Building Student Leaders
Encouraging young adult leadership on college campuses
Lutherans believe it is important to encourage the growth of young adult leaders throughout its ministries. Campus ministry offers an excellent opportunity for the ELCA to nurture and encourage the leadership of those young adults by working with students on college campuses. Below is an example of a campus ministry working to develop student leaders and below that are some sample forms and policies that can aid ministries in incorporating student leadership into the life of the ministry.
Developing Leaders: The Lutheran Campus Ministry, UNC-Chapel Hill Model
Pastor Mark Coulter
We consider leadership development to be one of the strengths of our ministry at UNC and I have been asked to share our efforts. After I had been at UNC for about five years and seen some growth in our group, I realized that if we were to continue to grow I needed to change some ways our student group and I function. Taking a cue from Michael Foss’s book, Power Surge, I began emphasizing discipleship instead of membership. When students arrive, we stress that we are all disciples and that we are all called to use our gifts as God has given them to us. We have a two-page list of Discipleship Roles. Every student (even first-years) is asked to take on a role and have ownership in the group. Some roles are as simple as writing thank-you notes to the congregational cooks for our Wednesday night supper.
We have a President and four team leaders who govern the group and make the decisions. This group used to be elected by persons putting their name under the position they desired and then the entire group voting. After three straight years of tension following the election because some didn’t get the spot they wanted, we moved to a “selection and ratification” system. Students are invited to apply for a leadership position by filling out an application which is two pages long. The questions are intended to help them examine their motivations for seeking leadership, as well as to convey the responsibilities and commitment required. The applications are read by a team composed of myself, the LCM Board chair, the current student president, and a graduating senior. We then submit a leadership slate to the students for a ratification vote. In the second year of this process we had sixteen applications for five spots. Please note that the idea of going in this direction was cultivated for a year or two with the student leaders before it was implemented.
Another key component of our leadership development came out of a conversation with a student who was active in a para-church organization on campus. She told me the reason she really liked that group was that they were about leadership development and offered a great retreat where students were taught how to be leaders -— and it was all biblically based. I decided that we also needed to have a biblically based leadership retreat. I adapted several of the devotions from Michael Foss and Terri Elton’s book, What Really Matters: 30 devotions for Church Leadership Teams to provide that Biblical connection to leadership. We invite any student who desires to be a leader of something to join us on a retreat during the period between the last exam and graduation. We take the students away and ask for their time for three hours every morning and two hours after dinner. All students are invited on this retreat and we have had 15-18 each year. Specific items on the agenda for the retreat are team building, goal setting, walking in first-year shoes, care giving, and a relaxed time to dream and plan.
Through what we are doing, I think we have raised expectations that students be disciples, helped them identify their gifts, and given opportunities for students to use those gifts in service to the organization, the university and the community. Students in our ministry realize that if they want to see something happen, they have to take the lead in making it happen. It has been a joy to see them grow in their faith and discipleship. I pray that these skills and gifts will go with them when they graduate.
Documents cited in this article are found below.
Application for Leadership 201_
Lutheran Campus Ministry
NAME ______________________________ CLASS _________________________
EMAIL ______________________________ PHONE _________________________
Please return this application along with the LCM Leadership Sheet by ____ to ____ of the Nominating Committee. Nominating slate will be presented for ratification on ____.
1. Why are you applying for leadership in LCM? Are there any positions you would not like to be considered for? (On the attached position sheet, please rank your preferred positions, make an “x” next to any you would not like to be considered for, or specify that you would be willing to serve in any capacity).
2. What gifts or talents have others identified in you? How have you used those gifts in serving LCM this year?
3. Do you prefer to work alone or with a partner/on a team? Give an example of an occasion when you’ve done one or both in the past. What did you learn from this experience?
4. How would you rate yourself in honoring your commitments? How have you experienced and responded to over-commitment in the past?
5.How do you cope with stress and busy-ness?
6. How do you handle conflict?
7. Do you prefer up-front leadership roles or are you more comfortable working behind the scenes? Give an example of when you felt God was using you as a leader.
8. What would you say makes insert ministry name ministry unique as a student ministry here at insert name university. How would you explain our purpose to another university student?
9. List two or three ideas you have for broadening our fellowship’s influence and witness on campus.
10. insert ministry name ministry is seeking to grow in its leadership development and will be offering a four-day training experience with sessions on goal setting, peer ministry, fractals, and discipleship (along with time for sun and fun). You are invited and encouraged to join us on the leadership retreat whether you are on the Leadership Team or not. Our vision for leadership is that we are all disciples seeking to serve our Lord whether we are in official positions or not. Taking care of weekly meeting details is just as important as planning a Spring Break trip. In accepting one of our positions on our leadership team are you able to make LCM your highest priority after your academic requirements for the coming year.
Are you willing to make this commitment? _______Yes _________No
Are you able/willing to attend the Leadership Retreat ____(insert dates)
What challenges do you anticipate in fulfilling these requirements?
11. In addition to this Leadership Retreat, LCM will be participating in a two-day training/team-building event to be held the first Thursday and Friday before classes start (insert dates). The first day will consist of brainstorming and spiritual sharing with other campus ministry groups in preparation for the upcoming year. The second day will consist of the LCM leadership team growing together as a unit and planning service opportunities, social events, and faith-centered approaches to welcoming the newest first-year class. This two day event will be considered mandatory for the leadership team chairs and optional for the vice-chairs.
Are you able/willing to attend the Leadership Training/Team-Building Event (insert dates)?
What challenges do you anticipate in fulfilling these requirements?
Please take a minute to look through the ministry Statement of Mission and Purpose. If you feel confident you can support this Mission, please sign the bottom part of this form. If you have any questions or reservations about either statement, please explain:
I hereby indicate my agreement with and commitment to insert ministry name ministry’s Mission and Purpose statement:
_________________________________________ ______________________
Your Signature Date
LCM Chairs and Vice-Chairs
______President: The president is in charge of team leaders and gathering the Leadership team. He or she emails the listserv and does the verbal announcements on Wednesdays. The leader of the group
Honor Teach Live Commit
_____Honor Chair: The head of the Honor team. He or she is responsible for the worship and devotional life of LCM. He or she is responsible for attending meetings and reporting back to the Honor team.
_____Honor Vice Chair: The vice chair plans and collaborates with the head chair for the Honor team to enrich the worship and devotional life of LCM. He or she is not responsible for attending all leadership meetings, but should be willing to fill in for the head chair if the head chair cannot attend.
Honor Responsibilities:
§ Wednesday worship and music coordinator
§ Coordinating Student Prayers
§ Wednesday worship set-up coordinator: help ensure that the
Campus center is set up and ready for worship each week
§ Devotion coordinator, including weekly listserv devotions
§ Sunday morning worship coordinator: coordinate with church
secretary and worship team leaders to fill spots during
Sunday morning worship (such as ushers, lectors,
communion assistants, etc.)
§ Thank-yous (Wednesday night meal cooks, occasional speakers, other hosts): make sure thank yous are written to all who have graciously helped us.
§ Newsletter Editor: coordinate people to write excerpts for the Newsletter (at least once per semester).
_____Teach Chair: The head of the Teach team. He or she is responsible for the learning, personal growth, and education at LCM. He or she is responsible for attending meetings and reporting back to the Teach team.
_____Teach Vice Chair: The vice chair plans and collaborates with the head chair for the Teach team to enhance the learning, personal growth, and education at LCM. He or she is not responsible for attending all leadership meetings, but should be willing to fill in for the head chair if the head chair cannot attend.
Teach Responsibilities:
§ Beach retreat planning
§ Fall retreat planning team: help plan and organize the LSM Fall Regional Retreat
§ Winter Mountain retreat planning
§ Plan “God at the Movies”: coordinate movies and dates with the Leadership Team to ensure approximately one movie per month is shown for students to view and consider God’s role within the movie and how it relates to our everyday life
§ Develop and maintain relationships with the congregational Youth Group (at least once per semester): plan to host an event with Youth Group.
§ Plan special 6 week studies, other educational studies, and guest speakers: work with campus pastor to organize other special studies
§ On campus Bible Study Group Leader
_____Live Chair: The head of the Live team. He or she is responsible for service projects, outreach, and social opportunities for LCM. He or she is responsible for attending meetings and reporting back to the Live team.
_____Live Vice Chair: The vice chair plans and collaborates with the head chair for the Live team to initiate service projects, outreach, and social opportunities for LCM. He or she is not responsible for attending all leadership meetings, but should be willing to fill in for the head chair if the head chair cannot attend.
Live Responsibilities:
§ New Student recruitment and retention, including: orientation, summer letter writing, Fall Fest, freshmen activities, hosting student prospects, and attending youth conventions. (Ensure people will help sit at orientation with campus pastor, recruit students to write letters over the summer for incoming students; make sure enough students to help sit at Fall Fest; as well as plan new Freshmen activities, such as a Target Run.)
§ Fall Break service retreat planning (begin planning early in fall semester)
§ Alternative Spring Break liaison: work with SB coordinator and campus pastor early in fall semester to get ideas flowing; continue working on trip until Spring Break; get several other participants to help plan other parts of the trip.
§ Interfaith Council (IFC) meal preparation: reserve dates with the congregational campus ministry early in fall semester and make sure there is enough help to cook on the day of service.
§ Ronald McDonald House (RMH) meal preparation: set up dates with RMH in the beginning of the fall semester and make sure there are enough students to help for each date.
§ Coordinate Halloween alternative programming
§ Maintain relations with other universities
§ Coordinate intramural teams.
_____Commit Chair: The head of the Commit team. He or she is responsible for logistics, archiving, and monetary aspects of LCM, and serving as liaison between the LCM Leadership Team and Governing Board Representatives. He or she is responsible for attending meetings and reporting back to the Commit team.
_____Commit Vice Chair: The vice chair plans and collaborates with the head chair for the Commit team to keep track of logistics, archiving, and monetary aspects of LCM, as well as aid the Commit head chair in being the liaison between the LCM Leadership Team and Governing Board Representatives. He or she is not responsible for attending all leadership meetings, but should be willing to fill in for the head chair if the head chair cannot attend.
Commit Responsibilities:
§ Wednesday night dinner and worship space clean-up coordinator: make sure there is always help to clean-up after Wednesday night’s meal.
§ Property coordinator (makes sure campus center stays clean and organized)
§ Ensure large kitchen dishwashers are unloaded after weekly meetings.
§ Photographer: make sure to collect photos from ALL LCM events. Does not necessarily have to attend all events, just need to collect some photos from people who go, and when in attendance, make sure some photos are taken.
§ Webmaster: maintain LCM’s website with up-to-date photos from photographer if necessary
§ Facebook group maintenance.
§ Treasurer: collect and manage retreat money, Wednesday night money, and other fund-raising money, in charge of getting the money from the person collecting it for trips and fund-raising; monitor and become/remain knowledgeable about LCM’s budget, including the SAFO account, and gain/maintain official treasurer status with the university
§ Fund-raising, including football parking, football concessions, basketball ticket-taking/bag-checking, Parent’s Night Out, and other fund-raising events (make sure each event is fully staffed).
_____Spring Break Coordinator: Responsible for planning and carrying out the Alternative Spring Break plans of LCM.
The Mission and Purpose of Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC-Chapel Hill
The mission and purpose of Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC is to conduct, support and interpret a Lutheran Ministry in higher education. This ministry is Christ centered and its membership is open to all of the University community. The Holy Spirit calls this ministry into being and gathers it around the proclamation of the Word of God and the celebration of the Sacraments.
The purpose of Lutheran Campus Ministry is to assist people in academic settings to discover and fulfill their vocation in Jesus Christ. Students are the largest constituency and basic focus of the campus ministry program.
In seeking to implement the above purpose, Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC, emphasizes the following aspects of ministry:
Christian Community
The ministry of the church, in higher education as elsewhere, is the responsibility of the priesthood of all believers. Those who carry delegated responsibility for leadership in Lutheran Campus Ministry are primarily staff, students, faculty and administrative people who participate in worship, learning, caring, service, and witness for the common work that is signified by their faith and presence in the academic setting.
This ministry also includes Christians and others beyond the Lutheran tradition as it recognizes the unity of the church of Jesus Christ and the ministries of other faith traditions here at UNC.
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC gathers as a Christ centered community to worship in Word and Sacrament, constitute a supportive and caring community celebrating life together, and to provide opportunities for learning and growth in faith. Those involved in this ministry engage in acts of service in the world, expressing a responsible witness to the grace of God and the life of the church.
Church-at-large
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC identifies itself as a ministry of the whole church by:
- Relating with other ministries in ways that reflect and promote the church’s mission and unity.
- Encouraging attention to insights and resources out of higher education which can stimulate the life of the church.
- Cultivating responsibility, multicultural partnership, and leadership skills for service in the church and society.
- Fostering participation in the national and international student movements.
- Communicating the challenge to serve full-time in the church as an ordained person or lay professional.
Academic Community
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC addresses itself to the academic community by:
- Working to integrate the academic experience and the Christian faith;
- Seeking to participate where possible in conversations and decisions about the purposes of higher education and to assist in the constructive evaluation of its performance.
- Working for humane and healthy relationships among members of the academic community;
- Showing concern for international students and faculty;
- Providing encouragement for reflection on the relation of faith and learning, the place of religion in history and culture, and the meaning of the Christian faith in a pluralistic world;
- Supporting Christians and others who seek the responsible use of the mind, knowledge and technology as they wrestle with values, questions, and ethical decisions;
- Serving the academic community with the resources of the church and giving a faithful witness to Jesus Christ in the cultural-pluralism of society.
Society at Large
Lutheran Campus Ministry at UNC participates in the life of the world in ways faithful to our Lord’s presence in the world. It utilizes the resources of higher education in seeking to address the needs and hopes of the larger society. It has a special concern for oppressed people. It has concern for the earth and the stewardship of its resources in a technological and nuclear age. It assists people in life and career planning out of the insights and resources of Christian vocation. It practices hospitality with all who come.
Structure
LCM will be served by a leadership team to be composed of a President and 4 team members serving in the areas of Honor, Teach, Live and Commit. The purpose of the team will be to provide the environment where all can grow in their discipleship and faith.
LCM Discipleship Roles
Name: _____________________________
In order to ensure the continued success and growth of LCM, we all must consider our role within LCM and contribute our skills and talents to the best of our abilities. Prayerfully consider chairing or being on one of the committees for the upcoming year. All positions need a faithful member to help us carry out our mission in Christ. The Leadership Team is composed of the President and team Leaders of Honor, Teach, Live, and Commit. Vice-chairs also work in each of the congregation’s areas. Ideally, we would have a different “leader/disciple” for each of the items below.
President: Responsible for the team leaders and gathering the Leadership Team.
Communicating with the LCM community through the listserv and verbal announcements on Wednesday. The leader of the group.
Honor: Responsible for the worship and devotional life of LCM:
____Wednesday worship and music coordinator, including coordinating student prayers for weekly worship.
____Wednesday worship setup coordinator: help ensure that the campus center is set up and ready for worship on Wednesdays.
____Devotion coordinator, including weekly listserve devotions.
____Sunday morning worship coordinator: coordinate with church secretary and worship team leaders to fill spots during Sunday morning worship (such as ushers, lectors, communion assistants, etc).
____Sunday morning help (willing to serve as an usher, reader, communion assistant)
____Thank-yous (Wednesday night meal cooks, occasional speakers, other hosts): make sure thank yous are written to all who have graciously helped us.
____Newsletter editor: coordinate people to write excerpts for the newsletter (at least once per semester).
Teach: Responsible for the learning, personal growth, and education at LCM:
____Beach Retreat planning.
____Fall Retreat planning team: help plan and organize the LSM Fall Regional Retreat
____Winter Mountain Retreat planning.
____Plan "God at the Movies": coordinate movies and dates with the Leadership Team to ensure approximately one movie per month is shown for students to view and consider God's role within the movie and how it relates to our everyday life.
____Develop and maintain relationships with congregation’s Youth Group (at least once per semester): plan to host an event with the Youth Group.
____Plan special 6 week studies, other educational studies, and guest speakers: work with campus pastor to organize special studies.
____Lead a Bible Study Group (Real World study)
Live: Responsible for service projects, outreach, and social opportunities:
____New Student recruitment and retention, including: summer letter writing, Fall Fest, freshmen activities, hosting student prospects, and attending youth conventions. (Ensure people will help sit at orientation with campus pastor, recruit students to write letters over the summer for incoming students; make sure enough students to help sit at Fall Fest; as well as plan new Freshmen activities, such as Target run.)
____Fall Break Service Retreat planning: begin planning early in fall semester.
____Inter-Faith Council (IFC) meal preparation: reserve dates with campus ministry committee early in fall semester and make sure there is enough help to cook on the day of service.
____Coordinate Parent’s night out babysitting at church.
____Coordinate Halloween alternative programming.
____Annual fall fellowship event with neighboring LCM groups
____Maintain relations with other universities.
____Coordinate intramural teams.
Commit: Responsible for logistics, archiving, and monetary aspects of LCM, and serving as liaison between the LCM Leadership Team and Governing Board Representatives:
____Wednesday night dinner and worship space clean-up coordinator: make sure there is always help to clean-up after weekly meeting’s meal.
____Property coordinator (makes sure campus center stays clean and organized).
____ Ensure large kitchen dishwashers are unloaded after Wednesday nights.
____Photographer: make sure to collect photos from ALL LCM events. Does not necessarily have to attend all events, just need to collect some photos from people who do go, and when in attendance, make sure some photos are taken.
____Webmaster: maintain LCM's website with up-to-date photos from photographer if necessary.
____Facebook group maintenance.
___Treasurer. collect and manage retreat money, Wednesday night money, and other fund-raising money, in charge of getting the money from the person collecting it for trips and fund-raising; monitor and become/remain knowledgeable about LCM's budget, including the SAFO account, and gain/maintain official treasurer status with the university.
____Fund-raising, including football parking, football concessions, basketball ticket-taking/bag-checking, Parents’ Night Out, and other fund-raising events (make sure each event is fully staffed).
Spring Break Coordinator: Responsible for working with campus pastor to plan the Alternative Spring Break experience(s) for LCM.
_____ Serve on planning team to plan fun, devotions, pre-trip events, etc.
Other job or ministry you would be interested in leading.