SYNOPSIS:

     Because Unitarian-Universalism is an intelligent, open-minded
religious movement, the college campus is our natural mission field.
During the college years most young people abandon their childhood religions.
Many are looking for a spiritual home.
And we can offer an alternative (or several alternatives).
UU campus ministry needs a higher profile on college campuses.
This talk will review the history of the UU campus ministry in Minneapolis.
Then it will explore several new departures worth trying in the future.

OUTLINE:

A Brief History of the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries

Bold Experiments in Campus Ministry for the Twenty-First Century

1.  Programs co-sponsored by other campus organizations.
2.  An e-mail magazine for UUs on campuses anywhere in the world.
3.  Opinion (op-ed) articles in college newspapers.
4.  Panel discussions with other religious representatives on campus.
5.  Radio and television programs on college stations, public broadcasting,
       or public access cable television.
6.  A radio or television course or series.
7.  UU representatives included in call-in programs.
8.  Non-credit courses on campus for all interested.
9.  Lectures on campus by well-known speakers.
10.  Support groups for students leaving traditional religions.
11.  Support groups for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students
       —especially those with religious issues to discuss.
12.  Luncheon meetings for UU faculty and staff.
13.  Silent meetings on campus.
14.  Cooperation with other liberal campus groups (Quakers, Humanists, Atheists).
15.  Cooperation with other traditional campus religious groups
       in areas of agreement such as social justice, peace, ecology.
16.  Cooperation with other UU young adult and singles groups in the area.
17.  Better coordination and cooperation with local UU congregations.
18.  A coordinated adult education program, uniting congregations and campus.
19.  UU representatives available to speak in campus religion classes.
20.  Using the talents of local UU clergy in campus ministry.
21.  A computerized network of all UU students attending college.
22.  Achieving a better transition from high school to college UU activities.

    James Park was active in
the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministries from 1985-1998.
For a total of seven years, he was a paid staff member.
From 1986-1998 he was a member of the Board of Directors.
His continuing campus efforts include being one of the editors of
Heart, Mind, & Spirit—an electronic magazine for UUs on campus
(which is experiment #2 named above),
and editing the On-Line Handbook for UU Campus Ministry.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.