Congregation
Our Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, parishes, fellowships, societies, and churches are the institutional backbone of our campus ministry efforts, where financial and people resources combine with student religious liberals to create a campus ministry program. Churches have the challenge of affirming a dual community and congregational based ministry, balancing the needs of UU students on campus and fostering a direct relationship with the core church community. Churches provide three extraordinary services related to campus ministry—year to year visibility, pastoral support for students, and money.Unitarian Universalist Assocation (UUA) Congregation - The local church is visible for any students who attend Sunday Service or other church programs; may provide money for programs, staff, or training; may provide leadership, pastoral care, or a chaplain.
Contact: Start with your office secretary to find out who would be the appropriate person to talk with, it may be a minister, director of religious education, or member of the board of trustees.
Request: A vote of the Board of Trustees recognizing the campus ministry and establishing a line-item for campus ministry. We encourage congregations to start with as little as $50.00.
How to get congregational support?
Write a letter to your board of trustees outlining the vision and goals for the campus ministry program, specifically requesting official recognition and consideration for a budget in the upcoming fiscal year, and requesting a meeting with the board or a member; ideally the letter will be from a group of people working on campus ministry, however from an individual is okay
Follow up with the board about your letter and plan to make a meeting date, generally 15-20 minutes is a good initial sit down. Be prepared to exchange written material, calendar, and list of students with the Board or Board Member.
At this point, you will have placed a request before the Board of the Congregation and their actions will hopefully be in the positive for the campus ministry. This process will also help identify the support, which may exist among church decision-makers and raise the profile of your campus ministry work.
If you are having difficulties on how to approach your congregational leadership, you may get more personalized attention from your UUA District Field Staff, Young Adult & Campus Ministry Regional Organizing Consultants, or the UUA Young Adult & Campus Ministry Office.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
