United Campus Ministry

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving Day has just passed, but a lasting sense of gratitude lingers on at United Campus Ministry at The University of Tulsa, and this sense of gratitude has been with us for quite a while now. It probably doesn’t come as surprising news to you that it has been a rough decade for campus ministries. Each year when I attend the National Campus Ministry Association annual meeting, there are fewer ministers and fewer ministries still in existence. Hence our sense of gratitude, since not only is UCM (or as it is better known on campus, “the Little Blue House”) still surviving, but in many ways, we are thriving. Last year, a big-hearted supporter issued a $10,000 matching challenge that – thanks to the generosity of donors like you – was not only met, but exceeded. This year, that donor has issued the challenge again, giving us a sense of hope that much needed operating funds for our very lean budget will be raised again this year.

[...]

Well, apparently by “occasional” I really meant “one blog post per year.” Oops.

That being said, with the intrepid Donald Jessup by my side, maybe I can do better this year. It’s hard to believe we are 8 weeks into the semester already. It’s been a good year, with a great deal of activity and wonderful new and returning students.

Last week, we joined with a number of groups on campus to hold a vigil in memory of the GLBT students who have recently ended their lives due to harassment because of sexual orientation or gender identity. Many people have asked for a copy of the litany I wrote, so we are posting it here. While it was a somber occasion, we were heartened to have so many people join us to speak out for the full inclusion of GLBT people on our campus and in our community. Many thanks to all who were there in body and in spirit.

[...]

United Campus Ministry at The University of Tulsa from Mana tahaie on Vimeo.

What is the UCM all about? This video overview from the 2004-2005 academic year breaks it down.

Alumna Emily Price said it best on our Facebook group page: the UCM is…

“For everyone who’s ever eaten at; lived in; slept over at; climbed on; organized at; organized against; attended an event at; attended a meeting at; led a meeting at; sat on the porch and smoked in front of; made an announcement, a plea, or a stump speech at; worshipped in; worshipped in hopes of saving; given money to; accepted resources from; played music in; donated food, clothes, couches, or tables to; tried in vain to clean up; created posters, banners, and collages at; tabled in front of; visited more than 5 times a week; or just plain loved, hated, rejoiced in or reviled that place like no other place in Tulsa, OK…. the United Campus Ministry at TU.”

[...]

This is the United Campus Ministries illustrious intern welcoming each and everyone one of you to the Little Blue House via this fabulous new website! Every day is full of surprises here at United Campus Ministries. This past Wednesday at noon, AKA the infamous veggie lunch, the Little Blue House was graced by a group of visiting students from Tulsa’s sister city Zelenograd, a suburb outside of Moscow. For a quick run-down of what’s happening at the UCM in the coming weeks, check out the handy Google Calendar to your immediate right!

Peace,

Jenny