Students and young graduates gathered at Trinity College, Oxford, last week (25-27 March) for Christian Concern’s fourth annual Wilberforce Academy.
The Academy seeks to equip the next generation of Christian leaders in public life. Delegates came from a range of educational and employment backgrounds, including law, media, business, politics and social action.
Equipped
The three days were packed full of sessions led by high-level academics, lawyers, clergy and campaigners.
Lord Carey set the tone for the Academy when he addressed the group at the opening banquet. The former Archbishop of Canterbury drew a parallel with William Wilberforce, after whom the Academy is named, saying it exists “to maintain a public witness and stand just as much as Wilberforce was called upon to do in his day”.
He went on to say: “You are like shock troops who are called to lead in the battle… You are here to take the fight wherever it leads”.
Delegates were equipped with a biblical and theological framework for engaging in public debate. Other sessions explored specific issues which urgently require Christian involvement and response, such as abortion, euthanasia and marriage.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, based on his new book of the same title, explained the Triple Jeopardy of aggressive secularism, radical Islamism and multiculturalism currently faced by The West.
Roger Trigg, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick, highlighted the importance of religious freedom as a cornerstone for other vital freedoms.
Christian Legal Centre clients such as Gary McFarlane shared their stories of opposition as a means of encouraging people to take a stand for Jesus in the public square.
Reaction
Attendees reacted enthusiastically to what they heard. One delegate remarked: “The one slogan I’m taking away is: ‘changed people, change culture,’ and that’s what I intend to do when I walk out of here”.
Another remarked: “It’s like there’s a fire been put in your bones. You have to get out and do something. You can’t just sit back or not do anything and you definitely can’t give in to fear anymore”.
Opposition
But the Academy received opposition from some Oxford students. Offensive pictures of Jesus with the caption: “Trinity students in support of gay marriage” were left on the conference bookstall.
The opposition did not dampen the spirits of the delegates, however. The three day Academy ended with testimonies of how the Lord had used it to awaken a passion to contend for Christ's truth in public life. The testimonies were greeted with cheers and clapping in celebration of what God had been doing.
Speakers, staff and delegates joined in singing Amazing Grace to close the Academy.
Inspiring
Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, commented: “The Wilberforce Academy is one of the most important things we do at Christian Concern – equipping the next generation of Christian leaders in public life.
“The delegates have heard from the leaders in their field who set an inspiring example of how to live and speak for Jesus in the public square. They have received some very high quality input that will serve them well as they embark on their careers as disciples of Jesus.
“I have been very impressed by both the calibre and passion of the delegates this year. It’s my prayer and expectation that God will raise up this next generation to speak the truth in love to a nation that desperately needs to hear it. With so many attendees from other parts of the world, the Wilberforce Academy is also set to have a global impact for God’s kingdom. We are very thankful to him for such an inspiring few days”.