New guidelines published jointly today by Britain’s main student group, the National Union of Students, and the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship, the umbrella organization for Christian student groups, say that leadership posts in faith-based student organizations may be restricted to members of those groups.

“It is assumed that students joining a society support the aims and objects outlined in its constitution,” the guidelines say, and faith-based groups “may have both open and members-only meetings but should be encouraged to promote open meetings wherever possible.”

The formal guidance follows disputes last year at the Universities of Birmingham and of Exeter, where Christian groups faced disciplinary action for asking members to sign a general statement of belief and for requiring students in leadership positions to sign a more-comprehensive statement. The two Christian groups were accused of discrimination and were suspended.

The guidelines, expected to apply to all faith-based student organizations, consist of recommendations, not rules, and whether university student unions adopt them will become clear only as the academic year proceeds. More details appear in today’s Guardian. —Aisha Labi