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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
February 2002 |
DePauw Univ. still committed to the United Methodist Church
By Thomas A. Sargeant
Riley Case has produced a stimulating essay on the relationship between the United Methodist Church and the church-related colleges (January HUM News). He focuses on DePauw University, the oldest of the three UM-related universities in Indiana.
Like the Church, colleges and universities evolve and change over time. But in addition to the profound changes facing all institutions, there are important continuities too. As an active United Methodist layperson and a member of the university's board of trustees for almost 19 years, I can attest to the college's continuing commitment to the United Methodist Church.
Since its founding DePauw has had an important and active relationship with the United Methodist Church. Curricular offerings, teaching arrangements, student religious groups, pre-professional programs in ministry and off-campus deputations continue to be highlights of the relationship. Currently, students indicating a preference for the United Methodist Church make up the largest single Christian Protestant group, and DePauw provides over $3.0 million in scholarships to UM students from local churches. The university supports directly or indirectly over a dozen Christian student groups, and the chaplain, or Dean of the Chapel, is an ordained UM minister and a member of the South Indiana Conference. The dean and other clergy teach courses at the university whi1e being careful not to infringe on the widely accepted academic principle of faculty department autonomy.
The Indiana Area Bishop Woodie W. White is a member of the university's board of trustees, and provides valued counsel on church-university relations to the president of the university. Campus leaders believe they also have positive relationships with the Boards of Higher Education and Campus Ministries of the North and South Indiana conferences. The Church's own accrediting body, the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, strongly endorsed DePauw's church re1atedness, in its 1999 accreditation visit. At least 25 percent of the university's board of trustees must be, in accordance with the institution's by-laws, members of the United Methodist Church.
The university's Mendenhall Lectures and Programs, endowed early in the 20th Century by a Methodist minister, allow the university to sponsor continuing education opportunities for United Methodist clergy. Panel discussions and lectures focus on religious, ethical, and morel topics of the day.
Working in cooperation with the Religious Life Center and the Dean of the Chapel, the Grover L Hartman Center for Civic Education and Leadership organizes an array of service programs in the community, the region, the nation and overseas. Almost two-thirds of the DePauw student body participate in these programs.
The Hartman Center, the programs of the Religious Life Center, and the number of students who participate in these programs highlight a changing focus on today's college campus - namely, student service to others. University support for such service, for social concerns, for student struggles to develop belief patterns, and for students' many different paths of faith journeys is a vital part of the relationship between DePauw University and United Methodism.
Working to bridge the patterns of continuity and change is the United Methodist Council for DePauw University. Suggested by University President Robert G. Bottoms and established by the board of trustees, the council was formed to affirm and enhance the relationship between the Church and University. The council Is made up of clergy and laity from the North and South Indiana conferences, including representatives from both boards of higher education and campus ministry, and meets at least twice yearly to advise the university president and the trustees on programs aimed at nurturing students in moral formation and character development.
The United Methodist Church and DePauw University are each evolving and working to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. Their mutual support can only enhance that work as they both cope with continuity and change.
Thomas A. Sargent, Chair
United Methodist Council
DePauw University