University Ministry Committee

Michael McElreath, Committee Chair

The University Ministry Committee is a group of parishioners and UNC students committed to supporting and enhancing connections between the parish and the university. The Chapel of the Cross has ministered to the campus and its denizens for nearly 200 years, and the UMC is the parish committee dedicated to the ongoing enterprise.

I joined the committee about three years ago. We meet once a month to discuss ways to support campus ministry. In the past, the majority of our discussions have revolved around our well-established undergraduate group, the Episcopal Campus Ministry. ECM is a vibrant and active Christian community that supports its current members, the parish, and the wider world through many outreach and mission activities. Too often, I believe the parish takes for granted this group of energetic and creative Christians-we might look to them for ideas and support to invigorate the entire life of the parish.

Beyond ECM, however, the UMC sees its role as serving the needs of the entire campus community. Many students-undergraduates and graduate students-attend services at the Chapel of the Cross. We need to figure out meaningful ways to support them in their spiritual life. It is wonderful that CrossTies, the main graduate-student-age fellowship group, has been more active in the last year, under the organization of Kat Tompkins. Bible study led by diocesan intern, Joel Weinberger, and targeted to adults in their 20s and 30s, is also available during the hour between the main Sunday services (all are welcome regardless of age, of course).

The UMC would like to extend its outreach (and, by extension, the outreach of the parish and the Church) to the entire campus. We want to find ways to engage the spiritual lives of university staff and faculty as well as students. For example, the UMC is presently planning a program on faith and vocation for future, present, and former students who would like to find ways to integrate their faith and their work lives. We will ask members of the university community to help us figure out how they try to deal with such questions. Stephen Stanley began occasional lunchtime meetings to discuss the intersection of faith and vocation with medical personnel (students, residents, doctors, and nurses) at UNC hospitals in the last year, and we hope to sponsor similar forums in the future.

Finally, the UMC has also had discussions in the past year about broadening its vision to include the campus and the community. Part of this vision entails a willingness to speak out on matters of importance to the University community, particularly when they intersect with questions of faith. Look for us to do more of that in the future. bgarren@email.unc.edu

Members of the UMC:

Elizabeth Bluhm

Bob Chase

Jean DeSaix

Ollie Inglis

Mary Olive Jones

Mary Brenda Joyner

Michael McElreath

Brian Smith

Michael Stafford

Don Stedman

Sarah Taylor

Kevin Trapani

Pat Van Culin

Bill Yeager