A Missionary Endeavor

Maybe one of the reasons the Presbyterian Church has high regard in the abstract and low regard in the tangible for collegiate ministry is because of the way the denomination views college ministry.

Most congregational-based campus ministries have a staff person (ordained or lay) responsible for the ministry and the finances and accountability structures are similar to that of the congregation's youth ministry. This structure unconsciously casts college ministry as an older youth ministry.

A better model would be to see the congregation's campus ministry at the nearby university in the same way it views its ministry to an overseas elementary school. The congregation supports the overseas school by raising and giving money to the school. They don't expect anything back from the school except occasional reports, thanks, updates, and photographs.They realize that the school enriches and impacts their congregation not by having any of the students participate in the life of the congregation, but solely for what the outreach ministry does for the congregation itself. The congregation might send a few of its members on site do some some work for the school. Often those "mission trips" involve physical plant support or intensive education events. The congregation is proud of its support for the school and places pictures of the school and its students on bulletin boards. Members who have been on "mission trips" to the school report back to the congregation.

Organized, stand alone Presbyterian and Ecumenical Campus Ministries  also need to been seen as missionary outposts by supporting congregations. There should be no expectation that the students involved in campus ministry will attend, participate, or contribute to the supporting congregation.

Chaplaincy programs are frequently overlooked by congregations. They think that because the Chaplaincy programs are part of the college there is no need for the congregation's funds, prayers, or physical "mission trip" presence. These campus Religious Life Programs are missional.

When will we take seriously the notion that ministry on campus to college students is a missionary endeavor? When will we start treating campus ministers and chaplains as missionaries and colleges as a mission field?  Campus Ministry is not just an older youth group, able to provide nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, and perhaps a choir member. Campus Ministry is a missionary outreach to a different culture. Members of that different culture have their own society, rules, and language. A few (15%) may be able to speak the congregation's religious and social language, but the overwhelming majority do not. (Even when the ministry on campus is vibrant and students are having their faith deepened, those campus ministry students will probably not be visible at the 11 o'clock worship.)

Missionaries get some training from the denomination before they report to their site. They receive public recognition and commissioning as they begin. The denomination actively supports them with publicity and communication. Periodically the missionaries are brought back home for rest, replenishment, and time to spend with the congregations which support them.

Notice, please, that while local congregations financially undergird the missionaries, a numerically strong denominational staff supports and coordinates them.
(I count about 125 Mission workers on the PCUSA website with 45 denominational staff.[Young Adult Volunteers and staff not encluded.]  I estimate about 300 organizational campus ministers, 450 congregational based staff, and 80 chaplains supported, coordinated, and publicized with one denominational staff person.)