---

< Go back to About Us page

---

This page gives you some more information about how the Student Christian Movement works. Generally, the Movement strives to operate on a democratic, grassroots and egalitarian basis which we see as important to our mission.

• MISSION
  SCM Canada is a student-led grassroots social justice movement. Our mission is to build ecumenical* communities which engage the prophetic teachings of the revolutionary Jesus of Nazareth. We include people of many beliefs and backgrounds.

* Ecumenism is a global movement for unity among Christians and includes Anabaptist, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant/Evangelical, and other, churches. SCM Canada is open to people of many beliefs and backgrounds, including non-Christians. You can read our full Mission Statement online.

• MEMBERSHIP
  There is no membership list or criteria in SCM Canada. Generally, however, there are two primary categories of involvement - Students and Senior Friends.

However, students do not necessarily have to be enrolled in education but are generally youth 18-30 interested in learning something.

Senior Friends, or SCM alumni, are past members who continue to support the movement through funding, committee work, participation in the National Board, or skills and expertise (this group is also open to non-alumni supporters)

• SCM LOCAL UNITS
  The basic unit of SCM is the Local Unit, which are student-run and autonomous communities on campuses - they participate in national programming but also do their own campaigns and activities. The are connected regionally through regional retreats and the National Board.

• LOCAL ADVISORY BOARDS
  Some units are funded and maintained by Local Advisory Boards (in the case of well-established units) made up of Senior Friends (SCM alumni) and student representatives. They hire local coordinators (if a paid position is offered) and can act as a steering committee or fundraising locally.

• REGIONAL REPRESENTATION
  At the national level, there are 2 regions with 2 sub-regions within each. Western Region is BC/Alberta and Manitoba/Saskatchewan. Eastern Region is Ontario/Quebec and Maritimes. Each of the 4 subregions elects a student to the National Board at the annual council.

• NATIONAL BOARD
  This National Board carries on the work of the National Movement between council sessions and meets twice annually. Made up of 4 elected student regional representatives; 2 national student representatives (who facilitate meetings and represent the movement); a senior friend; a treasurer; and national staff (non-voting).

• NATIONAL OFFICE
  The National Board oversees a National Office (now two - in Toronto and Winnipeg) and hires staff (National Coordinators) to carry out the mandate of the Board between meetings and in particular to assist with national programs, fundraising, communications and administration.

National Coordinators are non-voting members of the Board. The Coordinators are supervised/supported by the Board’s Personnel Committee made up of students and alumni.

• NATIONAL COUNCIL
  This is the highest decision-making body of SCM Canada. It is open to all students to participate and coincides with our annual National Conference which is open to all and meets every Spring after exams.

Facilitated by the elected National student Representatives, this Council operates on a consensus decision-making model in which all have a say (and veto); it requires skilled facilitation and sets priorities, national programs and annual themes. Out of Council emerge Working Groups, made up of any interested students across the country to plan and implement programs, publications, resources, fundraising, anti-oppression work, etc.

The National Board participates in National Council and is replaced every year by student elections.

• GLOBAL MOVEMENT
  SCM is part of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), with membership of more than 100 national SCM’s on 6 continents. We send delegates to General Assemblies and pay dues to the global office in Geneva, though national SCM’s are autonomous.

WSCF has consultative status in the United Nations and is also involved with the World Council of Churches.