University Ministry at Its Finest

Minding the Spiritual Life table at SOAR sessions can be complicated. Like our campus, the new students and their families are quite diverse when it comes to faith and non-faith traditions. There are the new students who hurry by the table, hoping that their parents will not drag them over. You can almost see the commitment to rebel against the tradition within which that student has been raised. You can almost hear the declaration never to go to church again. There are the students who do not manage to avoid the table because a parent steers them bodily over to ask what church the student can attend. Then there are the students who happily bounce over to the table to share that they are committed Christians who have been active in their youth groups, have been on multiple mission trips, and are active in a high school parachurch group. These students have plenty of choices for connection on campus and sign up readily. I am glad that I will see their faces regularly.

Roman Catholics are perhaps the easiest group to greet. Mass is held at 4:30 p.m. each Sunday in the Chapel, and our Catholic Campus Minister, Kaky Bowden, provides great programming. Another group of new students are actively trying to shock their parents by checking an interest box that is way off the path that parent is expecting. One student looked as if she had been waiting to write PAGAN on the interest form her whole life. I think that was going to be a long drive home. I can match up the Lutherans and the Methodists easily. I connect the Episcopalians with Nina Salmon and the Jewish students with the Hillel. I make sure the Disciples of Christ students know about the special scholarship opportunities. Followers of traditions outside of Christianity are relieved that interfaith vocabulary permeates our literature.

The best moments at the table are hearing from the students who have some spirituality and some basic practice, but who want to ask big questions. The offer of safe space to explore faith while they are here to learn and explore academically is at the kernel of what university ministry is. I repeat, as frequently as I can, that my goal as Chaplain is to have each member of our community make some spiritual progress while here . . . on whatever path makes sense to the individual at the time. For some that is still too prescriptive and for some it is not Christocentric enough, but I hope new students hear it as an invitation.

Many things are changing this summer over at the Spiritual Life Center. Anne Gibbons’ departure has left a hole in our hearts, an empty office, and a history of pastoral presence. Anne sat with many of you at low moments. She married hundreds of couples. She held new babies. She visited in the hospital. We will miss teasing her about losing things, but also miss the challenge to remember that first world problems are not what faithful living is all about. (We will go visit her in Richmond and, except during Lent, watch her grandchildren grow on Facebook.)

Our new Associate Chaplain, Nathan Albert, is moving to Lynchburg from Rhode Island this week and will join us at the 500 Brevard Street house next week. I cannot wait for you to meet him. He is an actor turned pastor, an extrovert, and has great experience working with young adults. Nathan has a seminary education, training in pastoral care, and work history in both congregations and in higher education. His wife, Kate, and two-year-old son, Foster, are coming with him. They will welcome a second son in the Fall. Look for opportunities to meet him soon.

So much is changing at Spiritual Life, and somehow by the end of June it felt like summer was already over. Minding the table at SOAR always reminds me of the joy of welcoming new students into the community and the promises of new relationships. In the midst of change, the mission remains the same, so take this as the prompt to make some spiritual progress of your own . . . on whatever path makes sense to you.

Blessings, Stephanie