Congregations Gain as Campus Ministry Grows

When Scott McNeill made a visit to the University of South Carolina at the end of high school, among the documents he received was the university’s campus ministry notebook.

That’s where he learned about Unitarian Universalism, in a brief paragraph describing the UU campus program. He didn't end up going to USC, but when he went home he researched the religion and joined the UU Church of Greensboro, N.C. (227 members).

“It was the only religion [in the book] I had not heard of,” he said. “I went on-line and it really resonated with the beliefs I had but hadn’t been able to articulate.” McNeill attended two University of North Carolina campuses and helped start UU campus groups at both. Now a senior, he’s active in the UU young adult movement and is on a path toward UU ministry. “I’d be in a different place in my life if I hadn’t discovered Unitarian Universalism,” he said.

The odds are improving that college students like McNeill will discover this faith of ours. In 2001 there were 30 UU campus ministry groups. Today there are 141. More and more congregations have discovered that creating and supporting a campus group is not only possible, but rewarding.

Justin Schroeder at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Okla. (1,100 members), has coordinated a campus program at the University of Tulsa since 2001. He began by calling all students who had been in the youth program at All Souls and at other nearby UU congregations. He invited those who were attending college nearby to an organizational meeting, and hosted a table at the school’s fall activities fair.

UU campus meetings at Tulsa tend to draw six to fifteen students. Schroeder, who earlier developed a campus group at Colorado State University, has these words of advice: “Don’t expect consistency. Campus ministry ebbs and flows over each semester.” It usually starts strong in the fall, he said, and tapers off during finals and holiday periods.

Meetings at the University of Tulsa include a worship service. Sometimes there is a potluck or members cook a meal. The group generally has a weekend retreat in the fall and sometimes in the spring. Give students some structure, but not too much, Schroeder advises. Do hold meetings at a regular time.

He recommends contacting other churches in your district or region to identify any students attending your college.

Schroeder said he is the primary member of All Souls who is involved with the campus ministry, although sometimes church members will bake cookies for the campus meetings. “There is a sense of pride and thankfulness that we have this ministry,” he said. “People will approach me at church and tell me how excited they are there is such a program, because their son or daughter didn’t have that opportunity. People also mention it in announcements on Sunday morning.” Members of the campus group also occasionally help All Souls do a Soulful Sundown young adult service.

The UU Church of North Hatley, Quebec, with 28 active members, has a ministry at Bishop’s University 50 miles away in Lennoxville. North Hatley member Keith Baxter, a teacher at the school, is program coordinator.

During the school year, Baxter arranges for a worship service about every three weeks. Three to six people attend, and Baxter, a folk musician, provides much of the music. “The tone is quiet and worshipful. I love it. I’m often impressed by the young adults who come and contribute thoughtful conversation.”

He said he’s not trying to recruit participants into Unitarian Universalism. “I just see this as a ministry that stands on its own. And it’s so bloody easy to do. There’s not a huge amount of preparation. It just requires someone who is willing to spend time with young adults. ”

For more information on campus ministry programs go to www.uua.org/yacm.