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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
April 2002 |
Letter Spotlight:
Churches, pastors challenged to re-establish college connection
By Rick Miller
I read with great interest the Commentary by Riley Case in the January edition of Hoosier UM News, and the responses to that article in the February edition.
This has led me to give thought to two questions. First, who changed first, the universities or the Church? Second, do the churches of the North and South Indiana Conferences see ministry to the three institutions of higher education in Indiana as a vital part of their mission?
In 1973, I chose to attend one of our three United Methodist related universities in Indiana (not DePauw). My first Sunday on campus, like many other newly arrived United Methodist students, I attended the local United Methodist church adjacent to the campus. It was clear from the outset that this congregation did not care much if students were there or not.
Through the years, I have watched six high school graduates from local churches I have served choose to attend one of our Indiana United Methodist related universities (none chose DePauw). All six students arrived on campus and attended the local United Methodist church adjacent to the campus on their first Sunday. By the time they came home for Thanksgiving break, they had all decided to attend a non-United Methodist church. Why? They told me that the local United Methodist church did not seem to care if they were there or not.
In 1997, when I arrived in Greencastle to serve as pastor of Gobin Church, there was one student active in the life and ministry of that congregation. Where were the others? No one seemed to know. The answer was evident. No one seemed to care if they were there or not.
Because of my personal and pastoral experience, I ask the United Methodist churches of Indiana when they last paid any attention to the ministry opportunities that are available on the campuses of our three universities in this state?
I also have to ask the pastors of our conferences when they last encouraged a college bound student in their congregation to consider attending one of our schools? Given the fact that there are now more Catholics on the DePauw campus than there are United Methodists, I think we pastors need to give some thought to encouraging high school students to consider one of our schools as they decide where to attend college.
My fear is that the Church has not kept up with the evolution and changes on our college campuses. The students of today are much different than the students of yesteryear. DePauw University has kept up with the changes. I fear the Church has not. Perhaps we in the Church should put some effort into seeking ways to re-establish the connection that has diminished.
The Rev. Rick Miller is senior pastor of Gobin Memorial UMC in Greencastle.
Last updated on 01/14/2004