Experiments in Campus Ministry

Prepared for the Board of Directors of the

Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries

by James Park, staff member beginning in 1986,

Board member 1993-1998.

(June 1997, based on the 1989 and 1992 versions)

(Slightly revised February 1998)

(Updated with links to experiments already in progress September 1999)

    The following projects are experiments that might be worth trying.
The Board of Directors and staff will have to decide
which might be the most cost-effective:
What are the costs in staff time and dollars?
What results do we expect?

    When I was the paid staff member of MUUMC,
I prepared a one-page summary for most of these possible projects,
using the following format:
(1) The Project
(2) Impact on Participants
(3) UU Impact,
(4) Costs
(5) Publicity
(6) Evaluation
(7) Other Comments.

    We could choose the best of these suggested projects
to include in future fund-raising proposals.
New forms of campus ministry could encourage increased funding.
Please suggest additional experiments worth trying.

S. Projects in Support of the

University Unitarian Universalists (UUU)

1. Better Cooperation with Young Adult Groups in the Twin Cities.

2. Achieving a Better Transition from High School to College Activities.

3. A UUU Banner for Use in Celebrations and Demonstrations.

O. Outreach Projects—to Reach New People

1. A Literature and Contact Table in Coffman Memorial Union.

2. Co-Sponsored Programs with Coffman Memorial Union, Program Council.

3. A Religious Dialog Program on a Local Radio Station—KFAI, KUOM

4. Participation in other Radio and Television Programs.

5. Representatives to High School and College Religion Classes.

6. Direct Mail to Students Living on Campus.

C. Cooperation with other Campus Religious Groups

1. Participation in the Cooperating Campus Ministries.

2. Cooperation with other Campus Ministry Groups on Social Justice Issues.

3. Co-Sponsored Programs with other Religious Groups on Campus.

N. New Forms of Campus Ministry

1. Mini-Courses on Campus for All Interested.

2. Professional Services by MUUCM staff and other UU Ministers.

A. Pastoral Care by E-Mail.
B. Spiritual Guidance.
C. Personal Growth Consultation.
D. Love, Sex, & Relationships Consultation.
E. Medical Ethics Consultation.
F. Ceremonial Services
—weddings, commitment celebrations, memorial services.
3. Support Group for Students Leaving Traditional Religions.

4. Support Group for Students Leaving Totalitarian Religious Cults.

5. Support Group for Students Recovering from Alcohol and Drug Problems.

6. Support Group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transsexual Students

—especially for those dealing with religious issues.
7. Develop a Cooperative Campus Ministry with other Religious Liberals
—Quakers, Atheists & Humanists, Humanistic Jews,
Humanist Campus Ministry, etc.
8. Ceremonial, Ritual, or Spiritual Events on Campus
—gatherings for 'worship', silence, meditation, etc.
9. An E-Mail Magazine for UUs on Campus.

    This experiment is already underway.
Heart, Mind, & Spirit published its first issue in Spring 1999.

10. Opinion Articles in the Minnesota Daily and other Campus Newspapers.

11. Lectures on Campus by Well-Known Speakers.

12. Campus Luncheon Meeting for UU Faculty and Staff.

W. Wider Ministries—Beyond the Campuses

1. An Adult Education Program for all UUs in the Twin Cities.

2. Mini-Courses on Radio.

3. A Newsletter or Web Site for the Most Important UU Events in the Twin Cities.

A. Administrative and Funding Experiments

1. Internships by UU Seminary Students.

2. Develop Models for Successful Forms of Campus Ministry.

3. Seek Funding for Campus Ministry from Individuals.

4. A Campus Ministry-Young Adult Sunday at Local UU Congregations.

5. Team Campus Ministry—Involving Local UU Clergy.

6. Greater Cooperation with other UU Campus Ministries.

7. Expanding Our Campus Ministry to other Minnesota and Wisconsin Campuses.

8. Better Cooperation and Coordination with Local UU Congregations.

9. Having Our Staff Person Listed as the Campus Minister of Local Congregations.

10. Listing MUUCM in the Yellow Pages.

11. Recruiting and Organizing Volunteers for Campus Ministry.

12. An E-Mail Newsletter for People Involved in UU Campus Ministry.

    This experiment is also underway.
The Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries List—UUCM-L
is one of the mailing lists of the UUA:

   To subscribe to the
Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry List:
1. Send an e-mail to: listproc@uua.org
2. Leave subject line blank.
3. Type this message: Subscribe UUCM-L.
4. Type: Your Name.
You will receive automatic confirmation
that you are on the list.

    You can also become a subscriber
by going to the following part of the UUA home page:

http://www.uua.org/LISTS/subscribe.html

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James Leonard Park—Free Library