Movement_158_Digital

Sexuality is more
than the act of having
sex with someone.
It’s about who you
are, and who you’re
attracted to and want
to have a relationship
with. Sometimes
these things can be
difficult to figure out,
and it’s OK to have
questions!
this kind of friendship is something that
Jesus modelled with his disciples. He
spent time with them, they knew each
other almost as well as family and they
were very committed to each other
(possibly with one exception…). But
these relationships didn’t just happen
- they were built and chiselled and
grown over years and through shared
experience.
Sex and Relationships
Everyone will have different experiences
and views about sex, and there are no
prerequisites for sexual relationships.
You may want to wait until you’re
married or in a civil partnership to have
sex, or to have sex with a partner before
making that commitment. You might not
even want to have sex at all, and that’s
fine too!
For Christians, faith is an important
aspect of a person’s identity. This
faith is lived out in our relationships
with others, and we try to honour one
another because we are all part of God’s
creation. What role does your faith play
in your decision making? Considering
entering a sexual relationship with
someone is a big decision, so take time
to think things through.
It’s okay to have whatever type of
sexual relationship you choose, so long
as everybody involved is happy, healthy,
consenting and comfortable with the
arrangements you make. Remember,
nobody has the right to ask you to do
something you do not feel comfortable
doing and you should never feel
pressured into doing something which
you do not want to do.
Sexuality
Sexuality is more than the act of having
sex with someone. It’s about who
you are, and who you’re attracted to
and want to have a relationship with.
Sometimes these things can be difficult
to figure out, and it’s OK to have
questions!
As it’s such an important part of your
life, it’s a good idea to be familiar and
comfortable with your sexuality. Some
people find it easy to identify their
sexuality and feel comfortable with it,
but that’s not the case for everyone. If
you’re uncertain or unhappy about your
sexuality, it’s important to remember
that you’re not alone.
If you can’t talk to your family or friends
about your sexuality, your GP, university
or Students’ Union should be able to
put you in touch with a counsellor. You
can also find lots of support online, for
example www.inclusive-church.org and
www.onebodyonefaith.org.uk.
The NHS Live Well website has lots
of useful information about sex and
relationships – www.nhs.uk/live-well
You can find more advice for Freshers’ on the SCM blog at www.movement.org.uk/
blog and also on the Christian Student Guide site – www.thechristianstudentguide.
com. Freshers can also request a Freshers’ Pack full of useful resources like our Going to
Uni guide by visiting www.movement.org.uk/freshers
CHANGING THE WORLD...
We asked three SCM members to share their experience
of putting their faith into action through activism.
...through taking direct action
My German hometown was, for a long time, the
site of a large annual Neo-Nazi march, and I was
compelled to join peaceful sit-down blockades to
prevent it from taking place. I joined with thousands
of people that stood in the streets and squares to
directly prevent the march from taking place, even
though this action put us in breach of the law and
at odds with the police. But nevertheless, for a few
years, each February thousands of people decided
to take direct action to stop Neo-Nazis. We all
knowingly risked charges for breaking the laws on
public assembly. In the end, the blockades were
successful. This particular Neo-Nazi march is now
history after it had been happening every year for
over a decade.
The keys to this success were preparation,
community and solidarity. Direct action is hard and
risky. Convincing a large number of people to take
direct action is even harder. Many organisations had
to put their differences aside to organise together
which was important as they provided tools for the
participants to be as prepared as possible. They
encouraged us to form small affinity groups which
would stick together during the blockades. We met
beforehand to talk about our expectations, possible
tricky situations and our personal boundaries. A
member of my affinity group shared that she is
extremely scared of dogs, so we agreed to move
away if there were any police dogs. We also
prepared snacks, songs and activities to keep us
warm and cheerful during the blockade. By sticking
together and respecting each other’s boundaries,
we pulled off a large day long blockade in a wet
winter, managed unpleasant interactions with the
police and later even dealt with charges that were
brought (and then dropped) against some of us.
Direct action makes for spectacular photos and
often makes the news, and therefore it is sometimes
seen as a particularly valuable or heroic form of
activism. But it should not be glorified or elevated
over other forms of activism. Not everybody can,
wants to or should take part in direct action.
There are many different forms of activism which
can go hand in hand and complement each other.
The blockades would not have worked without
the people who wrote press releases, designed
posters, collected signatures, donated to the legal
defence fund, made tea and prayed at vigils in local
churches. The blockades would have been pointless
without the continuous activism that equips youth
workers, schools and sports clubs to work against
the spread of Neo-Nazi ideology, or the researchers
and journalists that help illuminate the networks that
connect right-wing parties and violent Neo-Nazis.
There is a form of activism suitable for everybody.
All are valuable and can work together towards a
common goal.
JULIANE BORCHERT
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