UKirk Collegiate Ministries held its annual gathering at Washington University in St. Louis from June 24–27. This year’s event was intentionally ecumenical, partnering with the campus ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Episcopal Church of America and sharing through keynotes and workshops how to engage young adults in colleges and universities under the theme of “Justice & Joy.”
“Joining together with folks from different campuses and denominations provided a meaningful space for collaboration,” said the Rev. Chris Bailey, campus minister at Marshall University. “I look forward to returning to my own campus with a renewed energy to work creatively alongside my local colleagues.”
"The Justice & Joy Conference was a beautiful ecumenical gathering that brought over 220 Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Lutheran campus chaplains and young adult ministers together to worship, pray and strategize about building ministry collaborations to grow the faith of young adults across our denominations,” said Canon Myra Garnes, officer for youth, young adult and campus ministries in the Department of Mission of The Episcopal Church. “Episcopal leaders are excited to continue these partnerships.”
Representatives of UKirk’s 200-plus ministries across the country were among the preachers and presenters at this year’s event. In some cases, these leaders represented ecumenical campus ministries, such as the preacher of the opening worship, the Rev. Kate Van Valkenburg of United Campus Christian Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is a joint Lutheran Campus Ministry Network and UKirk ministry. The Rev. Nii Addo Abrahams of Pres House on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison preached the closing worship service and led a workshop. Other Presbyterian workshop leaders included the Rev. Joseph Moore with the Presbyterian Foundation, the Rev. Phil Dieke and Rudy Logan with the 787 Collective of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Carole Essen and Kristi Button from United Campus Ministry in Arkansas, and the Rev. Dr. Gini Norris-Lane, executive director of the national UKirk Collegiate Ministries.
According to Norris-Lane, a number of UKirk ministries receive ecumenical support, especially as denominational and congregational support for collegiate ministries wane. In addition to strengthening ecumenical partnerships, Norris-Lane said that "one of the reasons we decided to do an ecumenical conference was to help those campus ministers who usually have to choose which national gathering to attend each year have a space to connect with all of their colleagues."
Romans 12:15, which proclaims, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep,” grounded the event and the presentations of the three keynote speakers as they invited participants to “courageously face injustice, tribulation and brokenness in our world while faithfully bearing witness to God’s justice, joy and healing presence,” according to the conference’s registration webpage.
“What and where is the Spirit asking you to risk to resist incremental liberation?” the Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker asked in the opening keynote. Wise Baker is the assistant professor of contextual education and community engagement at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. In August 2014, she became the clergy caucus co-leader of the Gamaliel Network’s Metropolitan Congregations United, an organization that resourced clergy and congregations in the early stages of the Ferguson movement. She has also been involved in organizing movements to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline in Missouri and building long-term grassroots power with formerly incarcerated youth, adults and their families.
The second keynoter, the Rev. Aaron Rogers, was also a preacher, pastor and leader within the Episcopal Church with a background in organizing in the St. Louis area before taking a call to Southern Ohio. In his address, Rogers both cautioned and encouraged participants to understand how “justice moves you to uncomfortable places.”
The Rev. Traci Blackmon, ordained in both the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Church of Christ, emphasized the urgency of justice in our society, especially for young adults and those who minister to them. “You aren't babysitting the future, you’re midwifing the now,” she said.
Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Interim Unified Agency (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Louis DiBiase, AVP, Trust Officer, Trust Services, The Presbyterian Foundation
Dawn Diggs, Manager, Compliance, Operations, The Presbyterian Foundation
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, your unconditional love inspires us to be loving, welcoming and hospitable to our neighbors. Pour into our hearts your compassion and strengthen and guide us as we go forth to make your kingdom tangible. Grant us your peace and surround us with your presence. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment