Asking questions so as to listen to answers

By Maya Bryant

Earlier this month, Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) began an intensive listening project as its leaders anticipate returning to in-person campus ministry at the University of Minnesota. As a transitional ministry, LCM is looking for help gathering student participants to listen and learn about their insight.

In an interview, Pastor Kate Reuer Welton mentioned the importance of making sure that students are understood and accommodated upon arrival. “It’s always a part of our orientation to be thinking about who is entering the space and thinking of ways that we can invite [students] in to make sure that the community is able to receive the gifts and identities of folks who might come through the door,” she emphasized.

The ministry is facing challenges, however, because it does not have access to student databases and similar contacts like administrative entities. In order to get the most varied response possible, LCM needs more participants, and its leaders need help from the community to make that happen.

“It can be a struggle when the university itself is not religiously affiliated and contains a plethora of other organizations for students to choose from.”

Pastor Welton said that surrounding congregations with college-age students can be truly helpful in giving LCM the breadth of insight they need. Difficulty arises, though, when direct contact cannot be made.

“With the referrals from congregations, the people folks are connecting us to, that’s a warm connection, but it’s not a hot connection,” explained Pastor Welton. “And so, until they get to campus, or they live their life on campus for a while, they might be ignoring emails from us because they don’t know us.”

It can be a struggle when the university itself is not religiously affiliated and contains a plethora of other organizations for students to choose from. LCM does not have the same exposure as some other popular organizations. Students do not always know until they either attend classes for a few years, or unless they’re told about it in-depth before arriving.

 

WITH AN EXTRA PUSH from outside contributors, LCM can make their experience and ministry as well catered to their student population as possible. However, this is not a listening project with the sole purpose to increase membership. But rather, it is about engagement and communication with students who may or may not be interested in LCM.

“All we’re looking for right now is a baseline of students in general on campus. We’re not trying to get them to come to campus ministry or be a part of it. We just want to hear where students are at,” said Pastor Welton.

Listening is the core of this process, Pastor Welton emphasized. When LCM listens to the passions and wants of students attending, they can better understand their inner desires for student worship. Pastor Welton explained that the baseline will help LCM expand its worship services and approaches. Once trends are available, both staff and students can implement those desires and passions to make the experience as enjoyable for the students as possible.

LCM is still in the beginning stages of this project, so there is not enough information to notice trends and commonalities. Thankfully, with the help of surrounding congregations and the community, LCM can get a better sense of what students want and need.

If you know of any current U of M students (rising freshmen included), fill out this form with their information so LCM can reach out to them.

Before parting, Pastor Welton had this to say about her time so far doing this program: “I’m super biased because I love this work, but I think that being involved in a faith community that is open to walking alongside students as they explore their identity and is more interested in asking them the right questions than giving them the right answers is a fundamental part of faith development.”