Movement 111

SCM trainin$ event
6-8 September 2OO2 | Houghton, Cambridgeshire | 922
. Do you run a student group?
. Do you hope to get involved organising your chaplaincy?
. Do you want to set up an SCM group at your university or college?
Then this is a crucial event for you. lt is a valuable opportunity to get
some training and ideas before the start of the year. The programme
is designed to help you with skills for running activities. You will also
have time to share advice and ideas with others who face similar
issues.
There will be workshops on:
. Freshers'Week
. setting up a group
. worship planning
. teamwork
. group identity
This year's Training Event is being organised by SCM and MSL
(Methodist Student Link) and is supported by the Catholic Student
Trust. lt is being held at Houghton Chapel Retreat (nearest train
station is Huntingdon). The venue has beds, showers and disabled
access.
Get in touch if you're interested and we'll send you a booking form,
or you can book online on the SCM website. See if your student
union or chaplaincy can help you with the cost of attending. The
booking deadline is 31July,
|,
NEWS
SCM conference
2002
A few months ago, when I first heard about the
SCM conference, I was concerned the topic
seemed a best a little dry. As a sociologl
student I had sat through a year of 10am
Monday lectures on globalisation and had a bit
of a 'been there, done that, got the fair trade T-
shirt' feeling about the whole thing. So my first
pleasant surprise was to discover we were in
proper rooms with beds, with proper food (which
is nice considering I usually exist on a diet of
Super Noodles!) Everything was so well
organised, a real credit to the SCM team. To get
to know people we were in small groups for certain sessions throughout
the weekend, each given a country name - I was Cuba.
The main speaker was Andrew Bradstock. Far from being dull, Andrew
talked us through some of the economic issues, ethical issues of trade,
multinational corporations and Christian approaches to these. For the first
time I suddenly considered the possibility that I wasn't helpless, that
maybe I could make a difference, maybe buying (lots o0 fair trade
chocolate was not enough.
The workshops were wide-ranging. Stephen Raw's workshop on Visible
Language proved a real hit. lf someone had told me that in an hour and a
half we would create a 20 foot banner to hang in the chapel I would not
have believed them. I came out of the workshop feeling proud we had
created something fantastic in such a short space of time. The impact of what we had done was fully realised during the
Sunday worship session when we saw allthe banners together.
Robert BecKord's workshop on Labels provided more food for thought. First we had to label ourselves (good, mad, stupid,
childish) then others labelled us (posh, intelligent, outspoken). We discussed the ways in which the labels we give to people
can be positive or damaging. We thought about the issue of silence. Why had none of us described ourselves as white, for
example? Are the labels we don't give as important as those we do? Can we make a difference in the lives of these we
meet just by the labels we place upon them?
Throughout the weekend, particularly in the workshops and the panel
discussion, what was constantly affirmed is that we could make a differ
ence in the campaign to tackle the negative effects of globalisation.
may not have much money to give to good causes, but that is no
for inaction. I am not helpless. I can help to change the world. I
to Warwick feeling empowered. lf with very limited artistic talent
created the most amazing banners, with the incredible gifts and abil
God has given us surely we can create a better world!
Dominique
Warwick Christian
Globalisation is the theme for Movement 772's main feature. What do
think of $lobalisafion? Send your musrhgs and comments to the
address for inclusion in 'Vox Pops'.
a
t
t
t.
It may not seem long since I introduced
myself - but now I must say goodbye. I
originally hoped to work for SGM while
studying part-time for an MPhil; this
proved unrealistic. In June, I will leave my
post as office administrator to pursue my
research. I will keep up my membership,
and look forward to keeping in contact.
Many thanks to all those who have
supported and encouraged me, particularly
Ellie and Marie. 'Goodbye' means
'God be with you'.
Symon Hill, SCM Office Administrator
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