Draft Proposal for Campus Ministry Positions and Use of Diocesan Campus Ministry Funds

Vision Statement

Recognizing the need for a more structured approach to campus ministry, the Bishop appointed the Commission for College and Young Adult Ministry (CCYAM) to assess the needs of the diocese in this area and propose a model of campus ministry. Historically, the campus minister positions in the diocese have experienced high levels of transition and vacancies. The CCYAM recognizes the need for student leaders to provide long-term continuity for our campus ministries. By raising up student leadership, we will strengthen relationships between campuses and parishes and provide opportunities to develop and nurture young leaders.

 

Student Ministers

Paid Student Ministers will commit to a 2-year position, working with the CCYAM, the Campus Minister (if one is present), and the local parishes and clergy to provide campus ministry at their college or university. The positions will rotate so that one term expires every year. Each Student Minister will receive a stipend of $1,500 each semester in return for an average of 12 hours of work each week. Student Ministers will have an opportunity to practice and refine leadership skills that will benefit them in both secular and faith-based communities. Student Ministers’ responsibilities will include:

1)   Function as a representative to the CCYAM and Diocesan Convention

2)   Attend Peer Ministry training

3)   Recruit students

4)   Organize (or assist if a campus minister is present) the basic campus ministry program

      a)   Meet regularly with campus ministry leaders (Student Ministers, Campus Ministers, Parish     Representatives, Clergy, etc)

      b)   Weekly meetings/gatherings

      c)    Worship and Christian Ed (coordinating with local clergy)

      d)   Special Events (service/outreach projects, fundraising, trips, etc)

      e)    Advertising and communication

5)   Utilize Peer Ministry skills gained in training (small group leadership, basic/appropriate pastoral care, self-care, etc)

6)   Receive appropriate Safeguarding Training as needed/required by diocesan standards

7)   Prepare 2 reports to the CCYAM each semester (midterm and end of semester)

      a)    Log of hours kept

      b)   Summary of Ministry

      c)    Breakdown of how diocesan program funds were spent

      d)   Ideas on how the CCYAM can better assist them

The Commission for College and Young Adult Ministry

The CCYAM will provide direct supervision and support for the Student Ministers. Specifically, the CCYAM will:

1)     Hire 2 Student Ministers for each campus (WVU and Marshall).

      a)     The interviews for WVU will be conducted by the Commission Chair, the DYMC, the Campus Minister (Nicki Carpenter), Clergy or Lay person from Trinity, and one other Commission Member.

      b)     The interviews for Marshall will be conducted by the Commission Chair, the DYMC, the Campus Minister (if there is one), clergy or lay person from Trinity, and one other Commission Member.

      c)     The Commission as a whole will make hiring recommendations to the Bishop for his final approval.

2)     Provide support the Student Ministers and the campus ministries by:

      a)     Helping to establish and maintain relationships between the Student Ministers/Campus Ministry groups and local parishes and clergy.

      b)     Evaluating reports from the Student Ministers and determine ways to enhance local and diocesan campus ministries.

      c)     Monitoring  the use of diocesan funds for program, and provide suggestions for its use.

 

Proposed Use of Funds 
($36,000 allocated for Campus Ministry by Diocesan Council for the 2009 Diocesan Budget)

First Year Proposed Budget (2009)

Student Minister Stipends                                                                         $12,000
Peer Ministry Training                                                                               $5,000
Diocesan CYAM Program                                                                          $10,000
WVU Program Supplement                                                                        $3,000
Marshall Program Supplement                                                                 $3,000
National Gathering  (3-year cumulating fund)                                         $3,000

 

Explanation of Line Items:

Student Minister Stipends: $1,500 each semester, for each of the 4 students.

Peer Ministry Training: Training expenses for the Student Ministers. Depending on scheduling and availability, we will either send students to a national training or bring a trainer into the diocese.

Diocesan CYAM Program: Spring and fall retreats at Peterkin. The program money will be used so that students do not have to pay out of pocket to attend. In addition, this line item may cover CCYAM meetings and additional training expenses for Student Ministers (2 trainings may be required in the first year).

WVU and Marshall Program Supplements:  These funds will be distributed to Trinity, Morgantown and Trinity, Huntington for use by the campus ministry programs. These funds will be administered by each parish, and are to be used for local programming such as food, supplies, program materials, and weekly meetings costs. These funds should supplement parish contributions to their local campus ministry.

National Gathering: “Nat Gat” is a gathering of Episcopalian College students held every three years in Estes Park, CO. Students gather for worship, forums on church and world issues, fellowship, and sharing of ideas. Funds will be set aside each year in order to distribute the expense of this event over a 3-year period.

 

Long Term Goals/Vision

1) Smaller Campuses (WV Wesleyan, Shepherd, Fairmont State, etc)

      a)    Peer ministers part of ministry at these campuses in addition to WVU and Marshall

      b)     Local parishes in support of smaller campus ministries

2)   Student representatives to have voice and vote at Diocesan Convention.

3)   Diocesan service projects and the necessary funding to carry them out.

 

Notes:

For more information about Campus Peer Ministry, please see the following sites:

http://peerministry.org/campus/

http://ecusa.anglican.org/49065_64573_ENG_HTM.htm

 

For information about National Gathering, please visit:

2008 information: http://ecusa.anglican.org/49065_95835_ENG_HTM.htm

2004 information: http://ecusa.anglican.org/49065_51260_ENG_HTM.htm

 

Campus Ministry Commission Design (PROPOSED)

Goals of the commission:

1. Foster communication among the Episcopal groups on college campuses
2. Plan diocesan college events (retreats, outreach opportunities)
3. Share Christian education materials
4. Develop a self-perpetuating cycle of student leaders
5. Promote an open, safe, and comfortable environment in which to worship and explore our faith in Jesus Christ
6. Communicate with provincial college organizations (i.e. PHELT)

 

Two personnel models:

WVCMC Diocesan Coordinator Model

 Who? 

• Diocesan College Coordinator
• Campus Student Leaders (work/study)
• One other student representative per school
• One adult mentor

WVCMC College Chaplain Model

Who?

• College Chaplains
• 2 students per school
• Diocesan Youth Coordinator

 

Leadership roles for students:

Numbers and Terms

• Two students from each campus participate on the commission
• Terms are two years
• Terms are staggered so one new student joins the commission each year from each school
• Commission members make a commitment to the WVCMC and are asked to make it a priority when scheduling events.

 

Student Roles

• Chairperson: convenes and presides at meetings; communicate with provincial organizations; student is in his or her second year on commission
• Secretary: takes notes, update contact information, archive and post information on website, other media; student is in his or her second year on commission
• Assistant to the chairperson: works with the chairperson, learning the chair’s duties; becomes the chairperson at the end of the school year; is in his or her first year on commission; selected at the beginning of second semester.
• Participants: non-officer members of the commission attend meetings; contribute ideas and energy; represent their colleges on the commission

  Adult Roles

• Coordinator: full-time diocesan staff position; works with the commission to implement college ministries in the diocese
•          or
• College chaplains: available as resources for the student leaders
• Adult mentor: an adult in the diocese, who graduated from college in the last ten years; advises the chair and commission; offers a post-college perspective

 

April 18, 2008 Meeting Minutes

(Submitted by Amy Seitz)

Purpose statement was read: “to guide and shape campus ministry in the diocese, and to be a sounding board and resource to campus ministers in WV.”

Jason’s responsibilities are as diocesan liaison. The ministries at Marshall and WVU have little support of their program. Our job is to be a resource to parishes. We also may be able to support a Hallelujah Hike reunion.

Brainstorm:

a mission trip between Christmas and New Years to New Orleans or overseas with older High School students, college age and young adults

National Gathering is this year

Booth at Convention

o       Take time at every break at convention to give some sort of tip for parishes as to how they can support college ministry

o       Produce a DVD and web link

Information exchange

o       Support those who are going out of state, send our information to their campus

o       Booth at college opening weekend

o       Pod casts

o       Students at college communicate to parish and vestry

o       Prayer list on facebook

o       Add college ministries to the diocesan cycle of prayer

o       Use facebook to distribute and make available documents and resources for ministries

By the end of 2009 school year have a goal for how transition of members will occur

Commit to sending something to the Dayspring every time

We need to seem Legitimate in the eyes of other entities, Intentional

Congregational swap: give us information about high school students and we’ll give you stuff about young adults

Assignments:

Adam and Maria will work on structure of the group

Nikki and Amy will contact churches

Siobhán and Nikki will work on a booklet

Eric and Ann will work on information we want to give to parishes that are near colleges

Siobhán and Nikki will give the materials they use to the dio. Webmaster (and webmaster for campus ministry)

Nikki will work on a newsletter

Jason will be able to print and distribute booklets and information

Campus Ministry Position Ideas

Make comments to this post with your ideas for campus ministry position(s). The Bishop has asked the Campus Ministry Task Force to come up with several different ideas for campus ministry positions.  At this stage, our focus is to be on Marshall and WVU.

Campus Ministry Booklets

(Submitted by Nicki Carpenter and Siobhán Patterson)

We made campus ministry booklets and distributed them to the graduating high school seniors (12) at Senior Camp at Peterkin in June.  The booklets include:

• An introduction to/description of campus ministry
• Information on diocesan campus ministry
• A listing (by city) of WV parishes and schools
• Advice from current and former students in campus ministry groups
• Information on the campus ministries at Marshall and WVU

Faith Perrizo will be giving copies of the booklet to all the new clergy in the diocese at the new clergy gathering in August.

We are also working on a second booklet to send to parishes in WV to encourage/support outreach to college students.  This booklet will include the document on small congregations serving small colleges, which Ann and Eric put together.  We are working to have these booklets mailed out before the end of August.

(I will attach the booklet file when I figure out how to do that! SEP)  

Campus Ministry: Small Congregations Serving Small Colleges

(Submitted by Ann Burr and Eric Miller)

Even small Episcopal churches can make a big difference in the life of a college student.  Here are some ways in which your congregation can get started with this ministry. The students will appreciate your efforts and your congregation will be enriched by their participation.

• Feeling welcome is the main concern of college students who attend a new church. Be intentional about meeting and speaking to them when they do come to your church.  Sit with students during worship so they don’t sit alone. Many students may not be Episcopalian and may appreciate help with the BCP and Hymnals, as needed. 

• Invite students to stay after the service for Coffee Hour. Be sure there are other beverages and lots of ‘goodies” available.

• Offer to provide rides for worship or other church activities.

• Include students in worship. Find out their past experiences. [i.e. choir, acolytes, ushers, etc.] Laity or clergy could offer a mid-week Bible study for college students. 

• Organize a special “Students Night Out” Supper—one time only, once a week, once a month. Students love to eat outside the school food services. Keep it simple, but “filling.” [i.e. Parishioners bring covered-dish lasagna, salad, breads, dessert.] Inviting students to your homes for cookouts and home-cooked meals is always a nice idea as well.

• Provide “Care Packages” for students during finals week with a note wishing them well on their exams. [i.e. include homemade cookies, snacks, pens, etc.]

• Communicate with College Chaplain or Deans:

         *  Find out college policies and regulations concerning privacy issues. 

         *  Ask what is being done by other community churches that your Episcopal Church might do also. 

         *  If the college invites the community to participate in a Freshman or Beginning of the Year Orientation, set up a booth advertising your Episcopal Church. Provide hand-out information about your   church including worship times, directions, phone numbers, website, & email address.  Ask interested       students to complete forms volunteering their campus email addresses and other information that would be helpful for communicating with them.

         *  Send emails to students inviting them to worship services and other activities.

 

A Forum

So this is the web forum for the posting of work in progress for the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia Campus Ministry Taskforce.

Contributors: please register at wordpress.com and then email taskforcewv@gmail.com with the email you used when registering. I will then give you posting privileges beyond simply commenting on posts.

More info in the coming weeks.