Lady Margaret Hall debates hosting Christian Concern’s summer academy
By Tom Gould, The Oxford Student.
[Oxford University:] At its 3rd week meeting on Sunday the LMH JCR debated whether or not to voice its dissent to the potential hosting of the conservative Christian organisation Christian Concern. The debate was consultative and the governing body will make its final decision in 4th week but the JCR voted to oppose Christian Concern with 81 votes for, 8 against and 2 abstentions.
Christian Concern wishes to use LMH to host its residential camp for young people, Wilberforce Academy, which aims to “train and equip the invited students on what it means to proclaim Christ in public life”. The organisation holds controversial positions, including stances against homosexuality, abortion and what it calls the threat of “Islamic finance” to the West…
…Preventing Christian Concern from hosting its camp at LMH may violate the college’s obligation to freedom of speech. LMH’s adopted position is that “Free speech is the lifeblood of a university. It enables the pursuit of knowledge. It helps us approach truth… Recognising the vital importance of free expression for the life of the mind, a university may make rules concerning the conduct of debate but should never prevent speech that is lawful. Inevitably, this will mean that members of the University/College are confronted with views that some find unsettling, extreme or offensive”.
LMH’s obligations under PREVENT legislation mean that the college must endeavour to “secure and protect free expression and academic freedom, recognising the primacy of these values in institutions of higher education”. LMH has previously hosted a widely-condemned homeopathy conference in accordance with this policy on free speech.
In the debate President Joshua Tulloch made it clear that the JCR’s statement did not oppose the group on the grounds of their views alone, but also because there was a worry that the nature of the views are such that there is a risk of people feeling intimidated.
See also: Christian Concern told they should pay for own security at Wilberforce Academy in Oxford, by Cara Bentley, Premier
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