One of our values for student committee members is: "We are not a parasite, we are dilligent in our studies and involvement in the University community"
I'm always on the lookout for ways to help students and graduates integrate their faith and studies.
Here's a post from Scott McKnight which speaks at length about these issues: Missional Campus Ministry.
His charter for campus ministry is that we help students:
"1. Come to faith. This is rather obvious, without a commitment to the gospel there is no faith to defend. Campus ministries must be concerned with presenting the gospel and living the gospel.
2. Understand the faith. This really means understanding the essence of the faith and developing an ability to separate the essential from the peripheral. It also requires a background that places the faith within historic Christian thinking. What is, to borrow an illustration from Keith Drury, written in pencil, what is written in ink, and what is written in blood. This provides the breathing room to actually engage and eventually integrate. (Read his story and use it to start a conversation. I've found it a powerful tool.)
3. Own the faith. Move past a faith that is defined by boundaries and propositions to a faith that is believed and owned. Understand what is meant by the core Christian doctrines and why they are important. This is an ongoing process.
4. Integrate the faith. A faith that is possessed, understood, and owned (or at least where progress in being made on understanding and owning) is capable of integration and defense."
4 comments:
A question on a slightly different topic.
Do you encourage your students to join other clubs? I remember when I was at uni the AFES types appeared to be living in a ghetto. They ran the odd goofy evangelistic event that they talked up but which failed to inspire. But they had few non-Christian friends to whom they were committed.
Maybe it would be good to urge your students to be committed members of both your group and a non-religious uni club so that they can be fully involved in the university community.
That may man that you will need to expect a little less from them in their involvement with your group.
A great Qn, Al and a tricky one to get right. Too little peer identification with Christians on campus and you can end up drifting away from the gospel... too much and you end up drifting away from mission.
"Goofy events"... Hmm, no comment.
In our student leadership pact we also have the following:
"We are not a ghetto, we are active members of the social life of UTAS.
- Persue interest in non Christian culture.
- Join and participate in student societies.
- Consider joining the TUU and voting in elections.
- Read and write for Togatus.
- Listen to Edge Radio.
- Join Facebook."
Great. I can see how you've thought this through.
It'd be fun being a Christian on Campus at UTAS right now I reckon.
Thanks man.
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