CSU History
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CSU was formed in mid-1996 in a hot and dusty little room in the University of Sydney chaplaincy building. Begun by a gathering of interested students and Uniting Church tertiary chaplains, the group has slowly grown over the years. Founding students attended CSU's meetings from both the the Uniting Church residential college within Sydney University, Wesley College, and from a variety of educational and denomonational backgrounds.
Many Christian students had been frustated with the range of campus Christian groups present at Sydney Univeristy and with their apparent lack of radical committment to the discipleship to which Jesus calls. Many campus based student Christian groups had entered a collective conservatism, marginalising many groups both on campus and in the greater community.
Can it be enough to simply 'Believe' without trying to lead our lives in the way in which God calls? How can we as Christians allow ourselves to be comfortable in a world which supports inequity and ignores the opression of so many of our brothers and sisters, both here in Australia and throughout the world?
To address these concerns and the drift of young people away from the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Dr. John Hirt organised the first gathering of students from the Uniting Church and other denominations to discuss these issues and ultimately form CSU and Christian Students Uniting.
Joined by Andrew Johnson, the first mission worker, and a second Chaplain, the Rev. Andrew Collis, the group aimed to provide a radical alternative to current student Christian groups on campus, and at the same time provide a supporting community for young people from both the Unitng Church and other denominations.
Over the next few years CSU slowly grew as those involved challenged each other in the growth of their faith and the direction they saw CSU taking. Benefiting from its ecumenical flavour and the sheer diversity of views and opinions held by those gathering, CSU continues to grow.
CSU now has its first University graduates - those whom as students shared their Christian journey with CSU, and now after leaving University continue to maintain contact as they continue their journey. In this way CSU hopes to challenge Christians and non-Christians alike in their understanding of God's saving and justice purposes in Jesus Christ.