Sir, Christian students at many of our universities are facing considerable opposition and discrimination in violation of their rights of freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of association.

In recent times, some student guilds, in Exeter, Birmingham and Edinburgh in particular, have changed their anti-discrimination provisions to discriminate against Christian students. We believe this to be intolerant and unlawful, and that the Christian unions currently suspended by the student guilds or associations should be reinstated with full rights as a student society forthwith.

Of course university student guilds and associations have a responsibility to ensure that official societies are run in a proper and lawful manner. However, this does not give them, or anyone else, the right to restrict or change the essential beliefs of those societies, or impose as leaders people who do not share those core beliefs.

Christian union meetings and events are open to all students to attend. In fact, as faith-sharing organisations, CUs specifically invite people who do not share the Christian faith to attend their meetings. Therefore, there is no restriction imposed on who can and who cannot join the CU.

However, the executive committees of CUs act rather like charity trustees, and as such, they are responsible for two things: first, that funds donated to the CU are used only to further the stated objects, and secondly, that the object of the union, the proclamation of the Christian gospel (as understood by millions of orthodox Christians around the world), is advanced.

It would therefore be inappropriate for anyone who does not agree with the aims, objectives and beliefs to be executive committee members, although it would be totally in order for them to attend CU events, Bible studies, discussion groups or missions, and put forward their views with conviction and passion. Thus the only restrictions limit the right to amend the constitution and select leaders to those who can affirm the core beliefs of the society.

THE RIGHT REV MICHAEL SCOTT-JOYNT
Bishop of Winchester

THE RIGHT REV MICHAEL NAZIR-ALI
Bishop of Rochester

THE RIGHT REV PETER FORSTER
Bishop of Chester

THE RIGHT REV GEORGE CASSIDY
Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham

THE RIGHT REV JONATHAN GLEDHILL
Bishop of Lichfield

THE RIGHT REV STEPHEN VENNER
Bishop of Dover

THE RIGHT REV PETE BROADBENT
Bishop of Willesden

THE RIGHT REV CRISPIAN HOLLIS
Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth and lead Bishop of Higher Education

LORD CAREY OF CLIFTON
Former Archbishop of Canterbury

CANON DR CHRISTINA BAXTER
Chairman of the House of Laity, Church of England General Synod

PROFESSOR NIGEL M. DE S. CAMERON
Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy, London

PROFESSOR JOHN WYATT
Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, University College London

DR DON HORROCKS
Head of Public Affairs, Evangelical Alliance

ANDREA MINICHIELLO WILLIAMS
Public Policy Officer, Lawyers Christian Fellowship

PETER SAUNDERS
General Secretary, Christian Medical Fellowship

THE REV RICHARD CUNNINGHAM
Chief Executive Officer, Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship

DR PETER MAY
Chairman, Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship

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