World Student Christian Federation

The North America Regional Office of the World Student Christian Federation was formed in 1973 to serve as the governing body for WSCF-affiliated and associated student Christian movements in the United States and Canada. Within the North America Region, the North America Regional Committee and the North America Regional Executive Committee conducted business and made official decisions regarding policy, program and budget. The Student Christian Movement of Canada was the WSCF-affiliated movement in Canada. The United States did not have a WSCF-affiliated movement for several years after the disbanding of the University Christian Movement in 1969. North America student movements associated with the WSCF have included the Association of Christian Student Leaders, California Student Christian Movement, Lutheran Student Movement--USA, Lutheran Student Movement in Canada, the National Student YWCA and the University Christian Movement in New England. Staff changes and structural inadequacies led to the eventual closing of the office.

From the description of World Student Christian Federation North America Regional Office records, 1973-1988 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702202086

The World's Student Christian Federation was created in 1895 to fulfill its founders' vision of an international student Christian movement which could encourage and coordinate the work of existing national student Christian movements, as well as stimulate the formation of unified student movements in countries where they did not exist. The U. S. Board of Trustees was entrusted with financial jurisdiction over the U.S. operations of the WSCF.

From the guide to the Archives of the World Student Christian Federation Board of Trustees in the U.S., 1949-1989, (Yale University Divinity School Library)

The North America Regional Office of the World Student Christian Federation was formed in 1973. Six WSCF Regional Offices (Africa, Asia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North America) were created at this time to serve as governing bodies for the student Christian movements. The Regional Offices were in turn coordinated by the WSCF Inter-Regional Office (IRO) in Geneva, the central administrative body of the WSCF.

Within the North America Region, the North America Regional Committee (NARC) made official decisions regarding policy, program and budget. This Committee was composed of eight delegates, four from the Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM-Canada) and four from the United States, the majority of whom were students. It met every 12 to 18 months.

The North America Regional Executive Committee was comprised of a smaller group of four delegates (two from Canada, two from the U.S.), elected by the NARC. This group met monthly, in conjunction with the North America Regional Office staff, to conduct the business of the Region between NARC meetings.

According to the structure of the WSCF, one student Christian movement in each country can be considered for "affiliated" status with the WSCF. Affiliated movements are to be national, ecumenical and student-run, with more than one active local unit. Affiliated status is conferred at the quadrennial meetings of the WSCF General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Regional Committees. Affiliated movements are entitled to one voting delegate at the General Assembly. In the North America Region, the affiliated movement for Canada has been the Student Christian Movement of Canada.*( Documentation is available in this collection for movements indicated with an "*".) The SCM-Canada was founded in 1922 and continues to exist. The designation of one student Christian movement in the United States as an affiliated movement of the WSCF has been problematic. The University Christian Movement had affiliated status until it disbanded in 1969. Twelve years later in 1981, the National Ecumenical Student Christian Council of the U.S. (NESCC) was formed. It applied for affiliated status with the WSCF, which was conferred upon it at the 1986 General Assembly. However, at the same General Assembly, the NESCC disbanded. Since that time, there has been no national ecumenical student Christian movement in the United States.

Regional Committees can grant "associated" status to movements which do not meet all the criteria for affiliation (i.e. are not national, ecumenical and student-run). Associated movements are allowed to send a representative to the General Assembly who can speak and make proposals, but not vote. The associated movements in the North America Region included the Association of Christian Student Leaders (ACSL), California Student Christian Movement*, Lutheran Student Movement in the U.S.A.* and Canada*, the National Student YWCA and the University Christian Movement in New England*.

The North America Region was under the leadership of several regional secretaries during its 15-year period of operation. Placide Bazoche and Jan Griesinger were appointed by the IRO in 1973. The NARC selected successors Peter Johnson and Judy Skinner in 1975, Inge Thierauf and John Boonstra in April 1978, Debra House in September 1978, Gary Whynacht in 1980 and John O'Brien in 1984. The position brought many challenges, requiring frequent traveling, planning for and attendance at many meetings and conferences, and continuous communication with regional and inter-regional staff members.

The demands of dealing with such a varied constituency of persons, movements, organizations, issues and goals making up the Federation led to a shortened tenure for some staff members. Peter Johnson left his position in 1978. Inge Thierauf was released from her duties as Regional Co-Secretary in September 1978, followed by John Boonstra and Debra House in 1980. Their releases resulted in some controversy among North American staff members. Gary Whynacht resigned in 1983. John O'Brien's term of office ended with his death in 1988.

Staff changes and structural inadequacies in the North America Region slowly took their toll on the movement. The changing needs of their constituency in the late 1980s required structural adaptations which the North America Region was not prepared to make. The collapse of the NESCC and the disbanding of the NARC significantly affected the Region. United States and Canadian movements decided that the changing needs of Christian students must be met through more creative structures and programs. Thus, the WSCF North America Regional Office, as it had existed, had become obsolete.

In July, 1988, the IRO officially announced the closing of the North America Regional Office.(See the IRO's letter dated July, 1988 announcing the dissolution of the North America Regional Office. Series II, Box 7, Folder 129A) The Region's administrative affairs were absorbed by the IRO and unspent funds were used for travel and projects in North America and other regions.

From the guide to the Archives of the World Student Christian Federation North America Regional Office, 1920-1989, (Yale University Divinity School Library)

The World's Student Christian Federation was created in 1895 to fulfill its founders' vision of an international student

Christian movement which could encourage and coordinate the work of existing national student Christian movements, as well as stimulate the formation of unified student movements in countries where they did not exist.

From the guide to the Archives of the World Student Christian Federation - Addendum, 1897-1996, (Yale University Divinity School Library)