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  1. Call for applications for the elections to the European Regional Committee

    WSCF Europe – Regional Assembly, October 13-14, 2013, St. Gilgen, Austria

    Could you be on the European Regional Committee? Please think about it!

    The ERC is a group of nine student volunteers who manage the day to day work of WSCF. It is made up of people who care about WSCF and believe in our work.

    Being an ERC member means to take responsibility to develop and lead the work of the Federation in Europe, but it is also an amazing opportunity to build your personal leadership and team work skills as well as intercultural and ecumenical openness.

    So don’t worry if you feel you need to learn new skills to be on the ERC – the ERC is all about learning by doing. One of WSCF’s main aims is to train young people to be leaders!

    The ERC, along with the European Regional Assembly, is the key institution that helps WSCF Europe to live up to its commitment to grassroots ownership and leadership.

    Being represented on it gives you and your SCM the opportunity to make your perspective and ideas visible in WSCF-E’s work and shape its thematic and theological orientation. Therefore we aim at making the ERC as diverse and inclusive as possible, with denominational, gender and regional balances all taken into account in its formation.

    But for this diversity to be achieved, we need your support! So please consider to stand as a candidate. Also, please feel free to forward this call to members of your SCM, who you think could be interested.

    The positions up for election at the upcoming ERA are the following:

    • ERC chair person
    • Links coordinator
    • Event coordinator 1
      • Theology
      • Culture and Higher Education
    • Event coordinator 2
      • Solidarity
      • Gender
    • Campaigns coordinator
    • Fundraising coordinator
    • Executive Committee delegate I
    • Executive Committee delegate II

    If you want to learn more about the responsibilities of the ERC in general and the individual positions in particular, please click here!

    The elections will take place during the European Regional Assembly (ERA) taking place on 13-14 October 2013 in St. Gilgen, Austria. This time, it will be preceded by a Solidarity conference on Human Trafficking.

    Everyone who decides to stand for election on the ERC is asked to prepare a document (maximum 500 words or A3 size) introducing themselves. This can be through writing or art! We will display these introductions on a wall. If you decide to stand for election to the ERC before the ERA, please prepare your document before you come.

    During the Solidarity Conference, the Nominations Officers will speak with all candidates. They will introduce candidates during the ERA. The candidates will also have an opportunity to introduce themselves.

    If you can’t be at the ERA in person, you can submit a written, video-taped our otherwise recorded application as well.

    You can stand for election on the ERC if you are from an affiliated or an associated SCM. Please let us know as soon as you decide to stand for election by contacting the current WSCF-E chair person or Regional Secretary .

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on May 8th, 2013 3:53 pm / Continue Reading »

  2. Capacity Building Training for Nordic-Baltic region SCMs

    Capacity Building Training for people from Nordic-Baltic region SCMs is coming! It will take place in Klaipėda, Lithuania on 14-17 June.

    This training will provide a forum for participants to exchange ideas and experiences about the connection between SCM work and campaigning activities. It will be a space to build relationships between SCMers from the subregion and their movements, and will aim at giving you some tools to amplify your current campaigning efforts. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from one another about the causes they are involved in, best practices they have developed and the ideals and theological groundings that motivate them and keep them going.

     

    The applications are to be sent to our regional secretary  till 2 June.

     

    More information coming soon! 

     

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 30th, 2013 11:50 am / Continue Reading »

  3. Life. Justice. Peace. Youth Empowerment for the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches

     

    What are the important issues that young people are facing in relation with life, justice and peace? 

    How can we learn from the experiences of young people being involved in the WCC in the past years?

    How can we participate in setting the ecumenical agenda?

    How can we gain insights from the work of ecumenical youth organizations? 

    How can we empower one another by sharing our own resources, experiences, prayers and gifts?

    There is an unique opportunity for WSCF representatives to attend a conference “Life. Justice. Peace. Youth Empowerment for the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan/South Korea” providing an opportunity for young delegates, stewards, participants and interested young people from Europe to participate in the journey to prepare for the World Council of Churches’ 10th Assembly in Busan.

    The conference will take place in Hofgeismar, Germany, on 18 – 20 June. You can learn more about the conference here.

    The Assembly, led by the theme “God of life, lead us to justice and peace”, will be a unique moment to celebrate Christian fellowship, to set the future agenda of the council and to speak with a common voice on urgent public issues.

    Everyone who would like to represent WSCF at the Hofgeismar conference should apply . Deadline for WSCF applicants is 10 May. Once we have received your application, we will negotiate the possible travel reimbursement with our partners.

    Early applications and participants of the WCC Busan Assembly will have an advantage. 

     

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 25th, 2013 11:32 am / Continue Reading »

  4. Capacity Building Training for SCMs

     

    Student Christian Movement staff, students and board members:

    How do you see your SCM getting involved with campaigns and campaigning? 

    Do you see a difference between personal values and social politics? (How) do you take a stand for what is important to you and the people in your SCM? 

    What campaigning talents can you share with others in the SCMs in Europe? 

    How can WSCF Europe better support you in your campaigns work?

    We are excited to announce an upcoming Capacity Building Training for people from our Western European SCMs (Ireland, UK, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands).

    Berlin, Germany

    24 - 27 May 2013

    There is no participation fee for this event.

    This training session will provide a forum for SCMers from WSCF-E’s Western European subregion to exchange ideas and experiences about the connection between SCM work and campaigning activities. It will be a space to build relationships between SCMers from the subregion and their movements, and will aim at giving you some tools to amplify your current campaigning efforts. Each movement has different strengths and you will have the opportunity to learn from one another about the causes they are involved in, best practices they have developed and the ideals and theological groundings that motivate them and keep them going.

    Check out the schedule for more details about the topics we will discuss.

    WSCF Europe wants to strengthen relationships between movements! We hope that you will join SCMers, Shannon Philip, the European Regional Committee Campaigns Coordinator, and the regional staff at this exciting event!

    If you would like to attend, please email , WSCF Europe Regional Secretary, explaining why you are interested in the event and topics your SCM would like to engage with by 20th May 2013.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 19th, 2013 12:43 pm / Continue Reading »

  5. Face to Face Programme

    The Council of World Mission is a worldwide community of Christian churches,  that has been in dialogue with WSCF about how we may strengthen our partnership in ecumenical leadership formation of young adults and in our work for justice and peace in the world. Moreover, recently they have invited WSCF to send 3 participants to their Face to Face 2013 programme.

    The programme challenges participants to engage with the realities of how the fullness of life is being denied to a large majority of the worlds’ population. The participants will be exposed to the context, hear and witness the narratives of the people, encounter diverse theologies, histories, societies, social realities and personal stories. They will be required to reflect both practically and in writing on their Face to Face journey.

    Participants will gather in one of the three Face to Face locations:

    • Fiji – Pacific Theological College in Suva (8 July – 23 august)
    • India – Bishops College in Kolkata and Aizawl Theological College in Aizawl (21 September – 17 November)
    • Zambia – United Theological College in Kitwe (14 October – 1 December)

    The programme requires each participant to do written reflections. WSCF participants will be expected to share, report on and evaluate their experience with the WSCF community. All necessary details including application are here.

    Important note: applications of WSCF participants must be endorsed by the WSCF general secretary, Christine Housel. Therefore all application drafts are to be , with a copy to our regional secretary  for endorsement before actual submitting. WSCF will provide candidates with an endorsement letter, which is to be attached to the application. The deadline to submit the final, endorsed applications is 15 May.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on April 15th, 2013 5:29 pm / Continue Reading »

  6. Lingua Franca is Back!

    The Lingua Franca Programme goes on!

    We have the new coordinator, Lucian Cirlan. The Lingua Franca Summer Camp is being prepared under his energetic command! The event will take place on 20-30 July 2013 in Miclauseni, Romania. Would you like to be a member of the Preparatory Committee?

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on March 14th, 2013 1:35 pm / Continue Reading »

  7. Call for Preparatory Committee Members

    Would you like to organize a WSCF Europe Solidarity Conference?

    Are you interested in the topic of Human Trafficking?

    Would you like to practise faith in a very intense and practical way?

    If you answered “yes” for all these three questions,  the completed application form and become a member of our Solidarity Conference preparatory committee (prepcom).  A recommendation from your SCM or another youth organisation you have worked with is an advantage. We cannot wait to get to know you better!

    WSCF Europe will gather in October 2013 in the charming Austrian village of St. Gilgen to discuss the different aspects of Human Trafficking, Society and Sexuality. We hope this will be the most interactive and practical solidarity conference of the last period! We are really looking forward to work together with SCM members who feel dedicated to the topic and who would like to create a wonderful and exciting spiritual and intellectual experience.

    We encourage you to apply especially if you

    • are full of ideas
    • are a team player
    • enjoy to see ideas and decisions turning into actions
    • will have time and energy for one 3 days long prepcom meeting on 17-19 May and for one more meeting before the conference.
    • are ready to take tasks before the conference and keep in touch with the other prepcom members

    The deadline is extended to 15 April 2013.

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on March 11th, 2013 5:30 pm / Continue Reading »

  8. The ERC meets SCM Sheffield & SCM Manchester!

    The European Regional Committee have just finished their meeting in Sheffield, UK. We’ve spent the week working, praying, thinking and playing hard and have all set off home with long ‘To-Do’ lists.

    Our meeting venue was in a secluded village, surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and flocks of sheep and goats. It was the perfect space to work with concentration and relax with mother nature.

    On one of our final meeting days, we had the chance to attend part of a series of workshops that SCM Sheffield was organising. This set of workshops covered a  range of interesting topics ranging from Dalit Theology from India to Rainbow Theology from aboriginal Australia! There were three really interesting speakers who presented the topics and answered several questions. On a separate but related note, a personal highlight for me were the yummy ‘Fruits of the Forest’ Muffins on offer – they really were to die for!

    The ERC joined SCMers from our Movements in Sheffield and Manchester and took part in two of the afternoon workshops and an exciting round for ‘Questions from the Pot’. It was fantastic to have so many national and international SCMers from all around Europe in one room for one afternoon – an experience that a lot of us will cherish. It was also a good place to get to know what the ERC member roles involved and to find out how it all worked. Like all fantastic SCM events, we did not depart by saying goodbye but rather see you soon. The Seeds of Liberation conference being set up in Manchester promises to be another exciting and enticing session for SCMers from all around the Federation.

    (UK) is WSCF Europe Campaigns Coordinator. 

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on February 7th, 2013 3:04 pm / Continue Reading »

  9. We are growing as a team in quality & quantity!

    The European Regional Committee of the World Student Christian Federation spent one fruitful week from 28 January to 3 February close to Sheffield in a lovely cottage, well equipped with soft blankets and couches.

    These were needed a lot as the chilly Yorkshire environment was waiting for the ERC members with its green slopes, rainy clouds and sunny but cold mornings. Six days were spent there with hours of discussions and with its result: consensus based agreements.

    In these days we dealt with the challenges of the second part of our term: we could finalize the strategic planning process and returned back home with lots of notes and a long to-do list. We were happy to get know the active and dedicated members of SCM Sheffield and spent a wonderful afternoon together with them during a Regional SCM Gathering.

    We can proudly report that the ERC is growing as a group in number and quality as well; during our meeting we met Lucian Cirlan, our new Lingua Franca coordinator. We are so much looking forward to continuing our work: contacting new SCMs in Europe, meet students at our upcoming events, encourage them to speak up, keep campaigning and improve the structure and working methods of the Federation.

    We will meet again in August in Østed in Denmark, where we will prepare the 2013 European Regional Assembly. Until then we will keep in frequent touch by Skype, email and prayers!

     

     (Hungary) is WSCF Europe Events Coordinator

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on February 7th, 2013 3:03 pm / Continue Reading »

  10. Call for Applications for ERC candidates search committee

     Diversity is our gift, help us to let it shine!

    WSCF Europe draws its vitality from the diversity of its members. The broad range of denomina­tional, cultural and social backgrounds that our members bring to our events and the wealth of contacts across all these different lines of identity that our network allows, are at the heart of who we are as an organisation. Another key value of WSCF Europe is participation and empowerment: we, as a movement, are shaped by the ideals and the initiative of our members; we rely on their input and their inspiration to be who we are. To bring these two values, diversity and empower­ment, together is a key challenge that we are continuously working on.

    The main task ahead to put this commitment into practice is to mirror the broad range backgrounds of our members in the election of the new European Regional Committee (ERC) coming up at the European Regional Assembly (ERA) in Austria in October 2013. The ERC is the main operative body of WSCF Europe and is responsible to run our programmes, interpret our vision, sustain our network and develop relations to our partners.

    To support our efforts to assure a denominational, regional and gender balance for the new ERC, the last ERA has decided to create a search committee for ERC candidates. The search committee will consist of three to five members and its task it will be to work with SCMs to find suitable candidates for each of the nine different ERC positions that the ERA delegates will then make a choice from. In that way to make sure that the elections that will be held in Austria next year will result in a well-balanced ERC that mirrors the full range of our movement’s diversity and inspiration.

     

    Required background

    • Involvement in and endorsement by local/national Student Christian Movement
    • Experience of WSCF Europe events
    • Strong connection to WSCF Europe’s values of ecumenism and inclusivity
    • Sensitivity to cultural and denominational diversity

     

    If you are interested, please send your CV and a letter stating your motivation to (ERC fundraising coordinator) and (ERC campaigns coordinator).

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    Posted by: wscfe-editor on November 30th, 2012 10:38 am / Continue Reading »

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