Higher Education/Campus Ministry Work Area Minutes

Minutes October 17, 2006.

     Present: J. J. Burchman, Monty Engelmann, Karen Firos, Christi Hemming, Larry Switzer, Toni Vincent, Ian Weibel, Jessica Weibel.

1. Devotion.

     Monty read from the "Christian Principles in an Election Year", by the Justice and Advocacy Commission of the National Council of Churches, USA and the group discussed some of the implications for us.

2. Budget Proposal for 2006-07.

     We went over the sums of our various proposals and confirmed the accuracy of the requests.  Monty will take them to the Council on Ministry meeting where they will be discussed along with the other work area proposals to see if the totals are reasonable.

3. Personnel update.

     Monty has talked to John Ross about the fact that no new members were added to the work area this year and we lost four, Grady, Karen, Don & Martha. Karen volunteered to stay on the committee. Jon Ross will talk to nominations and see if someone else can be added.

4. Continued support for Wesley, Letter to Bishop.

     The group listed the elements that should be included in a letter to the Bishop in support of the Wesley Foundation. The following were suggested: Students are the future church members.  Wesley provides support during the years when students are likely to rebel or drop away from church, the critical 18-28 year period. Wesley Foundation is a safe haven in which to discuss, explore and compare the numerous ideas and arguments to which students are exposed by campus life. Wesley experiences lead many to the ministry through the peer ministry program.  Wesley students add richness and diversity to the host church congregation. Wesley experience emphasizes the connectional nature of the United Methodist Church.

     Monty, with the aid of Pat, will draft of a letter to the bishop and circulate it to the committee members for comments and revision.

5. Purdue Game (11-04-06) personnel assignments.

     8 a.m. Starters (2-3) Put up horses and signs and catch early tailgaters.

     1. _Christi____________ 2._Jessica________ 3._____Ian__________

     Game time minus 2 hours (8) Collect $10 fees and park cars.

     1. ___Christi___________ 2.____Larry___________ 3. ______Karen___________

     4. _____________________ 5. ____________________ 6. ______________________

     7. _____________________ 8. ____________________ 9. ______________________

     Game half time (2) Sign pickup.

     1. _____________________ 2. ____________________

     Lot monitor till 2/3rds of cars gone (1 or 2) Task could be split.

     1. ___Monty_____________ 2. ____________________

     The question was raised about giving receipts. Mike Kelsey will supply them. Monty is the coordinator and will check. Wesley Foundation students will help fill in.

6. Reports and analysis of our HiEd program (The people's names in the parentheses have agreed to oversee and/or work on that project).

     A. Africa U. Support ( )

     B. Budget (Monty)

     Our tentative budget proposal for the next fiscal year is $2250 for acct # 6220 and $2000 for acct. # 6230.

     C. College/University Student-UUMC Roster (Christi)

     We are asking UUMC parents of college students to give us their names and college addresses so we can contact them a couple of times each semester.

     D. Goody Bag Sunday, Dec. 10 (Jessica @ Toni)

     E. Have-A-Heart Brunch- February 4 (Monty)

     F. Host Family/Friend project ( )

     We are asking persons from the congregation willing to serve as a student friend to have their names placed on a permanent reserve contact list.

     G. Merit Scholarships, (Monty & J.J.)

     H. Methodist Universities and College information & Student Recognition Sunday. We need to make a formal request of the staff to have Student Recognition Sunday on April 29, '07. (Ian)

     I.  Classes for Parents of College Freshmen ( )

     Freshmen and their parents face numerous problems while making the transition to the new relationship and environment of college. The young person is often unsure on how to handle many new situation and parents often try to solve the problems long distance. The Campus Ministry section of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry believes the local congregation can help by offering a study/seminar opportunity to these persons. HiEd discussed the problem, felt that our situation was on the receiving end of the process and had no clear concept on how that would work with our Wesley Foundation. Possibly we could provide mentors for incoming freshmen. Such a project would have to involve Adult Council. Since the most intense time of this transition is already past, we put further action on hold and will see if we can obtain more information, preferably study materials.

     J.  Seminary Student Support Project. ( )

     K. Student e-mails. (J.J.)

     L. Van Project. - Parking, Purdue Game, 11-04-'06 (Monty)

     M. Web Page, Kiosk (Ian)

7. Next Meeting Monday, Nov.13, 2006

     Both Tim Tuthill and John Ross Thompson had permanent conflicts with our third Tuesday monthly meeting time, we polled the group and determined that the second Monday of each month will work for all concerned. We have yet to hear from John Gore but have set the November date for the thirteenth.

     Submitted: 10-21-'06 - MDE

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