Campus Ministry Directions at Dalhousie University. A Proposal from the Council of All Nations Christian Reformed Church

Transcription

1 Campus Ministry Directions at Dalhousie University A Proposal from the Council of All Nations Christian Reformed Church to Classis Eastern Canada, meeting October 25-26, 2013 Contents 1. Introduction Hospitality Faith and Learning Service Counseling/student engagement Space and location Workload Governance Proposed budget... 4

2 2 1. Introduction We propose a campus ministry targeted at undergraduate students that is integrated with the ministries and gifts of All Nations Church and that addresses what we believe are the unique challenges for, and gifts of, young university students. Given that the position is half-time, there are some things that the position cannot do. However, we did not just cut the activities of the old chaplaincy in half, but looked at what would work best under these constraints. All Nations is suited for participating in this chaplaincy for what may seem a peculiar reason. Every year we can count on losing almost a quarter of our worshipping congregation not through schism, death, or loss of faith, but simply because people move away from the Maritimes to seeks opportunities elsewhere. Many of those who leave are either new Christians, Christians at the start of their careers, or students. This high turnover in a particular segment of our congregation is a challenge, but it also is a ministry opportunity. Those few years in our church are a crucial time. So, in those few years some people are in our church, we need to show them hospitality, incorporate them into ministries, help them grow in their faith, and give them opportunities for leadership. We have become a church that sends people, particularly young people, to participate in ministries elsewhere. At a time when people of this demographic are leaving the church at an alarming rate, this aspect of our church life is essential. 2. Hospitality Since the chaplaincy would target undergraduate students (who represent the largest student group that attends our church, and that made contact with the initial ministry), there are some peculiar challenges. The overwhelming majority of these students, particularly in their first year, live on campus. They often find themselves bewildered by the various benefits and lures of campus life. Consequently, an initial goal would be integrating new students through purposeful hospitality. The year would begin with a fall meet and greet, followed by members of the church hosting a lunch after church every other week. These shared meals and fellowship have been important to the ministry in the past. One thing students need to do is form a community that is both connected to and independent, to some degree, from their campus life. 3. Faith and Learning The Dalhousie Campus ministry, as other CRCNA campus ministries, has been distinct from the beginning in its engagement with faith and learning. While a visiting lecturer series is probably not feasible at this point in the new ministry, there are two ways to encourage student engagement with faith and learning. The first is through engagement with All Nations adult Sunday School classes, which

3 3 usually have both a bible study and one class per term on an important cultural/intellectual issue (this past term it was on the relationship between faith and science, in which a member of the student community was a co-leader). The second activity would be a series of book studies designed solely for students. These would be designed to run for one or two or three meetings, and then move on to a new book/topic. This focused but plausible time commitment would allow students to drop in or out easily, without requiring a full-term commitment. 4. Service All Nations has a series of ongoing service projects that would work well with students. These would be integrated with and supported by our Community Networker, who is central to our participation in Sunday suppers and Saturday breakfasts for the homeless. As well, we regularly host the Quinte High School group, a group from PEI, and one other to do ministry work in Halifax every year. In the past members of our student community have given support to these visiting groups. The chaplain would help facilitate student engagement, providing support and coordinating with the Community Networker. 5. Counseling/student engagement Inevitably, part of a chaplain s job would involve counseling, which could come naturally out of the above three areas of ministry. Given that we could not ensure that the person we hire would come with training in this area, we think some initial funding might need to be set aside for this (we are aware of a number of local options here). 6. Space and location We anticipate being able to re-establish this ministry within the Dalhousie Interfaith Centre and appreciate the support from Home Missions in defining this work as denominational rather than solely that of a local church. The function of the ministry has a lot to do with the availability of space on Dalhousie campus. The nature of the space would have an impact on fellowship events: it s a lot easier and more likely for students to attend an event if it doesn t require bus transportation (we certainly could not count on a chaplain having a home within walking distance of campus). As well, office space is essential for any kind of confidential counseling and prayer. Although we see the ministry as being located on the Dalhousie campus, this will not prevent engagement with students from other Halifax universities. Personal and professional ties will continue to exist between the several campuses, All Nations and the chaplain. 7. Workload We see the chaplain s 20-hours-per-week workload as roughly dividing itself this way: eight hours on hospitality and group meetings (such as book discussion

4 4 groups). The remaining 12 hours would include office hours, individual meetings, planning, and occasional participation in service projects. 8. Governance There are two possible models of governance, each with their virtues. One model would be for a separate governing committee that would deal with regular governance issues, and would have a liaison from ANCRC council. The second model would be located more snugly within our church, working in much the way that our other committees do. This second option makes sense if we think of the chaplain as a staff position within our church, and it might be more useful for a direct integration with our other ministries. The original organization/steering committee of a legally separate, registered society for governance was taken up to allow for charitable organization status. We are open to a discussion on this question. The Vine Campus Ministry Society has been maintained as a registered, legal entity. It could be retained, but with a restatement of working relationships and accountability to both the All Nations Council and to the Classical Home Missions Committee East. It could also be the focus of re-establishing opportunities for external contributions to the ministry (i.e., third stream funding). As we move forward we would look to the initial experience of the University of Ottawa campus ministry. 9. Proposed budget The proposed budget shown below reflects the anticipated focus of and adjustment to ministry that are anticipated in moving to a half-time chaplaincy position. The program directions supported in the budget emphasize hospitality, emerging leader support and support for informal retreats. The budget includes support for professional development as noted above in our comments on student counseling. The budget anticipates significant support from Classis Eastern Canada. While less than the previous level of support from CEC, it is not one half of that amount which was $30,250 in Support from All Nations is anticipated as $5,000 coming from a combination of support from its annual budget and free will offerings. While we have retained a revenue item under Maritime CRC church support, the ministry is not uniquely a Maritime campus ministry when over half of the students to date have been from other Canadian provinces. In that respect, then, it is a ministry of the CRCNA writ large.

5 5 Campus Ministry Budget Proposal from All Nations to Classis Eastern Canada and CRHM January 1, December 31, Ministry REVENUE 1010: ANCRC support - budgeted $ 2, : ANCRC support - offerings $ 2, : Classis Eastern Canada support $ 25, : CR Home Missions support $ 15, : Maritime CRC church support $ 2, : Third Stream Funding (Donations) 1060: Grants TOTAL 1 - Ministry REVENUE $ 47, Ministry EXPENDITURES SALARIES AND BENEFITS Salaries 6111: Campus Pastor - Salary (@ $30/hour) $ 23, : Campus Pastor - Housing Allowance $ 7,600 TOTAL 6110: SALARIES $ 30, Benefits 6151: CLAC Health and Disability Insurance $ 4, : Canadian Pension Plan (CPP - employer) $ 2, : Employment Insurance (EI - employer) $ 1, : CLAC Union Dues $ : Ministers' Pension Plan TOTAL 6150: BENEFITS $ 7,770 TOTAL 6100 SALARIES AND BENEFITS $ 38, PROGRAM SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT 6202: Hospitality $ 2, : Retreat Support $ : Emerging Leader Support and Development $ 2, : Ministry Resources and Materials $ : Travel $ 1, : Professional Development $ 1,600 $ 7, ADMINISTRATION 6301: Office Supplies, Printing and Postage $ : Campus Pastor - Cell phone $ : Bank Charges $ : NS Registry of Campus Ministry Society $ : Campus Ministry Association Dues $ 100 TOTAL ADMINISTRATION $ 1,090 TOTAL 6 - MINISTRY EXPENDITURES $47,160