New England Campus Ministry Initiative

From the Synod of the Northeast newsletter, January 2009

In 2008 the New England Presbytery Partnership Group (Boston, Northern and Southern New England Presbyteries) established its New England Presbyterian Campus Initiative (NEPCI), coordinated by Kelsey Rice Bogdan and administrated by the Rev. Karl Gustafson. In a year-end holiday update, Kelsey wrote that the research phase of the project is near completion, with information collected from about 215 accredited colleges in New England, including information about religious life on campus. She noted that there are just over 70 colleges in each of the three presbyteries supporting the project, which means there are two colleges for every one Presbyterian congregation in the region. Presbyterians support 23 ministries to college students, reaching less than ten percent of the New England campuses. At a time when there is increasing financial pressure on campus ministries due to budget constraints on congregations and governing bodies, Kelsey notes that more than half of on-campus religious activities take place at only 34 of the region’s most elite colleges (which often have their own staff) while many other campuses are underserved. Kelsey gave a short-hand report related to the quality of religious life on campus and the scope of service. The data reveal that:

• Students want to change the world, desiring to find purpose and meaning in their lives through service opportunities.
• Students need relationships to grow, including challenging mentors and companions on their faith journeys.
• Churches need to reorient themselves towards college students for the sake of the gospel, meaning rethinking church mission and ministry to embrace the vision and longing of students, and so to utilize their gifts.

Commenting on campus ministries supported by Presbyterians, Kelsey made several keen observations:

• That campus ministry is a witness to Christ’s love through presence among students, faculty and staff. Chaplains and campus pastors are often the first clergy called during a campus emergency, but they are also a steadfast presence.
• Students are brought together into communities of faith, rather than left in isolation, due to campus ministry activities.
• Ministries supported by congregations with colleges in their midst, as well as those supported denominationally that are not near to congregations, often provide service project opportunities for hands-on mission throughout the nation and the world.

Kelsey reports that an event for campus ministry stakeholders will be held this spring in New England, with details forthcoming; she encourages us to pray for students, campus ministries, and to encourage those in the region to consider attending the spring event looking for what God may do anew through Presbyterians in the work of campus ministry. For more information, visit the Synod of the Northeast Web site.