Christian student union bans women from speaking at its events unless they are MARRIED

Move to placate 'modernisers' as women were previously banned altogether

Women must be accompanied by their husband if they wish to speak



A Christian student union has banned women from speaking at its events unless they are married and accompanied by their husbands.

The Christian Union at the University of Bristol has refused to allow female speakers at their weekly workshops unless they attend the meetings with their spouse.

Despite outrage at the move, leaders of the union claim it is actually a concession to modernisers - because women were previously banned from attending altogether.

Women's groups have condemned the move as 'hugely discriminatory and deeply offensive'.

The Union said that women would be allowed to teach if they were accompanied by their husband

Bristol University's Students' Union are investigating the matter

But Matt Oliver, President of the Christian Union, said: 'This is a difficult issue for some and so we decided that women would not teach on their own at our weekly CU: Equip meetings, as the main speaker on our Bristol CU weekends away or as our main speaker for mission weeks.'

He went on to add that a woman would be allowed to teach if she was accompanied by her husband.

However, the concession does seem to directly conflict with the Union's constitution that, under their 'Privileges of Membership' section, 'all categories of membership shall have equal rights of voting, attending meetings etc.'

Students in the university have been angered by the Christian Union’s decision, declaring it as violation of women’s rights.

The Bristol University Feminist Society have slammed the religious society for discriminating against women.

A spokesperson said: 'The CU’s position seems to be implying that they have reached a compromise on the issue, however it is still hugely discriminatory, deeply offensive and sexist to women.

'They are suggesting that women have more worth as speakers if speaking with their husband while assuming that all women are interested in marriage, or men for that matter.'

The Student Union's Welfare and Equality committee are investigating the situation, and if they rule that the Christian Union are breaking the university’s Equality Policy, the group could face expulsion.

Vice President Alessandra Berti said: 'We have been made aware of a communication from the University of Bristol Christian Union, and we would like to assure our members and the general public that UBU and the full-time elected officers are investigating the issue further in consultation with the groups involved.

'In particular we will be making certain that our Equality Policy is properly adhered to in all cases.

'The University of Bristol Students’ Union takes allegations of discrimination very seriously.

Women's groups have condemned the move as 'hugely discriminatory and deeply offensive'

'UBU has an Equality Policy which explains that we prohibit discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex and sexual orientation in line with The Equality Act 2010 and as one of our key values of equality and diversity.'

The weekly Equip meetings are a mixture of seminars, workshops and talks based on the gospel.

On the Christian Union’s website, it says: 'This is our main weekly meeting helping to practically equip Christian students with the skills and knowledge to live and speak for Jesus at University.'

There is no formal position on the role of men and women in the church laid out by the union's charter.

Their website does, however, say in their constitution that the organisattion should: 'abide by the Union’s Equal Opportunities and Harassment Policies, and any other policies laid down by the Union’s Board of Trustees.'

It also says that: 'The Executive Committee shall have the power to remove a member from their society if they believe them to have violated the Union’s Equal Opportunities and Harassment Policies, and any other policies laid down by the Union’s Board of Trustees.'