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First Things First

Please read this for a general overview of campus ministry principles and set-up. Print this out and make notes in the margins.

Online Set-Up: (30 minutes)

Register yourself and your group at ConnectUU.com (you can always change the name later)
Set up a free UUYAN.org email list (recommend CollegeName@uuyan.org)
Subscribe to the cm-l@uuyan.org email list for Campus Ministry leaders & organizers
Contact your Regional Organizing Consultant and let them know you are starting a group!

Supplies:

Chalice (that can travel)
Matches (nicer than a lighter)
Singing the Living Tradition UUA Hymnal
UU Principles & Purposes Wallet Cards
Spiral Notebook

Eight Guidelines

By the Rev. Mary Ann Macklin*

Guideline One

Develop an identifiable, supportive student liberal religious community, which offers opportunity for the development of student leadership.

Name your student group and register it with the university as an official student organization. We strongly recommend your group name include your University name, followed by the Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry (UUCM) moniker and your geographic location. For example: YourGroupName, A UU Campus Ministry, City/State or Province. You will need students' names for officers, so this is a good time to start defining leadership roles and expectations. Collaborate with students in developing these roles. Students are busy and often a well defined, limited commitment is easiest for them to make.
You may also need to provide a brief statement regarding the purpose of your group. Again collaborate with others as you create your liberal religious purpose.
If you are affiliated with a congregation, start advertising your student group through the communication channels available such as the church newsletter and order of service. Make announcements at your Sunday worship service. Create a postservice gathering place for college students. Also, appeal to staff and faculty members of your congregation for support. They can be a valuable asset to your campus ministry.
If you are affiliated with a congregation, you may want to consider including all young adults (18-35) in your local parish "student group." Your church can view this as a "Campus Ministry and Young Adult Group." This combination has been successful at some churches but not at others. Consult and collaborate with students, non-student young adults, faculty, church staff, and congregation members in order to decide whether this combination will be suitable.

Guideline Two

The central thrust of the ministry should be intentionally and self-consciously Unitarian Universalist, concerned with issues of faith and spiritual development.

Our denomination currently has several curricula that your group could use as a course of study. They are:

Building Your Own Theology I and II, by Richard Gilbert (from Pathways for Enrichment, A Series of Adult Programs for Unitarian Universalists ).
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, by Shirley Ranck . A Ten Session Adult Seminar in Feminist Theology (Religious Education, Unitarian Universalist Association, 1986).
On the Path: Spirituality for Youth and Adults, edited by Davis Marshak (Unitarian Universalist Association, 1989).
What Unitarian Universalists Believe: Living Principles for a Living Faith, by Mark Belletini and F. Forrester Church. Resources for Study and Worship (Unitarian Universalist Association Denominational Grants Panel, 1987).
Your congregation may already own these curricula for you to borrow. You can also invite UU university faculty and staff to participate in the curricula as well as other congregation members depending on the size of your group.
An additional resource, Building Your Spiritual Home, a UU curriculum specifically for Young Adults will be available in 1995. It is being written by Caitlin Anderson (Doctoral Student in Higher Education at Indiana University) and Mary Ann Macklin (UU Campus Ministry Coordinator at Indiana University).

Offer a special worship service for students and/or young adults. This could be a Vespers service. Include students in planning and presenting this service. One possibility is to have different students facilitate the service and rotate their roles each weeks.
Establish yourself on campus as a liberal religious presence which affirms and promotes religious tolerance and freedom. (See Guideline Three for suggested means to this goal.)
Network with other students and young adults in your district. Try e-mail or write to congregations in your district in order to locate others. You might consider hosting a weekend get-together or conference.

Guideline Three

Create a variety of programs including worship, social issues, faith development, and service projects, which include ecumenical and cross-cultural dimensions of life.

Here we are mainly targeting on campus ministry. You or the student group can offer programs covering a variety of topics. Possibilities include: guided meditation techniques, religious diversity, grief and letting go, alcohol intervention—in short, anything students in your group are interested in pursuing. Use the people and resources available to you on campus and in your congregation when planning this programming.
You many want to co-sponsor an event on campus with another student group. For example, a program entitled "Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.: Who are They to Today's Students?" can be co-sponsored with the African American student group on your campus, or "The Meaning and Practice of Ramadan" can be co-sponsored with the Muslim student group or "The Observance and Ritual of Ash Wednesday" can be co-sponsored with a local Christian group. "A Liberal Religious Voice for Reproductive Rights" can be co-sponsored with Women's Studies. Staff and faculty can be invited as guest speakers at such events.
Attend alternative forms of worship. For example, gather a group of students together and attend a Friday evening Shabbat worship. You may want to contact someone affiliated with the local Jewish student group ahead of time to plan a post-worship get together.
Buy a university calendar. Participate in various events recognized by the university such as Latino History Month, AIDS Awareness Week, and Career Development Week. UUs can also offer an important religious stance during Gay Pride Week regarding the debate of religion and homosexuality.
Know your limits and discover your interests. Recruit student's faculty, staff, ministers, and congregation members to help generate ideas and support for programming.

Guideline Four

Use space appropriate for the particular nature of your campus ministry.

Hold events on or very near campus! If this is not feasible, have an inviting, organized, and well-publicized carpool in place for student transportation.
Involve members of your congregation. Is anyone, particularly someone affiliated with the university, willing to host a student/young adult gathering at their home? These gatherings generate more interest and attendance if food is part of the agenda. An international theme including food, cultural education, and religious discussion is one possibility.
If you are a registered student group you should have access to rooms and space on campus. Contact your student union for the policies specific to your campus.
If you are struggling to find space, contact other campus ministry groups. They may be willing to let you use their space.
If a UU church is close to campus coordinate times when your group can meet and use space in the church. If possible, obtain a permanent room specifically designated for campus and young adult ministry.

Guideline Five

An adult community beyond the student group which provides moral and financial support is necessary.

For congregation based campus ministries. Moral and financial support then comes from this (these) congregation(s). Another source of funding may be available from interfaith sponsorship.
Often UUs do have some support available on a limited basis from the UUA Young Adult Ministries Office in Boston. For up to date information on possible funding sources please contact the Office of Young Adult & Campus Ministry and refer to the grants section in this manual.
If your campus ministry is being financially and morally supported by a local congregation(s), then remember they will want to see some evidence of this support. Be visible!
Also, funding may be available from individual donations. It may be worthwhile to investigate UUs who are alumni from your college or community.
Work cooperatively with your congregation. Establish a Campus Ministry Committee composed of students, faculty, and staff who are active in your church. Collaborate with them on the goals and objectives of your campus ministry and clarify the expectations of the church. Utilize your local minister and staff members as support.

Guideline Six

The ministry is to the total academic community.

Again we introduce the idea of campus ministry, which not only involves students but also university faculty, staff, and administration. Please invite those university affiliates who are members of your local congregation into your ministry. For quick networking use e-mail.
This ministry also applies to those faculties, staff, and administration not affiliated with your church. If you belong to a residential campus (one with on-campus housing) it can be beneficial to contact staff and administration that deal with residence halls. Programming within the residence halls is often welcomed. (See Guideline Eight for more on programming details.)
Act as a liaison between your church and faculty and staff. Invite an expert in a particular field to be part of a Sunday program. If possible, establish a guest-in-residence or designate a weekly luncheon time on campus for UUs to gather, eat, and chat. The sky's the limit!
Contact staff and administration who are promoting ideals similar to those of your campus ministry. Is there an International Center? Is there a Women's Resource Center? Is there a Returning Student Center? Are there areas, which promote cross-cultural and cross-racial dialogue? Networking within these groups can produce limitless avenues for your ministry.
Remember you cannot pursue all the areas mentioned. These examples are provided as a map of possibilities. You, with the help of students, colleagues, and staff, will chart your own campus ministry.

Guideline Seven

Adequate and regular publicity should be provided on the campus and to the supportive community.

Publicity is very important on both the campus and with your affiliated congregation. As you think about publicity, focus on' three words: visibility, clarity, and presence. Understand that anything you do which makes your campus ministry visible is advertising. However, if your visibility is murky and nondescript the advertising will not carry a very appealing message, so please make it clear!
Utilize the student newspaper. Take out advertisements regarding your ministry. Write letters to the editor (or get your student group motivated to do so) about current issues on campus. If you are involved in a timely issue on campus contact the student newspaper and ask that an article be written about you and your students' efforts, or write one yourself and submit it. Utilize the talents within your group for publicity. For instance, is there an art student who can design your flyers or an advertisement?
Become familiar with the process of student orientation. Often there is a time and place for religious organizations and student groups to have a booth or table to display their brochures and meet students.
Be visible in your congregation. Being visible will help the congregation gain ownership and celebrate their role in your ministry. Suggestions to increase your visibility are:

Integrate students into congregational life.
Have students participate as greeters or refreshment servers.
Talk to the Director of Religious Education and suggest students as participants in RE, but remember a short, well defined commitment is typically best for students.
Use the church building space for campus ministry activities. Have a special movie and discussion night, provide a late night study space near final exams.
Have a special recognition day for those people in your congregation affiliated with higher education.
During the Sunday service wear special ribbons on your name tags, which denote campus ministry affiliation.
Sell bagels before or after the Sunday service to raise operating funds.
Help out with annual church events such as the Pledge Drive.
Write a column in your church newsletter regarding campus ministry.
Either attend Board meetings or have someone do so on behalf of the campus ministry.

Encourage your congregation to place a sign in front of the church welcoming university students to your liberal religious community.

Guideline Eight

A Campus Minister or lay person should be employed who understands the nature of both the church and campus and who will serve as facilitator, resource person, counselor, and administrator/manager of the campus ministry.

A paid campus ministry position may have to be created. This staff position may be part-time or full-time depending on funding. Within our denomination campus ministry facilitators are hired and funded in a variety of ways, from foundation-funded positions to positions funded by individual congregations.
This campus ministry staff person must have a good understanding of the university or college. Knowing the campus is the first criterion for a successful campus ministry. If you are unfamiliar with or new to your campus, refer to the "Getting to Know Your Campus" questions are provided to stimulate your exploration of the college environment.
As mentioned earlier, if you are working with a campus that has residence halls please take the time to explore and network with staff and students working in this area. Campus ministry programs are often sought within the residence hall system.
If you are linked to a specific UU church please take the time to understand various aspects of the congregation. Meet the people, Minister, President of the Board, Director of Religious Education, Church Administrator, and other staff and committee members in key positions. Help form a Campus Ministry Committee.
Find your niche. What are your interests? What do you see lacking in the university environment? Would you like to start a meditation group on campus? A student grief support group? A transcendentalist discussion group? A feminist theory group? Discover where you can offer your unique talents.
If you have an active UU student or young adult group they can sponsor programming on campus or at church.

*In 1990 the Reverend David Riffe concluded his Doctor of Ministry degree at Drew University. His doctoral thesis was entitled, "Developing Guidelines for an Effective Campus Ministry." Rev. Dr. Riffe's eight guidelines are the culmination of several phases of research, interviews, and analysis. Students were interviewed from Wake Forest University and represented various denominations of the Christian faith.

Originally twelve guidelines emerged as a result of the collected interview material. An advisory committee was formed which consisted of students, college administrators, and campus ministers. This advisory committee analyzed the material and crafted it down to eight guidelines.

These eight guidelines were then sent to sixteen active campus ministers. The advisory committee integrated the minister's feedback into the guidelines. Rev. Dr. Riffe then refined the final document, which resulted in his very useful doctoral thesis regarding campus ministry.

I have spoken with Rev. Dr. Riffe and received his permission to create a Unitarian Universalist version of the guidelines. This version of the Eight Guidelines for an Effective Campus Ministry will include various insights and suggestions for those doing and those considering ministry in this area.

Challenging

"When I wrestle with religious questions I usually find meaning in the areas where my beliefs diverge from other people's beliefs. I am grateful to be able to walk into a UU church and know we stand on common ground. Yet the things cited as central to the UU faith—religious tolerance, the free search for truth, the inherent worth of all people—these may be the least interesting things I can say about my own faith. Having grown up as a UU means that I've entered the church from a different place than someone who finds the church as an adult. I'm not looking for affirmation of my faith—I need a different challenge. I need contact with people my age and slightly older who are on the same path. I want to be involved with a church because I think that's where the challenge lies."
—Kevin McCulloch, Haverford College, PA

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Last updated on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.