African human rights advocate
• Stephen Biko, South African anti-apartheid martyr
• Lois Wilson, World Council of Churches leader
• Lesslie Newbigin, ecumenical visionary

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Influential SCMers

• Brother Roger, founder of Taize community, France
• K.H. Ting, radical Chinese bishop SCM secretary
• Alberto Ramento, assassinated Philippines bishop
• Nancy Ruth, Canadian Senator
• Rubem Alves, Brazilian liberation theologian

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SCM Programmes Local Units
Ontario SCMers at a regional retreat potluck in
the mall
Manitoba SCM at rally for access to education
SCM Victoria table raises dialogue

• The grassroots base of the movement, fully
  autonomous led by students/youth. Include
  Protestant, Anabaptist, Catholic, Orthodox and
  even agnostics interfaith. Send delegates to
  Conference national/global programmes.
• scmcanada.org/localunits

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SCM Programmes General Conference
Victoria BC 'Empire (2005)?
Winnipeg MB 'System Error (2007)?
Halifax, NS 'Solidarity' (2008)?

• Current issues, diverse worship, community from
  across Canada consensus leadership training at
  General Council (SCM's highest decision-making
  body)?
• May 2-10, 2009, Toronto 'Shine! Radiating a
  Dream of Inclusion Liberation'
• scmcanada.org/conference

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SCM Programmes Pilgrimage of Resistance
The Pilgrimage caravan
Students in SOA march
SCMer in 'die-in'

• Annual November social justice road trip to the
  School of the Americas peace vigil in Georgia
  with 20,000 others
• Raise awareness of faith and justice connections,
  visit alternative communities, be inspired by
  examples
• scmcanada.org/soa

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SCM Programmes Queer Christian Without
Contradiction campaign
SCM in Newfoundland pride march
Christian fish campaign logo
Rainbow Christ button design

• Supports Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-identified
  Queer students, Allies, and their communities
  through theological reflection, affirming
  resources Stop Homophobia tools
• QueerandChristian.org

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SCM Programmes Global Regional
Clockwise from left 1 2 Global SCMs at
Montreal General Assembly. 3. SCM-USA relaunch,
2009

• SCM Canada is a member of the World Student
  Christian Federation (WSCF), with 109 other
  national member movements
• Students participate in global programmes
• wscfglobal.org

4. SCM programme in Egypt
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SCM Programmes Resources
SCM buttons
System Error De-boot zine
All Things New student magazine

• Resources All Things New, anti-oppression
  zines, buttons, radio podcasts, Bible studies,
  revolutionary devotionals, and other student
  creations! scmcanada.org/resources

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Some Quotes about SCM

• SCM understands who I am I fit in. A lot of
  people within my faith would say, 'How can you be
  feminist Orthodox at the same time? It's a
  contradiction.' Actually, being a feminist makes
  me a better Christian.
• -Svitlana Maluzynsky, Ukrainian Orthodox (SCM
  Manitoba local coordinator, 2008-9)?

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• Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of
  the SCM's pilgrimage. I realized I am not
  powerless! I am among many! I am not alone!
  Gracias! Continuemos con Dios! Thank you!
  Continue with God!
• -Laura Rodrigues-Quintero, Lutheran (SCM
  Pilgrimage participant)?

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Get involved in the Movement!
Get involved in the Movement!
www.scmcanada.org
Toll-free 1-8-PROPHETIC