DUBUQUE, Iowa - A group of collegiate ministers, chaplains and governing body staff of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gathered here at the University of Dubuque Nov. 10-12. A number of speakers addressed topics related to campus ministry in a regional conference organized by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the office of collegiate ministries of the PC(USA).

"We saw it as a way to bring campus pastors and chaplains together around some common themes," said Duane Sweep, the synod's associate for communication. Sweep, along with Elona Street-Stewart, the synod's associate for racial ethnic ministries, and Sylvia Wilson, associate for collegiate ministries of the PC(USA), coordinated organizational matters for the conference.

"For the most part, we kept this conference within the boundaries of the synod because, as far as we knew, it was the first of its type," Sweep said. "We didn't really have any idea about how many registrants we would attract."

Twenty-seven people participated in all or part of the conference; the organizers see that as a success. "Looking through the evaluations we've received," Sweep said, "we have at least half saying it was an excellent experience."

The conference also saw a first for the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the PC(USA) General Assembly. Reyes-Chow, who could not physically attend the conference, addressed participants during the final session via an interactive audio-visual Internet connection. Using popular free software, Reyes-Chow spoke and answered questions from the audience.

Jim Schmotzer, executive director of INN University Ministries in Bellingham, Wash., leading the conference's opening session addressed the topic, "Understanding Today's Young Adults." Schmotzer advised campus ministers to "not worry about being one of them [the millennial generation]. Be yourself."

He said campus ministry - particularly in today's generation - must be "relational." He said, "It's a lot about connecting with people - building relationships."

Rick Upchurch, program assistant in the office of collegiate ministries of the PC(USA), spoke on the theme, "Getting Connected and Building Networks." Upchurch urged participants to listen to the students on their campus to "find out which or what is important to them."

Upchurch said campus ministry must be "contextual." He said elements of importance will change from campus to campus; "It's going to be different where you are," he said.

He noted that campus pastors need to discover how students are being affected by the ministry to "go out into the world and change it."

James Breed, a retired PC(USA) pastoral minister and an instructor of ethics in Illinois community colleges since 1992, talked about the importance of "call" to one's vocation. "I kept telling God, ‘I'm an engineer, not a pastor.' God didn't listen," Breed said.

Noting that being a campus pastor or chaplain can be a lonely job, Breed said, "If you have that sense of calling, perhaps you're in the right place."

Alan McCalister, executive director and campus minister for University Christian Ministries, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, advised campus pastors that they will have to explore new avenues for funding their ministry efforts in the coming months and years.

Speaking on the topic, "Funding Campus Ministry: Seeking Support from Foundations," McCalister said, "We really need to start thinking out of the box."

McCalister reviewed a variety of sources for campus ministries to pursue grants from foundations, and he also noted the time and attention to detail necessary for preparing funding proposals.

The University of Dubuque, site of the conference, is one of seven denomination-related institutions of higher education within the synod. The university is the only Presbyterian university that houses a Presbyterian seminary.

Jeffrey Bullock, university president and an ordained Presbyterian minister, welcomed participants at the opening dinner, noting the successes of the university at a time when some Presbyterian and other private institutions of higher education are facing financial challenges. "If good decisions aren't made in a short amount of time," Bullock said, "colleges and universities are going to fail."

He said the university's mission, vision and action plan is an important document. "We elected not to have the plan sit on a shelf somewhere," he said. When the university is considering any action, Bullock said, the question is asked, "Does this ring true with who we are or who we desire to be?"

Conference organizers are now discussing ways to move the connections developed with this initial event to a new level in the coming year, Sweep said. "We know we had a relatively small number of participants this time, but I think we have developed a great core group of people. I think the connections made this time can only serve to make a similar event more worthwhile in the future," he said.

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