Campus Ministry Coordinator Job Description

Result Expected

An effective coordinator leads the congregation to nurture the faith of every college student. All student names are reported to the appropriate Wesley Foundation or campus ministry, and each student is contacted every semester. The congregation will support United Methodist colleges and campus ministries so that students will grow in their understanding of the gospel and become better equipped for daily living as faithful disciples.

Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Job

This ministry coordinator benefits from having one or more of these spiritual gifts: servanthood, exhortation (encouragement), leadership, wisdom, faith, administration, helping, and shepherding. This leader should show evidence of passion for college students, especially the United Methodist Church’s ministry in higher education.

Useful skills for this position are the ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages, interest in maintaining contact with students and college personnel, and the ability to work with others to support students. The coordinator will inform the congregation about the importance of ministry in higher education.

Responsibilities of the Position

• This leader will inform the congregation and promote higher education and campus ministry, especially United Methodist schools and United Methodists’ special interest in higher education for all ethnic groups and the twelve historically black colleges.
• The coordinator will keep records of the congregation’s high school students, forwarding their names to church-related colleges in the annual conference.
• The coordinator will provide opportunities for high school students and their parents to consider career and college opportunities.
• The coordinator will keep track of college students, sending their contact information to college ministers and Wesley Foundation directors at their campuses, and will help the congregation stay in touch with them.
• The coordinator will develop ministries for college students who are in the community or who are back home from college for vacations.
• The coordinator informs college students and their parents about United Methodist scholarship and loan programs.
• The coordinator leads the congregation to observe United Methodist Student Day, collecting an offering for loans and scholarships, and advocates for recognition of other higher education observations.
• The coordinator involves students in leadership when they are home and includes students from local schools who may be away from home.

Getting Started

1. Learn about campus life from students, their parents, and college personnel in your community. Seek to identify gaps where your congregation can lead the way in making a positive difference for higher education.
2. Talk with your pastor and others to understand their hopes and dreams for the congregation toward fulfilling the mission of the church and for your leadership role with higher education.
3. Soon after you are elected, convene a meeting to plan for your work. Ask a group of interested people to help you plan. Share the ministry with others by delegating projects to people in the church or community who have passion for a particular age group or a particular topic.

People and Agencies That Can Help

• Your pastor, students, parents, college personnel, and others in your congregation and community who share your interest in higher education. Be alert to community groups committed to higher education.
• The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry has information about campus ministry, loans and scholarships, and United Methodist schools. Phone: 615-340-7402; Website: www.gbhem.org
• InfoServ, the information service for The United Methodist Church, provides current information about United Methodist resources, programs, and staff services. Email: [email protected]; Website: infoserv.umc.org.

Web and Print Resources

• The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016 (The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016)
• The Christian as Minister: An Exploration Into the Meaning of God’s Calling edited by Meg Lassiat (GBHEM, 2013; available from www.cokesbury.com)
• Collegiate Ministry, http://umcollegiate.org
• Explore Calling, www.explorecalling.org
• General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, www.gbhem.org, 615-340-7402
• Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2017-2020: Higher Education and Campus Ministry
• Interpreter, www.interpretermagazine.org
• Living Your Heart’s Desire: God’s Call and Your Vocation by Gregory S. Clapper (Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2005)
• The Promise of Campus Ministry: Theological Explorations edited by Bridgette D. Young and Hendrik R. Pieterse
• Stepping Out on Your Own: Devotions for High School Graduates, compiled by Kara Lassen Oliver (Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2010)
• The Term: United Methodist Collegiate Ministry Journal. For information, email [email protected]