Do you have students in your congregation, or are you near to a university and want to find out more about starting/developing student ministry in your church? Perhaps your church has young people aged 16-18 and you're looking for resources to help them prepare for the transition to university?
If so, you're in the right place! Students come from every walk of life and represent a rich tapestry of experiences, cultures, traditions and languages. We know that the transition to university provides its own challenges but it also represents a wonderful opportunity to encounter Christianity, tackle difficult questions, grow in faith and discern a future vocation.
Our vision is of SCM as a generous community, expressing a lived faith in Jesus Christ where social action meets prayerful devotion. We seek to be both a radical voice for equality and justice, and a safe home for progressive Christian students. We would love you as churches to get on board! There are lots of ways that your church can get involved with SCM. If you would like to speak to a member of the SCM team about getting involved with SCM, click here to email us.
Become an SCM Link Church
The first way for your church to get involved with SCM is to become an SCM Link Church. Link churches support the aims of SCM, and seek to minister to students and young people at this crucial stage in their lives. Some do this through running student groups, promoting SCM and our events, or celebrating Student Sunday (see below). Others share our Going to Uni guides with young people in their congregation and hold them in prayer as they move to university. Each Link Church is different, but in every church students will feel welcomed as they are and loved by their community.
By signing up as a Link Church you will have access to a whole host of resources, including:
- Going to Uni guides and workshops for 16 - 18 year olds
- Welcoming Students to Your Church guide
- Resources for running workshops with students
- Publicity materials such as flyers, coasters and postcards
- Copies of Movement magazine twice per year, and mailings with information about new resources and upcoming events for your students and young people
- A profile on SCM Connect, our online directory of SCM communities, which includes a short description of your church, a photo and details of how students can get in touch
Head over to SCM Connect to sign up as an SCM Link Church.
Join our 200 Churches Campaign
We are currently recruiting 200 churches to commit to donating to SCM on an annual basis. Churches in the campaign commit to donating typically £200 every year, often raised in a collection during a service or given from a church’s mission allocation. Churches in the campaign also support SCM by praying for our work, offering their time and expertise and spreading the word about our work. In return, we send churches regular updates about our work, a bi-annual copy of Movement magazine and invitations to special gatherings throughout the year.
SCM relies on the support of regular and one-off donations to continue its vital work of empowering students to explore and live out the Christian faith, so please consider whether you can support us by committing to donate £200 every year. Head over to our 200 Churches Campaign page to find out more and sign up.
Commit to an Honest Church
Honest Church is a campaign designed to encourage greater honesty about the true welcome that LGBTQ+ people receive in a church. The aim is to enable and prompt churches to be more specific in their description of their welcome, both in their publicity and when students, graduates and others come and ask questions about the inclusiveness of the welcome. Head over to our Honest Church website for more information and to access resources.
Invite a speaker to your church or event
We'd love to come and speak to your church about SCM's work and how you can support us. Email the office to arrange a time and date!
Celebrate Student Sunday
The Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS) is coordinated by the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), and has been celebrated since 1898, making it one of the oldest ecumenical days of prayer. It is marked on the third Sunday of February every year, serving as a tangible sign of our common life, connecting student movements and WSCF friends across the world. Student Sunday is a great opportunity to pray for Britain's student population, whether you have students in your church or not. Head over to our Student Sunday page for more information and to access resources.
Fundraise for SCM
SCM can only do what it does because of the fantastic support of people like you, so thank you! Head over to our Fundraising page for some ideas of how you can fundraise for SCM.
Buy a Gift Membership
Gift memberships are a great way for churches to support their current students and young people heading off to university, by helping them to connect to the national movement and to meet other progressive young Christians. Head over to our Gift Memberships page to buy a gift membership for a student that you know.