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Back to school, back to campus ministries
Christ is present on campus at our three UM-related universities, and also at state universities' Wesley Foundations.
By Matthew Oates
It's September and that can mean one thing: time for school. And with thousands of students pouring onto numerous state and private colleges across the state, it makes for a ripe mission field for UM-related chaplains and campus ministries.
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Editor's Note: This article looks at how the Indiana church supports campus ministry at UMC-sponsored institutions. Both the North and South Indiana conferences provide some funding for the chaplains at the three UM-related universities in the state: DePauw and the universities of Evansville and Indianapolis. North Indiana provides funding for the Wesley Foundations at Purdue and Ball State universities and an ecumenical program at IUPU-Fort Wayne; while South Indiana does campus ministry ecumenically through ICUMHE (Indiana Commission of United Ministries in Higher Education). |
The staffs of the UM-solely sponsored three chaplains' offices and two campus ministries across the state are bracing themselves for new programs, new worship experiences and new students coming in seeking help, guidance and spiritual advice and growth.
The two settings are different: three are on UM-related institutions, two are on state campuses; yet they face the same challenges in reaching out to students.
A UM-related university chaplain
The Rev. John Brittain, university chaplain at Evansville, has been involved with campus ministry for more than 23 years, 15 of them in Evansville. He has an office in Neu Chapel, a university building located on the campus.
He is both appointed by the Indiana Bishop Woodie W. White and is hired by the university. He works through the president's office, as well with the dean of students' office.
During the semester, he will see an average of about 400 students out of the estimated 2,000 enrolled come through his doors for some type of ministry program. Besides being a chaplain, he also teaches one course a year at the university and oversees the various religious student organizations through the Chaplain's Council.
A week in the life of Brittain can be quite busy, with Sunday programming, services on Thursdays, activities and meetings the rest of the time. "There are some things like a church," he says.
Students are involved in the planning and implementation of many of the programs and services. The religious programs offered range from Alpha to pre-marriage programs to mission projects and touch a wide variety of lives.
"Many of our students who are most active are United Methodist, but not all," says Brittain.
Also, he has seen an increase in the number of non-active and non-religious students coming through the chapel's doors recently.
But also, he has seen the patterns of students change before his eyes, which also causes a shift in attendance and those participating in the programs. Students are working more in the classrooms or with jobs, are involved with other activities on campus or attend other churches with some form of college or young adult programming. Also, more and more students have cars on campus which they use to go home or elsewhere on the weekends. "The students every year seem to be busier," says Brittain. "There is much greater competition for students' time and attention."
The ministry, which includes an administrative assistant, a work-study student office assistant, two work study student ministers and a volunteer chaplain, works with the staff and various area United Methodist churches on projects and maintains a relationship with the churches and the surrounding area. "The university has a good relationship with the community," says Brittain. "Our students put in a good number of volunteer hours in Evansville."
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Wesley Foundation chaplain
The Rev. Steve Cain, campus minister at Purdue and director of the Wesley Foundation, agrees and witnesses many of the experiences Brittain goes through.
The nation's second-oldest Wesley Foundation "offers students a chance to explore Bible studies, worship and social experiences all with an aim of helping their faith develop," said Cain. And what can work one semester doesn't necessarily work the next, he notes.
Cain and the three-person staff see a wide variety of students, be it in their faith walks, ethnicity or their faith tradition. "We long to be the first place a student goes on a mission trip or gives a first sermon, where God's call to ministry can be a part of their experience."
While being associated with the denomination at a state school, Cain walks a line between representing The United Methodist Church and working with the other Greater Lafayette area churches, while also working with and being independent from Purdue administrators. "We are in tune with the campus rhythms and issues as such we can change our program in an evening," says Cain.
As part of Wesley's Methodist ties, Cain and the staff report directly to the Bishop's office on a yearly basis, to the annual conference and the Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry and they also work with a local board of directors.
Input for programming -- be it a study, worship service, mission project or campus activity -- comes from the students and the staff. The week at Wesley includes Sunday afternoon worship, dinner and discussions; mid-week communion services; fellowship events; small-group studies and meetings; and mission projects.
"One of our missions is innovation," says Cain, who has been at Wesley since 1989. Many programs, such as the Grand Alternative -- a series of events to combat underage and binge drinking -- or De-Stress Fest help bring the church's message of care and love to students who might not set foot in the building.
Purdue gathers and distributes religious preference information from all incoming students and shares with the 60-plus campus religious groups. Cain has noticed that fewer and fewer students are marking the United Methodist label each year, as well as the increasing number of students with no religious preference or upbringing. "It's a ripe mission field all the time."
Last updated on 01/14/2004