PC(USA) to hold national peer ministry training conference

Summer event will help students learn about mutual ministry

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE — The first national Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) College Student Peer Ministry Training conference is set for June 15–19.

       The four-day event, which is being called Peer 1, will be held on the campus of the University of Louisville, less than five miles from where 24-year-old Rick Upchurch serves as an intern with the Collegiate Ministries Office at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville.

       What began as peer ministry work in college five years ago has led this Frankfort, KY, native   to seminary, to the yearlong internship, and now to a key role in planning the conference.

       “If it weren’t for that peer ministry position I’m not sure what I’d be doing now,” says Upchurch, who attends Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary when he’s not busy interning. “I know that experience told me clearly that I had a call to go into ministry. And now I’m planning an event to help college student peer ministers learn skills that I discovered only after I tripped over them.”

        Peer ministry most often involves college undergraduates who are serving a campus ministry through leadership of programs with other students. 

      Upchurch’s work was typical of the current crop of peer ministers involved in PC(USA) campus ministries. He tracked down known and unknown Presbyterians, conducted Bible studies, designed retreats, and had leadership roles in the Sunday morning worship of a local church.

       “The collegiate peer ministry programs are proving to be one of the best ways to introduce students to the theological concept of responsible servanthood,” says the Rev. Bob Turner, the PC(USA)'s associate for collegiate ministries, which is helping sponsor the event. “They truly do needed service in a setting of supervised reflection about their faith development and spiritual gifts.” 

       The event is also being sponsored in partnership with the denomination's Presbyterian Student Strategy Team, the newly organized Presbyterian Association for Collegiate and Higher Education Ministries (PACHEM), and the national United Ministries in Higher Education office. 

       The conference will include opportunities for participants to conduct service projects around Louisville, guest speakers, and workshops on a range of topics from holding Bible studies to fund raising.

       “The campus will serve sort of as a laboratory for students to learn how to do things when they get back to their own campuses,” Upchurch said. “Either holding dorm room–type Bible studies or using a student activities center for access to students. All the ins and outs of doing peer ministry. As far as accountability, working with other people, and definitely fund raising.”

       A separate conference will be held on the University of Louisville campus at the same time for PC(USA) collegiate ministry staff who serve local churches and individuals with higher education ministry responsibilities for presbyteries, synods and other regional bodies.

      Additional information about these conferences, other summer collegiate ministry events and PC(USA) higher education ministry resources will be available soon at http://www.pcusa.org/pcc or http://www.pachem.org.