Losing Focus

1966-1979. Losing Focus

1966/67 saw the first intake of less than 100 new members for 15 years. Membership plunged to levels not seen since the 30's, not breaking 200 throughout the 70's, and more often closer to 100. One reason for this is the sociological change in the approach to membership. Whereas in earlier years "membership was quite a thing" students agonised over the spiritual significance of membership", now it was quite possible to be fairly heavily involved in the SUEU without being a member, with the result that membership numbers underestimate the true strength of the Union. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the SUEU declined sharply in size and impact.

Reading the reports and minutes for the late 60's and 70's, it is apparent that a sea change has occurred in the morale and ethos of the group. Previously, leaders were full of confidence of the great things that God could achieve through them, and they were willing in the enterprise; now the constant refrain is one of weakness, disappointment, failure and downsizing. How had this happened?

It was the coincidence of two more significant factors. On the one hand, the challenges facing the SUEU during this period were of a very great magnitude. At the social level, the impact of the Vietnam war cannot be overestimated, and its reverberations were felt throughout the Christian scene. It threw up the nature of the relationship between the gospel and the world in a dramatically new way. Theologically, critical scholarship held an intellectual hegemony, and the evangelical theological renaissance had not yet taken hold, so that the SUEU floated adrift. At the same time, among the many new Christian groups that appeared on the scene, two stood out - Student Life (in the United States this was Campus Crusade for Christ) and the Navigators. Both of these were American, well funded, and boasted multiple staff teams devoted exclusively to the Sydney group, so that the SUEU faced stiff new competition among the evangelical constituency.

Coinciding with this was the relative isolation the SUEU found itself in. Right throughout its history, it had been heavily supported by evangelical friends. Originally, some of the most significant Christian families in the city were heavily involved; later it was graduates of the SUEU who re-invested in the group which had nurtured their own faith. However, by the 70's, the Union had lost touch with this theological and spiritual anchor. St Barnabas Anglican church on Broadway had a very hands off approach³, Moore College was not responding to the issues of the day, and the students alone were not able to, resulting in confusion and division. There was a real possibility that the SUEU might simply have faded away.

3. In contrast to the support it gave under the rectorship of Howard Guinness in the 50's.

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