Episcopal Press and News
Campus ministry grants embody General Convention's commitment to young adults
Episcopal News Service. March 9, 2007 [030907-03]
Daphne Mack
The Provincial Coordinators for Higher Education Ministry awarded seven new campus ministries, representing five provinces, start-up grants totaling more than $165,000.
"The General Convention in 2006 retained young adults, youth, campus ministry and children as its second mission priority after peace and justice," said the Rev. G. Douglas Fenton, staff officer for the Office of Young Adults and Higher Education Ministries. "A budget allocation was provided to continue the work on campus ministry start-ups and consequently seven new campus ministries will begin soon, in partnership with both diocesan and local parish support."
The 74th General Convention in 2003 also listed young adults, youth and campus ministry as its first priority and provided for campus ministry in the $1 million fund that benefited five campuses -- Southern Maine, Toledo, New York University, Montana State-Bozeman, and University of Nevada-Reno -- with start-up grants for a two year period.
According to Fenton, the Provincial Coordinators for Higher Education Ministry received 40 grant proposals, at least one from every province, signed by the respective diocesan bishop. He said it "signifies that the dioceses and local church communities have not abandoned their commitment and their hope to respond to this rich 'mission field.'"
The Rev. Dr. Jim Lemler, director of mission for the Episcopal Church, said one of the five primary elements of the 20/20 Vision of being a "healthy, dynamic, and vital church," is to "focus on children, youth, and college ministries."
"College ministries are an integral part of the Church's mission. They are ministries of transformation, community, service, and prayer," he said. "Demographically, the Episcopal Church is seriously under-represented in the age group 20-35, in fact, our percentage is less than half the percentage in the general American population."
Lemler emphasized that the focus must be on this age group and these communities "if we are to thrive as a church." More importantly, he said, "this age group has something necessary to offer to the whole church as we live into this post-modern period."
The seven award recipients include:
- Diocese of Chicago: "The South Loop"
- Diocese of Los Angeles: California State University Channel Islands
- Diocese of Maryland: Morgan State
- Diocese of Easton: Salisbury University, Maryland (Eastern Shore)
- Diocese of New Hampshire: Four colleges, campus missioner
- Diocese of El Camino Real: Cal Poly
- Diocese of Honduras
Fenton said the grant to the Diocese of Honduras is for the first campus ministry in Province IX at the Universidad Nacional Autonóma De Honduras –Tegucigalpa, and Universidad Nacional Autonóma De Honduras – San Pedro Sula. The award is half of their request but the balance has been pledged by the eight provincial coordinators.
"This is understood to be a partnership in mission," said Fenton. "Each Province committed to an amount totaling the balance that will be dispersed after American Thanksgiving because it will give campus ministries time to raise funds once their fall term begins."
Noting the establishment of 12 new campus ministries over a six year period, Fenton explained that "there is still more to do." He said the Episcopal Church has access to young people on campus at a very formative time in their lives when "they are making decisions about career, love, life, and God."
"They seek mentors and spiritual companions and the Episcopal Church must be present, and in relationship with them, their friends and the academic institution," said Fenton. "If we are not there others may well fulfill that role."
Lemler said: "College ministries are not an option or an add on. They are at the center of the mission of our church today and these projects represent imaginative and very exciting approaches to this cutting-edge mission."