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University Ministry
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A Christian voice The Rev. Tammy Lee, Associate for University
Ministry It was an amazing evening. In fact, it was infused with the
Divine Presence. People had gathered from all over the country to
honor recent Carolina graduates who had excelled beyond the horizon
of anyone's sight. Their accomplishment was nothing short of
the gift of hope. Through their vision and hard work, forgotten and
disenfranchised children in inner city New Haven nowknow that they
are worthy and valuable and capable of great things through a
charter school program called Achievement First. It is working far
beyond what anyone could ask or imagine. Even the Connecticut
legislature was dumbfounded to discover these children's test
scores surpassed those of some of the wealthiest communities in the
country. I don't know what Dacia Toll and Doug McCurry's
religious backgrounds were but I know the fruits of their time at
Carolina incubated this dream. I suspect there was a ministry that
influenced them, if my dinner companions former recipients
themselves were any indication. They consistently used scriptural
metaphors as we shared stories and histories of what it means to go
forth into the world from this particular place and leave a legacy
that changes history. I could not help but think about the
relationship of the Chapel of the Cross with this university - how
ripe the field is for the harvest. What would happen if we took
seriously our task of nurturing souls like Dacia's and
Doug's, took seriously our role as a Christian voice that could
be heard above the shallow din of those not strong enough to carry
the cross to places where there are no answers, only actions that
speak louder than words? I believe we are beginning the process of using that voice in a
more profound way. Communal fragmentation, a lack of institutional
trust, and a wearing away of the moral compass leaves us all
staggering for solid ground. But it is particularly hard on those
among us who are just beginning to venture out into that world. It
is the time to proclaim the merits of the Anglican way - a path
that does not force us to leave our intellect at the door nor
require us to have an answer to every question. There was an Episcopal ad campaign when I was in college that
featured a traditional picture of Jesus gazing heavenward. You all
no doubt have seen it since it was in every Sunday school room in
the '60s. Underneath the picture were these words, "He
died to take away your sins not your mind." I took that very
seriously and my life was changed in a classroom in a public
university. It changed the way I teach in a classroom. We are in a
peculiar position via our location and our resources to proclaim
that alternative vision. We can extend that hope from 304 East
Franklin Street to the Battle Building and to the chemistry lab and
to Murphy Hall and everywhere else on this campus, allowing those
who are seeking to come to a place where he died to take away their
sins not their minds. We can be open to traveling that same path,
which might take us to places that are equally as challenging to
our fixed visions of the universe. The Benedictines have a saying "abore et orare" or to
work is to pray. We are in the early stages of living our work as
our prayer. The newly constituted University Ministry Advisory
Committee has begun its deliberations about how to build those
bridges to and from the university. They continue to be grateful
for the foundation that the former University Ministry Committee so
solidly maintained and now are open to the guidance of the spirit
as their work begins. They are exploring areas of future
development, which include graduate and faculty ministries, to
complement our strong undergraduate program. Compline continues to
thrive, attracting the un-churched and seekers as well as random
people off the street who just want to hear the Gregorian chant. I
have begun to form relationships within the university
administration, strengthening our presence on the campus through
shared projects and concerns. It is gratifying when someone calls
to ask for assistance with a student or a project. It suggests a
trust not always given in a public school setting. Equally
gratifying is sitting in the pit and watching what happened on
Sunday in church translated into the world around us through peer
counseling, advocating for the disenfranchised, or simply basking
in the joy and wonder of creation. Possibilities abound, some of
which you will find articulated in the initial phases of
development on the adjacent page. I hope it will create enthusiasm
for our work together as a community even as I pray that God will
guide us so that our work is not in vain. Just as the entrée was being served at the awards dinner an
a cappella singing group emerged on stage for the evening
entertainment. I caught the eye of the soloist who happened to be
one of Chapel of the Cross' own. He smiled broadly and I smiled
back prompting the man sitting next to me to ask, "Is he one
of yours?" I said "Yes, he is one of mine...no, he is one
of ours - University and church." It was a proud moment for
the university and the church. Send
items for inclusion in future "Cross Roads." © 2005 The Chapel of the Cross |