UKirk Tallahassee celebrates 75 years of welcome and witness
Students, alumni and church leaders gather to honor ministry
“When I visited this UKirk, I sensed something,” said the Rev. Dr. Matt Frease, executive director of UKirk Tallahassee, during its 75th anniversary celebration on Oct. 25. “I was seeing the good work that had taken place here.”
Frease reflected on how the ministry has navigated significant moments throughout its history, following the Gospel’s call to justice. Westminster House took stands on integration and the civil rights movement, reproductive rights and peace during the Vietnam War. A generation later, students led the ministry to publicly identify as an inclusive and affirming campus ministry for LGBTQIA+ people.
On Saturday, students, alumni and church leaders gathered at Westminster House, on the campus of Florida State University, to celebrate 75 years of continuous Presbyterian campus ministry. The event brought together generations of students whose lives have been shaped by a ministry known for welcome and spiritual formation since 1950.
Ruling Elder Mary Hodges, moderator of the Presbytery of Florida, opened the evening with a prayer. Valerie Young, synod executive and stated clerk for the Synod of South Atlantic, sent video remarks. The Rev. Cece Armstrong, Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024) of the PC(USA), attended and spoke about the unique role of UKirk ministries on college campuses.
The Rev. Dr. Gini Norris-Lane, executive director of UKirk Collegiate Ministries’ national office, also participated, emphasizing the significance of UKirk Tallahassee within the broader network of Presbyterian campus ministries. According to Norris-Lane, UKirks around the nation are celebrating nearly a century of ministry. UKirk at the University of Georgia celebrated 85 and Koinonia Center at the University of Oregon turns 100 in a few weeks.
“I have been reflecting on the Presbyterians 75, 85, 100 years ago who invested in ministry to and with college students,” said Norris-Lane. “They not only were committed to walking alongside their Presbyterian youth who were going to college, but were also inspired to create ministries where non-Presbyterian students could explore the Christian faith and find a spiritual home.”
Norris-Lane noted how those who invest their time and treasure in sustaining UKirks help generations of college students learn to be servant leaders at a formative time in their lives, which strengthens the fabric of the PC(USA). She asked the audience, “How do we revive that same spirit of investing in the next generation of leaders for the church and the world?”
“A donation to campus ministry not only helps for a semester or a year, it is an actual investment in the kind of future we hope for,” said Norris-Lane.
Frease shared a brief history of the ministry, beginning with Dr. Miriam Wilson, who rallied Presbyterian Women across Florida to raise funds for a dedicated campus ministry space. In 1950, the Synod of Florida built Westminster House for $90,000, establishing what would become a transformative presence in the lives of countless students.
One of UKirk Tallahassee’s most visible expressions of ministry began 16 years ago with Calvin’s Coffee House, which operates on a pay-what-you-can model. Calvin’s reflects the ministry’s values of hospitality and inclusion, offering a safe, creative place for the Florida State campus and Tallahassee communities. All are welcome to be who God created them to be and can build community, study, and showcase their artistic talents through open mic nights, art installations, jazz performances and longer-form shows.
“The ministry is one of two outwardly affirming campus ministries at FSU, and Calvin’s is a known safe space in the area,” Frease said. “It is also a space known for artistic expression and a community-forming environment.”
Current student and resident Rowan Rey Miller shared how UKirk has provided a sense of belonging that can be hard to find on a large campus.
“Being a freshman is lonely,” Miller said. “I found friends. I found a family. I found a place to live, and most importantly, I found a place to spread my wings both personally and spiritually.”
Miller said UKirk offers a space where doubts and questions are welcomed. “It didn’t feel like ‘we’ve got you in our claws, and we won’t let go,’” Miller said. Instead, it felt like, “we want you to come be our friend. How can we help you, wherever you are in life and faith today?”
As Frease reflected on the ministry’s legacy, he noted that Westminster House has nurtured faith through worship, study and service. Many students have gone on to become Christian educators, elders, deacons and Sunday school teachers.
Looking ahead, Frease announced plans for a capital campaign to make Calvin’s Coffee House more accessible. The celebration concluded at Calvin’s, which had been converted for the night into a speakeasy, where generations shared food, fun, and fellowship that embodied the ministry’s enduring values of community, faith and welcome.
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