1

What%We%Do%and%Why%It’s%Important:%A%Theological%Framework%for%Lutheran%Campus%Ministry%in%the%ELCA%

Pr.$James$L.$Norlie$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$at$Oregon$State$University$

June$2014$$%Introduction%By#[God’s]#great#mercy%[God]#has#given#us#a#new#birth#into#a#living#hope#through#the#resurrection#of#Jesus#Christ#from#the#dead…#(I#Peter#1:3).%$The$aim$of$this$paper$is$to$provide$a$theological$framework$for$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$in$the$ELCA.$It$describes$how$our$work$is$grounded$in$the$Gospel$of$Jesus,$what$the$primary$trajectories$of$our$ministry$to$campus$communities$are,$and$why$this$work$is$important$to$church$and$society.$We$know$that$each$campus$ministry$in$the$ELCA$is$unique;$no$two$are$identical$in$mission$or$practice.$Regional$differences,$local$contexts,$and$specific$histories$help$determine$what$and$how$our$mission$is$manifest$in$each$setting.$Yet,$even$with$these$differences,$core$convictions$fulfill$a$common$calling.$The$following$captures$foundational$elements$necessary$for$a$robust$Lutheran$ministry$on$university$and$college$campuses$at$this$time$early$in$the$21st$Century.$$It’s%About%Life!%I#came#that#they#may#have#life,#and#have#it#abundantly#(John#10:10).#$One$need$not$look$far$to$see$signs$of$death$all$around$–$broken$relationships,$hurtful$words,$physical$needs,$criminal$acts,$empty$promises,$unjust$systems.$On$campuses$of$higher$education$these$are$present$just$as$they$are$wherever$human$beings$congregate.$Standing$in$stark$contrast$to$this$pervasive$reality$of$death,$God$proclaims$another$more$powerful$word$–$life!$From$the$very$foundation$of$the$scriptural$witness,$life$is$the$key$objective$of$God.$$$We$read,$“In$the$beginning$when$God$created…”$(Genesis$1:1),$“…the$Lord$God$formed$man$from$the$dust$of$the$ground,$and$breathed$into$his$nostrils$the$breath$of$life…”$(Genesis$2:7).$The$result$of$God’s$creative$impulse$was$–$and$is$–$life.$To$faith’s$ancestors$like$Abraham$and$Sarah,$God$promised$life$from$barrenness$(Genesis$18:10).$Through$prophets$who$had$eyes$to$see,$bleached$bones$would$be$reanimated$to$live$(Ezekiel$37:1a14).$As$Jesus$ministered$to$the$sick,$sinful,$and$demonapossessed,$his$mission$of$binding$the$brokenhearted$was$manifest$in$new$life$for$them.$And$when$everything$became$darkest$at$Jesus’$crucifixion,$God’s$answer$was$life.$“Why$do$you$look$for$the$living$among$the$dead?$He$is$not$here,$but$has$risen”$(Luke$24:5).$Nothing$

2

summarizes$God’s$will$for$life$better$than$Jesus’$own$declaration,$“I$came$that$they$may$have$life,$and$have$it$abundantly”$(John$10:10).$$Surrounded$as$they$are$by$signs$of$death$–$heartbreak,$disappointment,$shame$and$bullying,$diminishment$of$self$and$commodification$of$body$image,$thoughts$of$suicide,$addiction,$peer$pressure,$fear,$violence,$and$more$–$college$students$need$to$know$that$God$is$love$and$the$way$of$God$is$life.$The$church$is$specifically$commissioned$to$proclaim$this$good$news$and$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$is$its$mouthpiece.$In$this$it$has$a$special,$crucial$opportunity$to$speak$of$life$in$ways$and$places$the$young$can$experience,$know,$and$trust.$$$God’s$greatest$desire$is$that$all$people$live$fully,$abundantly.$Parsing$Jesus’$own$teaching$(John$10:10),$we$understand$that:$$

• The$living$God$is$the$source$of$that$life$(“I$came…”)$• All$who$receive$this$as$Good$News$also$receive$life$itself$(“…that$they…”)$• Life$means$all$that’s$good$and$wholesome$and$life$giving$(“…may$have$life…”)$• Abundant$life$suggests$it$is$more$than$we$dare$expect$or$imagine$(“…and$have$it$

abundantly.”)$$Put$the$phrases$back$together$and$we$clearly$see$God’s$purpose$is$life$–$flourishing,$evolving,$generative,$complex,$interconnected,$woven$together,$and$whole.$$An$apt$image$of$God’s$abundant$life$that$also$helps$describe$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$is$the$Tree$of$Life$where$roots$go$deep$in$the$soil$of$God,$fruits$result$from$the$care$and$tending$of$that$tree,$and$birds$and$animals$find$shelter$in$its$shade.$The$Tree$of$Life$is$rooted$in$God,$formed$of$the$earth,$called$to$life$and$sustained$by$the$Spirit,$and$gifted$with$fruits$to$share$(Galatians$5:22a23)$and$a$canopy$that$protects.$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$both$claims$and$proclaims$life$as$gift$from$God$and$works$in$every$way$to$make$it$real$for$students,$faculty$and$staff$on$the$campuses$we$serve.$“Come$and$see,”$(John$1:39)$we$say.$Life$is$God’s$gift$to$us.$It$is$good.$Celebrate$it.$Share$it.$Tend$it$with$care.$$Though$death$often$lurks$in$our$campus$communities,$the$search$for$life$is$a$common$quest.$We$help$students,$faculty,$and$university$staff$look$for$and$see$life.$We$rejoice$with$them$when$lifeasigns$emerge;$we$challenge$them$when$pursuits$they$make$lead$to$dead$ends$by$dead$means.$$$The$future$matters$to$most$students.$They$wonder$and$worry$about$what$they$are$inheriting$from$previous$generations.$Will$it$give$life$or$not?$Will$they$and$the$world$they$live$in$be$healthy$or$not?$

3

Will$they$feel$the$freedom$of$life$wellalived$or$will$they$be$burdened$by$things$that$threaten$life$itself?$$$When$asked$what$he$would$do$if$he$knew$the$world$was$ending$tomorrow,$Martin$Luther$is$reported$to$have$said,$“I’d$plant$an$apple$tree.”$Ours$is$the$privilege$of$planting$seedlings$today$that$will$grow$and$bear$fruit$tomorrow.$$

In,%With,%and%Wonder$And#the#Word#became#flesh#and#lived#among#us,#and#we#have#seen#his#glory,#…full#of#grace#and#truth#(John#1:14).#$It$was$a$long,$sad$walk$when$early$disciples$made$their$way$home$on$that$first$Easter$evening.$As$they$walked$and$talked,$a$stranger$joined$them$on$the$road.$In$their$confusion$and$befuddlement,$the$surprise$and$wonder$of$the$risen$Christ’s$

companionship$broke$through$their$gloom$and$revealed$God’s$glory.$The$wonder$of$“God$with$us”$was$manifest$to$them$on$the$Emmaus$Road$(Luke$24:13a35).$God$who$had$taken$on$human$flesh$in$the$infant$Christ,$now$in$his$resurrected$state$was$manifest$in$the$earthly$garb$of$flesh$and$blood$as$well.$The$attachment$God$made$to$time$and$history,$skin$and$bones,$was$not$abandoned$after$his$death.$If$anything,$that$commitment$was$established$anew$as$he$appeared$to$them$–$a$stranger$yes,$but$like$them$in$their$humanity.$$Where$does$God$meet$us?$Just$like$the$encounter$with$disciples$long$ago$as$they$walked$and$talked,$God$meets$us$in$ordinary$places$of$everyday$experience,$clothed$in$nature’s$garments,$in$time$and$history,$through$Jesus$and$the$community$that$bears$his$name.$$If$it$is$true$that$the$incarnation$–$“God$with$us”$in$human$flesh$–$is$where$the$holy$meets$the$mundane$and$heaven$meets$earth,$then$we$do$well$to$read$The$Book$of$Nature$alongside$the$Book$of$Scripture$to$know$God$among$us$in$real$life.$$$It$is$difficult$to$pin$down$just$when$the$concept$of$the$Book$of$Nature$was$first$introduced.$However,$references$to$it$exist$already$in$the$writings$of$St.$Augustine$and$Origen.$Galileo$is$said$to$have$referred$to$it.$Medieval$theologians$developed$it$further.$And$the$concept$is$still$in$a$valuable$one$today.$That$God$is$observable$and$knowable$in$the$Book$of$Nature$is$one$way$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$assists$those$in$academic$settings$to$look$for$and$see$God.$$Our$campuses$are$filled$with$those$whose$work$and$study$requires$them$to$observe$the$natural$world$with$great$care.$Students$and$faculty$have$powerful$tools$at$their$disposal.$They$can$read$the$timeline$of$the$stars$by$observing$the$traces$of$light$they$leave.$They$

4

peer$into$powerful$scopes$to$see$everasmaller$or$everagreater$cosmic$truths.$They$enlist$powerful$computers$to$calculate$enormous$computations$more$quickly$and$more$accurately.$They$work$with$the$intricacies$of$microaparticles$and$the$movements$of$fluids$through$nanotechnology.$They$plumb$the$depths$of$the$seas$and$fly$to$the$heights$of$the$heavens.$They$negotiate$the$complexities$of$the$genetic$world$with$everagreater$precision.$And$they$marvel$at$all$they$see.$$Furthermore,$the$students$we$know$increasingly$claim$to$be$“spiritual$but$not$religious.”$While$not$affiliated$with$traditional$religious$institutions,$nevertheless$they$often$look$to$nature$for$rest,$solace,$renewal,$and$engagement$with$that$which$is$holy.$When,$along$the$way,$they$ask,$“How$can$this$be?”$or$“What$does$this$mean?”$or$“What$has$caused$this?”$or$even$“Where$is$God$in$all$this?”$we$are$there$to$join$them$in$the$journey,$accompany$them$in$their$discoveries,$celebrate$the$wonders$they$observe,$support$their$quest$for$knowledge$and$meaning,$recognize$moments$of$faith,$and$watch$for$opportunities$to$show$them$the$way$to$God$–$“God$with$us”$–$sometimes$as$if$for$the$first$time.$$In$the$ordinary,$seemingly$unremarkable$moments$of$dayatoaday$living$and$learning$–$in$classroom$and$lab,$residence$hall$and$natural$world,$likes$and$loves$–$God$meets$us.$$Celebrating$this$we$may$ask$how$to$express$our$wild$wonder,$utter$awe,$and$sheer$delight$at$the$discovery$that$God$creates,$accompanies,$and$sustains$us.$What$might$the$music$of$our$praise$sound$like$if$we$use$the$language$of$science,$biology,$mathematics,$philosophy,$anthropology,$art,$engineering,$business,$sports$medicine,$or$economics$to$give$glory$to$God?$It’s$ours$to$discover$and$contribute$to$the$symphony$of$life.$$Earth#and#all#stars!#Loud#rushing#planets!#Sing#to#the#Lord#a#new#song!#Hail,#wind,#and#rain!#Loud#blowing#snowstorm!#Sing#to#the#Lord#a#new#song!#God#has#done#marvelous#things.#I#too#sing#praises#with#a#new#song#(ELW#731).#$Two%Tables$My#lord,#if#I#find#favor#with#you,#do#not#pass#by#your#servant.#Let#a#little#water#be#brought,#and#wash#your#feet,#and#rest#yourselves#under#the#tree.#Let#me#bring#a#little#

5

bread,#that#you#may#refresh#yourselves,#and#after#that#you#may#pass#on#–#since#you#have#come#to#your#servant#(Genesis#18:3U5).##$

$$A$study$of$the$wellaknown$“Holy$Trinity”$icon,$written$by$Andrei$Rublev$in$the$15th$Century,$is$worth$the$time$and$effort.$The$original$is$held$in$the$Tretyakov$Gallery$in$Moscow,$but$many$reproductions$exist.$Henri$Nouwen$provides$a$wise$and$useful$exploration$of$the$icon’s$meaning$in$his$Behold#the#Beauty#of#the#Lord:#Praying#With#Icons.$$Upon$close$examination$the$viewer$can$see,$among$other$things,$a$triangle$enclosed$in$a$sphere$within$a$rectangle.$At$the$risk$of$oversimplification,$the$triangle$orients$one$to$the$trinity$of$guests$seated$at$table$together,$the$circle$describes$their$mutual$relationship$that$leaves$room$in$the$foreground$for$an$unknown$guest$(the$viewer),$with$the$entire$image$held$in$place$by$four$cardinal$directions.$Here,$at$this$table,$heaven$and$earth$meet.$What$happens$at$the$table$is$an$interchange$between$guests,$bound$together$in$relationship,$for$the$sake$of$the$world$beyond.$Here$we$see$how$a$table$and$its$accompanying$table$hospitality$are$essential$to$the$intersection$of$giving$and$

6

receiving$grace.$Because$of$it,$both$guests$and$host$are$changed.$Once$received,$the$goodness$of$the$table$fellowship$extends$to$the$ends$of$the$earth$(Acts$1:8)$and$influences$the$future.$$From$ancient$times$it’s$been$recognized$that$the$table,$or$more$precisely$the$meal,$has$power$to$welcome$and$satisfy$hungers$both$physical$and$spiritual.$Here$we$acknowledge$and$celebrate$the$potential$of$ordinary$meals$to$become$sacramental$moments$that$offer:$$

• Genuine$hospitality$–$a$place$at$the$table$for$all$• True$feasting$–$food$for$the$body;$food$for$the$soul$• Unconditional$grace$–$the$gift$of$food$and$fellowship$that$truly$satisfies$• Anticipatory$fulfillment$–$a$foretaste$of$the$feast$to$come$

$Campus$ministry$does$food.$Breakfast,$lunch,$supper,$or$snackatime,$food$is$central$to$our$work$and$witness$–$real$food;$ordinary$food$for$real$everyday$physical$hungers;$food$made$by$loving$hands,$served$with$generosity$and$care;$meals$where$conversation$and$complaining,$sorrows$and$rejoicing,$questioning$and$answering$is$part$of$the$menu;$meals$where$hungry$students$gather$and$holy$moments$happen.$$$During$mealtime,$we$build$relationships.$We$practice$manners.$We$share$our$bread.$We$savor$God’s$creation$and$give$thanks$for$those$who$labor$to$bring$it$to$our$table.$We$feast$and$fast$in$solidarity$with$those$who$rejoice$and$those$who$weep$–$the$healthy$and$the$ill,$those$who$are$satisfied$and$those$who$are$empty.$$It’s$well$known$that$university$professor$and$pastor,$Martin$Luther,$along$with$his$spouse$Katie,$welcomed$many$a$student$to$their$table$for$food,$drink,$and$Table$Talk.$While$not$ranking$as$a$sacrament$per$se,$one$can$rightly$conclude$these$were$sacramental$moments$in$sharing$true$food$and$holy$conversation.$We$are$in$good$company$when$we$understand$the$meals$we$serve$to$be$similar$in$pattern$and$potency.$$Beyond$the$meals$we$ourselves$serve,$our$work$on$campus$includes$tables$set$for$us$by$others$to$which$we’re$invited$–$tables$of$trouble$and$crisis,$tables$of$consultation$and$planning,$tables$of$collaboration,$even$virtual$tables.$We$welcome$these$table$settings$as$opportunities$to$bring$to$them$what$we$regularly$provide$in$the$meals$we$serve$(a$place$where$all$matter,$food$for$body$and$soul,$unconditional$grace$and$fellowship$that$satisfies,$a$foretaste$of$a$future$banquet$at$which$all$will$be$served$the$finest$fare).$$$Because$we$know$that$some$will$never$accept$our$invitation$to$“come$and$dine”$with$us,$we$also$extend$the$table$of$welcome$by$going$to$them.$Trusting$that$the$Bread$of$Life$is$always$present$to$feed$and$satisfy,$part$of$our$ministry$is$to$the$community$that$never$gathers,$God’s$gracious$hospitality$through$us$for$them$in$love.$$

7

When$we$set$and$serve$at$tables,$we$help$create$space$for$hospitality$and$safety.$We$welcome$unknown,$unexpected,$and$sometimes$uninvited$guests.$We$recognize$that$God$will$surprise$us$in$the$simple$and$ordinary$things$of$life.$God$will$change$us$as$well$as$those$with$whom$we$share$our$table.$$$

The$table$is$central$to$Christian$worship$where$the$Holy$Food$we$eat$is$our$Bread$of$Life.$Equally$important$to$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$are$the$other$sacred$tables$of$hospitality$we$set$and$serve.$These$twin$tables$of$Eucharist$and$daily$sustenance$reveal$the$goodness$of$God$and$the$generosity$of$Christian$community$to$feed,$satisfy,$and$sustain.$

$Let#us#go#now#to#the#banquet,#to#the#feast#of#the#universe.#The#table’s#set#and#a#place#is#waiting;#come,#everyone,#with#your#gifts#to#share#(ELW#523).#%Is%There%Room%for%Me?%But#now#thus#says#the#Lord,#he#who#created#you…#Do#not#fear,#for#I#have#redeemed#you;#I#have#called#you#by#name,#you#are#mine$(Isaiah#43:1).$$St.$Benedict,$anticipating$that$guests$would$come$seeking$refuge$and$hospitality$within$monastic$communities,$included$in$his$Rule$the$admonition$that,$“All$guests$who$present$themselves$are$to$be$welcomed$as$Christ”$(The#Rule#of#St.#Benedict,$chapter$53).$$A$fundamental$anxiety$among$most$people$in$new$places$is$whether$they$will$be$received$as$they$are$or$whether$they’ll$be$isolated,$harassed,$criticized,$or$rejected$outright.$The$radical$hospitality$of$Jesus,$the$teachings$of$scripture$about$caring$for$those$who$are$strangers$and$sojourners,$and$the$wisdom$of$St.$Benedict$reminds$us$that$a$primary$outgrowth$of$faith$is$creating$communities$of$belonging,$safety,$respect,$and$authentic$welcome$(love).$$$Still,$students$and$others$on$campus$ask,$“Is$there$room$for$me?”$“What$if$I$don’t$conform$to$your$beliefs$or$expectations?”$“If$the$way$I$live$or$the$experience$I’ve$had$is$contrary$to$your$teachings,$what$then?”$Even$when$the$sign$on$our$campus$ministry$centers$says,$“Come$On$In!”$a$visitor$may$still$wonder$if$it$is$a$safe$place$or$not.$

8

$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$offers$these$seekers$genuine$hospitality$in$the$way$of$Jesus$–$a$community$of$belonging$with$room$for$all,$welcome$that$has$no$hidden$agenda,$attentiveness$to$the$shy$one,$balm$for$the$wounded,$safety$for$the$fearful$or$damaged,$a$haven$for$the$foreigner,$willingness$to$learn$from$those$who$are$different$from$ourselves,$and$practice$in$listening$to$one$another$so$we$really$hear$and$understand.$$Jesus$surprised$the$powerful$and$positioned$by$associating$with$those$who$did$not$belong.$In$a$dramatic$moment$of$conviction,$Francis$of$Assisi$came$to$literally$embrace$and$serve$the$leper$he$despised$–$even$kissing$the$leper’s$wounds.$While$much$of$our$work$is$neither$as$dramatic$nor$memorable$as$these$examples,$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$provides$welcome$and$inclusion$in$ways$many$have$never$known.$Additionally,$as$a$mark$of$Christian$hospitality,$we$regularly$ask,$“Who’s$missing$from$our$company$that$should$be$welcomed$and$included?”$When$experienced$and$practiced,$these$are$traits$that$transfer$to$public$life$and$church$communities$our$students$are$part$of.$$

The$artistic$work$of$Mark$Dukes$graces$the$sanctuary$of$Saint$Gregory$of$Nyssa$Episcopal$Church$in$San$Francisco$(http://www.saintgregorys.org).$Here$we$find$depictions$of$people$of$many$times$and$places,$differing$races$and$traditions,$old$and$young,$women$and$men.$Most$never$met$each$other.$Yet,$here$they$are$depicted$as$holding$hands,$dancing$together$for$the$joy$of$a$shared$universe$and$a$common$hope.$$$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$invites$those$in$academic$settings$to$the$dance$of$welcome.$The$invitation$is$offered$to$as$many$as$want$to$be$part$of$the$music$and$movement.$Jesus$reminds$us,$“Truly,$I$tell$you,$just$as$you$did$it$to$one$of$the$least$of$these,$you$did$it$to$me”$(Matthew$25:40).$Do$we$need$more$motivation$or$encouragement$to$make$room$for$others$than$from$Jesus$himself?$

$Let#us#build#a#house#where#love#can#dwell#and#all#can#safely#live,#a#place#where#saints#and#children#tell#how#hearts#learn#to#forgive.#Built#of#hopes#and#dreams#and#visions,#rock#of#faith#and#vault#of#grace;#here#the#love#of#Christ#shall#end#divisions:#All#are#welcome,#all#are#welcome,#all#are#welcome#in#this#place#(ELW#641).#

9

Embracing%the%Questions%But#who#do#you#say#that#I#am?#(Mark#8:29)#$Jesus$said$to$his$disciples,$“…you$know$the$way$to$the$place$where$I$am$going”$(John$14:4).$Thomas$replied$with$a$question.$“Lord,$we$do$not$know$where$you$are$going.$How$can$we$know$the$way?”$(John$14:5).$His$question$–$and$many$others$–$frames$the$narrative$of$faith:$$

• Can$anything$good$come$out$of$Nazareth?$(John$1:46)$• What$must$I$do$to$inherit$eternal$life?$(Mark$10:17)$• My$God,$my$God,$why$have$you$forsaken$me?$(Psalm$22:1)$• Where$were$you$when$I$laid$the$foundation$of$the$world?$(Job$38:4)$• What$is$truth?$(John$18:38)$• Are$you$the$one$to$come$or$shall$we$look$for$another?$(Matthew$11:3)$• But$who$do$you$say$that$I$am?$(Mark$8:29)$

$If$higher$education$had$a$patron$saint,$perhaps$it$would$be$St.$Thomas.$Often$called$“the$doubter,”$he$may$better$be$titled,$“the$questioner”$or$“the$skeptic.”$His$is$a$quest$to$know,$to$understand,$to$validate$information$he’s$been$given.$Much$like$higher$education$itself,$Thomas$is$predisposed$to$question$all$things.$$Questions$and$questioning$are$crucial$to$a$vibrant$education.$So$also,$they$are$vital$to$an$active$faith.$Thomas’s$example$can$guide$us,$encourage$us,$and$teach$us$the$art$and$necessity$of$asking$questions$so$that$we$can$understand$ourselves$better,$see$the$world$for$what$it$is$with$all$its$goodness$and$terror,$and$acknowledge$how$what$is$may$not$be$how$or$what$it$ought$to$be.$$The$physicist,$Albert$Einstein,$is$reported$to$have$said,$"The$important$thing$is$not$to$stop$questioning.$Curiosity$has$its$own$reason$for$existing.$One$cannot$help$but$be$in$awe$when$[one]$contemplates$the$mysteries$of$eternity,$of$life,$of$the$marvelous$structure$of$reality.$It$is$enough$if$one$tries$merely$to$comprehend$a$little$of$this$mystery$every$day.$Never$lose$a$holy$curiosity.”$$Author$David$Dark$(The#Sacredness#of#Questioning#Everything)$writes,$“Religion$is$born$out$of$questions,$not$answers”$(p.$22).$He$also$writes,$“The$call$to$worship$is$a$call$to$complete$candor$and$radical$questioning$–$questioning$the$way$things$are,$the$way$we$are,$and$the$way$things$ought$to$be”$(p.$18).$In$support$of$his$claim$he$also$quotes$Flannery$O’Connor$who$said,$“…cultivation$of$skepticism$is$a$sacred$obligation$because$skepticism$keeps$us$asking$questions”$(p.$31).$$This$is$a$fitting$reminder$and$daily$challenge$to$never$give$up$the$inquisitive$spirit,$to$always$ask$questions.$Gladly$for$us,$the$college$years$come$precisely$when$maturing$men$and$women$are$most$likely$to$ask$questions$–$about$everything.$$

10

$What$kinds$of$questions$do$they$ask?$Who$am$I?$What’s$my$purpose?$How$can$I$live$a$fulfilled$and$happy$life?$Who$can$I$trust?$What$will$give$my$life$meaning?$What$priorities$ought$I$to$live$by?$How$do$I$measure$success?$What$does$it$mean$to$be$a$friend?$$They$also$ask:$How$was$the$world$made$and$why?$Does$faith$–$or$God$–$matter?$Will$anything$I$do$change$the$future?$Can$one$have$hope?$What$is$just$and$merciful$and$good?$How$shall$I$live?$$“There$are$the$years$that$ask$questions$and$years$that$answer,”$said$Nora$Neale$Huston$(Their#Eyes#were#Watching#God).$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$is$poised$to$embrace$big$questions$precisely$at$the$time$those$who$are$asking$them$want$to$know.$Seizing$the$opportunity$to$engage$them$honors$the$questioners$and$models$the$benefit$of$doing$so$both$for$church$and$society.$$

Asking$questions$is$–$or$should$be$–$an$article$of$faith$for$Christians.$Today$what$is$needed$is$a$culture$of$questioning$and$an$appreciation$of$the$sacred$practice$of$asking$them.$Our$asking$is$not$for$the$sake$of$the$questions$themselves,$but$that$those$questions$lead$us$to$a$deeper$encounter$with$the$holy,$a$greater$love$for$the$neighbor$and$stranger,$a$more$robust$faith,$and$a$conviction$to$live$a$more$authentic,$sacred$life.$$

$In$her$blog$(inaphysics.blogspot.com),$Katrina$Hay,$Professor$of$Physics,$Pacific$Lutheran$University,$seeks$to$encourage$those$who$are$discerning$whether$a$career$in$physics$is$for$them.$She$writes:$$

We#ask#questions.#“How#do#we#get#energy#from#the#sun,#a#material#or#the#ocean?#Can#we#predict#the#direction#that#a#hurricane#will#spin?#Or#a#Frisbee#will#glide?#Or#a#comet#will#orbit?#What#is#the#strange#and#wondrous#link#between#electricity,#magnetism#and#light?#How#can#a#spacecraft#travel#through#space#when#there#is#nothing#to#push#off#of?#How#is#it#that#our#bodies#are#made#of#remnants#of#exploding#stars?#How#do#we#know#what#the#stars#are#made#of#anyway?#What#is#a#black#hole?#Do#you#want#to#investigate#these#questions#and#ask#deep#questions#of#your#own?#Do#you#enjoy#the#language#of#mathematics?##

11

People#choose#to#study#physics#for#many#reasons.#For#me,#I#was#seeking#answers#to#questions.#Big#questions.#I#wanted#to#know#more#about#the#cosmos.#Investigating#questions#led#me#deeper#into#more#questions.#Physics#tells#the#story#of#mathematical#elegance,#the#surprising#simplicity#of#the#laws#of#nature#and#the#rich#beauty#of#the#universe.#

$The$mission$of$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$requires$an$active$mind$and$a$curious$spirit,$open$to$the$questions$of$our$day$and$engaged$in$seeking$answers.$Modeling$the$importance$of$questioning$as$a$practice$of$faith$forms$students$and$others$for$vocation.$$$Who#are#we,#that#you#would#love#us?#Who#are#we,#that#you#would#hold#is#in#your#hand?#Who#are#we,#that#you#would#make#us#for#each#other,##to#love#and#hold#and#try#to#understand?$$(Psalm#8,#adapted,#Ray#Makeever)$$Sharing%the%Gifts,%Bearing%the%Burdens%You#are#the#salt#of#the#earth#(Matthew#5:13).#You#are#the#light#of#the#world#(Matthew#5:14).#For#the#creation#waits#with#eager#longing#for#the#revealing#of#the#children#of#God…#(Romans#8:19).#$With$witnesses$gathered$around$the$font$and$paschal$candle,$a$small$candle$is$lit.$Then$it‘s$given$to$the$newlyabaptized$with$these$or$similar$words:$“Let$your$light$so$shine$before$others$that$they$may$see$your$good$works$and$give$glory$to$God$in$heaven.”$$$This$declaration$does$not$call$attention$to$the$good$deeds$themselves,$though$of$course$when$deeds$are$good$they$do$have$value;$rather,$the$declaration$calls$attention$to$the$light$that$is$given,$the$Light$of$Life$that$has$power$to$illumine$the$darkness$and$dispel$fear.$Letting$one’s$light$shine$signifies$the$cause$and$effect$of$the$Christ$Light$–$first$as$it$shines$in$one’s$own$life,$then$as$it$shines$through$that$one$life$for$the$sake$of$the$world.$$In$the$world$of$ideas,$at$the$intersection$of$knowledge$and$truth,$in$campus$settings$where$darkness$often$dwells$and$tooaoften$squelches$the$light,$how$can$the$Light$of$Life$shine$through$Christ’s$disciples?$What$are$the$particular$ways$Lutherans$let$their$lights$shine$in$the$academy?$$$Here$we’ve$outlined$gifts$of$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$to$those$who$teach$and$those$who$learn.$These$gifts$include:$celebrating$life$as$God’s$gift,$readiscovering$the$wonder$of$God’s$presence$in$and$through$the$natural$world,$setting$and$serving$tables$of$hospitality,$making$room$for$all$people,$and$asking$questions$as$a$sacred$practice.$How$else$do$we$let$the$Light$of$Christ$shine?$

12

$We$do$this$by$offering:$$

• Community$that$supersedes$individualism$• Grace$instead$of$achievement$• Scripture$that’s$read$seriously$but$not$literally$• Certainty$that’s$tentative,$not$absolute$(humility)$• Paradox$that’s$a$friend,$not$an$enemy$• Earthiness$in$which$the$finite$bears$the$infinite$• Discernment$that$leads$to$knowing$and$fulfilling$God’s$call$$

$$Answering$the$call$to$follow$Christ$means$engagement$with$heartbreak$and$hope$–$heartbreak$for$all$that’s$fractured$(relationships$with$God,$oneself,$other$people,$the$whole$world);$hope$for$resurrection$life$made$possible$through$Christ.$For$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry,$empathy,$compassion,$and$action$are$signs$of$this$engagement.$They$become$opportunities$to$share$our$gifts.$$As$light$and$leaven,$we$are$called$to$expose$brokenness,$practice$repentance,$do$justice$that$subverts$powers$and$principalities,$and$get$our$hands$dirty$in$service$to$others.$In$the$words$of$Jesus’$admonition,$with$a$towel$in$his$hands$and$a$basin$to$wash$his$disciples’$feet,$we$are$called$to$“Love$one$another$as$I$have$loved$you”$(John$15:2).$$When$the$liturgy$ends,$we$are$sent$to$those$in$need$on$campus,$in$our$communities,$and$around$the$world.$“Go$in$peace,”$we$say.$“Serve$in$Jesus’$name.”$Through$the$burden$of$caring,$the$opportunity$to$do$justice,$and$the$responsibility$of$discipleship,$brokenness$becomes$wholeness$and$despair$becomes$hope.$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$provides$countless$opportunities$where$students$and$others$can$put$faith$into$practice$and$let$their$lights$shine.$$For#you#shall#go#out#in#joy,#and#be#led#forth#in#peace;#The#mountains#and#the#hills#before#you#shall#burst#into#song,#And#all#the#trees#of#the#field#shall#clap#their#hands#(Isaiah#55:12).$$Conclusion%I#planted,#Apollos#watered,#but#God#gave#the#growth$(I#Corinthians#3:6).$$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$in$the$ELCA$and$its$predecessor$church$bodies$is$more$than$100$years$old.$Alumni$include$bishops,$pastors,$camp$directors$and$counselors,$teaching$theologians,$professors,$physicians,$administrators,$government$workers,$engineers,$ambassadors,$researchers,$farmers,$technicians,$teachers,$and$countless$others$who$serve$the$common$good$through$their$daily$work.$Throughout$its$history,$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$has$served$campuses$big$and$small,$in$many$different$contexts.$Of$necessity,$it$has$adapted$to$changing$circumstances$and$social$or$cultural$shifts.$Often$

13

it’s$been$on$the$forefront$of$liturgical$change,$social$justice$movements,$international$affairs,$ecumenical$and$interfaith$engagement,$and$more.$It’s$supported$individuals$and$communities$through$times$of$transition,$turmoil,$and$testing.$Each$new$generation$has$brought$new$opportunities.$Yet,$faithful$in$it$mission,$it$serves$a$vital$role$as$it$“invites$those$in$academic$settings$more$deeply$into$Jesus$Christ$and$the$community$that$bears$his$name$so$that$they$may$discover$and$fulfill$their$calling$as$Christ’s$disciples.”$God$has$entrusted$us$with$this$ministry.$We$are$wise$to$tend$it$well.$$Go#forth#into#the#world#in#peace.#Be#of#good#courage.#Hold#fast#that#which#is#good.#Return#no#one#evil#for#evil.#Strengthen#the#faintUhearted.#Support#the#weak.#Make#common#cause#with#the#poor#and#the#oppressed.#Help#the#afflicted.#Honor#all#people.#Love#your#life#and#the#One#who#bestowed#it#upon#you.#And#the#blessing#of#God#–#worldUmaker,#painUbearer,#loveUgiver#–#be#upon#you#and#remain#with#you#always.#Amen.#$$$$

$$%%%%%%%%%%%%

14

%Credits%$All$scripture$passages$are$from$the$New$Revised$Standard$Bible.$$Page$1$–$Chambered$Nautilus,$photographer$unknown.$$Page$2$–$“Tree$of$Life,”$source$unknown.$$Page$3$–$Kyungmo$Park$planting$sedge,$Green$Island,$Oregon,$Luther$House$photo.$$Page$4$–$Hubble$Telescope$photo,$photographer$unknown.$$Page$5$–$Holy$Trinity$icon,$Andrei$Rublev,$photographic$reproduction,$source$unknown.$$Page$7$–$Students$at$table,$American$Dream$Pizza,$Oregon,$Luther$House$photo.$$Page$8$–$Dancing$Saints$and$worshipers,$St.$Gregory$of$Nyssa$Episcopal$Church,$San$Francisco,$http://www.saintgregorys.org/worship/liturgy.$$Page$10$–$“The$Thinker,”$Auguste$Rodin,$photographer$unknown.$$Page$11$–$Prayer$in$the$Church$of$Reconciliation$at$Taizé,$photographer$unknown.$$Author’s%Note%$This$paper$reflects$some$of$the$key$theological$ideas$and$priorities$for$ministry$that$have$informed$my$work$for$nearly$19$years$serving$students,$faculty,$and$university$staff$at$Oregon$State$University.$I$write$it$as$a$tool$to$clarify$my$own$commitments$and$convictions$so$I$can$better$articulate$what$I$believe$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$has$to$offer$to$campus$communities$across$the$country,$mine$included.$$Please$note$carefully,$this$paper$is$not$endorsed$by$the$ELCA.$It$is$not$intended$as$a$position$paper$to$represent$the$whole$of$our$Lutheran$Campus$Ministry$community.$It$may$or$may$not$be$helpful$or$useful$to$the$reader.$If$it$is,$I$rejoice:$if$it’s$not,$that’s$okay.$Most$likely,$another$campus$minister$would$have$written$it$differently$to$capture$other$theological$emphases$or$underscore$other$important$purposes$of$this$ministry$we$love.$This$is$simply$offered$as$a$personal$reflection,$a$conversation$starter,$an$example$of$how$a$campus$minister$can$find$his$or$her$voice,$a$desire$to$more$effectively$connect$the$faith$we$bear$to$those$we$serve,$and$a$tribute$to$God$who$“…who$by$the$power$at$work$within$us$is$able$to$accomplish$abundantly$far$more$than$all$we$can$ask$or$imagine…”$(Ephesians$3:2).$I$welcome$your$feedback.$$Jim$