17 February 2005: The new SCMA website is being launched tonight. New and updated information will be available at http://www.scm.org.nz/home/ from this time. Please direct any questions to webmaster@scm.org.nz.

The Newsletter of the Student Christian Movement of Aotearoa

October 1999

No. 44

Full of good news for the dreariest time of the year!

Shaping ecumenical thought through intercultural and interconfessional encounter: The Bossey Scholarship is again taking applications. The World Council of Churches Ecumenical Institute at the Chateau de Bossey in Switzerland holds the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies every year, for four months. WSCF Asia-Pacific Region sends one person fully-funded from an SCM in the region. Peter Zen (!) from Myanmar SCM is currently at the 1999 Bossey Graduate School. This is a brilliant formation opportunity for someone looking at a career in theology and ecumenism. For more information and an application form contact the National Office, and see www.wcc-coe.org/Bossey/ Applications for the NCG to consider due at the Office December 9.

SCM Auckland are meeting for dinner together at the moment. They took part in the APEC witness walk and other APEC demonstrations. Marie McMillan (Movement Animator) has been linking up with OVERT, a queer activism group. SCM Auckland and Maclaurin Chapel got some criticism about their Queer Pride week service, from some of the other Christian campus groups, surprise surprise. AUSA also tried to get rid of its Women's, Maori and Polynesian Officers from the Exec, and SCM was involved in opposing that.

SCM Victoria had an inspiring dinner and talk with The Rev Denzil Brown, a distinguished and supportive Senior Friend. They talked about the role of Senior Friends in supporting SCM and why SCM started to collapse during the 1960's and 70's when it rejected SF help. An article on the centenary of SCM Victoria was recently published in the student paper, Salient.

SCM Canterbury/Lincoln planned to have a restful pre-exams month. Instead, Mark Murphy, Ellen Murray and Michael Perkins helped occupy the Registry Building. Canterbury's "Clinton Armed Indonesian Killers" banner was stolen by the US Secret Service from local MP, Tim Barnett's carpark! Local TV and The Press have been following the half- hearted Police investigation. A Queer Christian forum was held during Pride Week to an audience of 25. Nicola Robertson and Margaret Jenkin held a moving and challenging forum on disability and stigma. Michael Perkins and Nicola Robertson received lots of positive feedback about a letter of protest sent to the Press about John Stringer's (National Candidate for CHCH Central) blatant fundamentalism and homophobia. Mark and Ellen were at the Free Tibet/Human Rights protest that was suppressed by the Police. Canterbury was invited to "A Prayer for Christian Unity" organised by CU and the Malaysian Students Society. Diversity was not the winner on the day...

SCM Otago got replies from MP's and Bill Clinton to their letters about East Timor that were written during the forum organised by Fiona Mclaughlin last month. Esther Prebble is Forum Coordinator and Convenor. Work towards the legendary Book Exchange progresses. The home and visiting place of many SCM'ers over the years, 6 Mackenzie St, won 3rd prize in the Students' Association House & Garden awards.

Has your Unit sent an updated membership list to the Office?

Newsletters National Office receives these from Australian SCM, Singapore SCM, SCM Philippines, SCM India, CCANZ, CWS, the Waitangi Tribunal, Peace Movement Aotearoa, Women's Resource Centre, Jubilee 2000, Christians Concerned for Burma, Asia Students and Youth Gathering, World Day of Prayer and CCANZ Programme on Racism.

We send SCM Update to Australian SCM, SCM's Fiji and Solomon Islands (although we're not sure if they're still there), SCM Hong Kong, SCM Indonesia, SCM Philippines, SCM Singapore, Thailand SCM and the Regional and Inter-Regional Offices, Anglican Youth Ministries, CCANZ, Asian Women's Resource Centre, Peace Movement Aotearoa, Unemployed Workers Rights Centre, Women's Resource Centre.

With which other groups should SCMA swap newsletters? Send addresses to the Office.

Sonia Petrie (National Treasurer, among other things) leaves on 28 October for the Regional Women's Assembly and Regional Women's Committee meeting. Messages of good luck and bon voyage to petris@tui.lincoln.ac.nz.

Ecumenically minded dogsbodies, errr, Stewards are needed for the Christian Conference of Asia 11th Annual Assembly 23 May-6 June 2000. This is a funded trip to Indonesia followed by very hard and tiring work in an international team of stewards. The office has application forms. There is no limit to the number of people who can apply. Completed forms are due at CCA Youth in Hong Kong before 18 February 2000.

The NCG will be meeting in-person in sunny Christchurch during the summer. They will be approving the minutes of the 1999 AGM, approving and putting the Official SCMA seal on the revised Constitution, and doing some serious brainstorming about the growth of SCM into the next millennium. Individuals, coordinators and units should think of issues and ideas to be discussed at this meeting.

CCANZ Annual Forum Emmeline Taptiklis, Michael Perkins and Anne-Marie Donnelly spent the weekend at St Andrew's College, Christchurch hanging out with the delegates from member churches and groups of the Conference of Churches of Aotearoa New Zealand.

They met lots of Senior Friends and people who hadn't heard of SCM but were interested in it. Full report in the next Update.

Richard Davis (Nairn St Property Manager) is off to Sri Lanka in a couple of weeks for a World Council of Churches trip.

The next edition of the SCMA Handbook will be published for Orientation 2000. Every SCM'er should have a handbook! Suggestions for new content or vital information that is missing should be sent to the National Office. Did you know that there aren't any pictures in the current handbook? Isn't that terrible?

ASYG National Report. SCMA has been asked to write a report on the impact of Globalisation on students and young people in our country. If someone has some time to do this it will be a good contribution towards the Asia Students and Youth Gathering in Taiwan. More details and guidelines available from the office.

Job! SCM Otago is looking for someone to manage our book exchange in late February to early March 2000. Accommodation and therapy provided. Honorarium of $1000. Contact SCM Otago with expressions of interest for further information.

A message of support was sent by the NCG to SCM'ers in Indonesia and East Timor.

The Men's Coordinator, Roger Pym, is still collecting material for the Men's newsletter. Email submissions to waltersmen@yahoo.com, or post them to 9a Keppell St, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

RECENT ARRIVALS AT THE OFFICE a CCANZ Millennium Candle, Women's Resource Centre Newsletter, Peace Digest, PMA Newsletter, CCANZ Ecustics, Waitangi Tribunal Business Strategy, and Te Manutukutuku, CCANZ Programme on Racism Newsletter, Alpha Update, ASYG News, Methodist Presbyterian Public Questions Broadsheet.

Issues to consider in casting your vote.

Based on excerpts from a Bulletin of the CCANZ Public Issues programme

Education:

• The cost of tertiary education with the student loan scheme means that thousands of New Zealanders will be in debt throughout their working lives. Even if their income is insufficient to require repayment, the interest, and the debt, continues to accumulate.
• Close to 40% of Maori Children leave school without a qualification. Schools that foster the learning of Te Reo Maori have a high retention rate for Maori students. Maori education is under-resourced and there is a shortage of trained Maori speaking teachers.

Real Jobs:

• A real job is secure and produces earnings that are stable and predictable.
• A real job enables people to feel that they belong to and can participate actively in their communities and wider society.

Housing:

• Affordable, healthy, housing is the cornerstone of any programme to reduce poverty.
• Without secure, stable and safe housing children's health and learning is hindered and opportunities for social and economic participation are seriously compromised.

Health:

• Fewer health dollars should be spent on bureaucracy.
• Mental health services should be adequately staffed and resourced to meet the country's needs.

Next month: excerpts from Methodist Presbyterian Public Questions committee "Reclaiming the Conversation" Election discussion kit.

SCM'ers with views/advice on how to vote on 25 November are encouraged to send a short note for the next Update, to the office.

SCM UPDATE is produced by SCM'ers and compiled monthly by the National Administrator.

Coming up next month: lots of fun and restful SCM activities for the long summer months, a report on the CCANZ Annual Forum, and a recipe for sinful beetroot muffins. Remember, you heard it here first.

Affiliated to the World Student Christian Federation