College and Young Adult Ministry

Find us on Facebook. The group is called “Episcopal Campus Ministry in the Diocese of WV.”

Contacts: The Very Rev. Kevin Kelly

The Rev. Siobhán Patterson

Spring College Retreat 2008

Over the weekend of March 7-9, about twenty folks gathered at Peterkin for Spring 2008 retreat, which was led by the Rev. Kevin Kelly, the Rev. Siobhán Patterson, Nicki Carpenter, and seminarians, the Rev. Adam Thomas and Amy Porterfield. The retreat focused on the theme of vision, and those in attendance spent much of the weekend coming up with a vision for the college and young adult ministry program that has been forming in the Diocese over the past couple of years. Within small groups, students discussed an overarching vision for what this ministry will look like within the Diocese, but also set goals to achieve by the end of 2008.

The group spoke of an overall vision of creating a safe, supportive environment for students to grow spiritually during this hectic and transitional period in their lives. The group noted a desire to see the ministry grow in numbers, reaching out to non-Episcopal students while still maintaining the Episcopal tradition and values. By the end of this calendar year, students hope to work with the current campus ministries and congregations around the Diocese to compile a database of Episcopal college students.

Other goals included establishing ongoing service projects at each campus, doing more Diocesan events each year, and working with current campus ministries to help start new ones at other schools. The group’s vision and goals will be carried out by the new Campus Ministry Task Force, which will begin meeting in April.

In addition to working on goals for campus ministry, the participants also spent time in worship throughout the weekend and had plenty of fellowship time with old and new friends. Favorite activities included listening to music, playing games, talking around the fireplace in Gravatt, and helping Kevin make barbeque in honor of his birthday.

Front row from l to r - Cara Folk, Alina Cuadra, Caitlin Poole, Sarah Braswell, Olivia Novotny, Amy Seitz, Bre Reed. Middle row - the Rev. Siobhán Patterson, Greg Trumble, the Rev. Kevin Kelly, Paul Braswell, Jordan Trumble, Jack Waddell, Brandon Cole. Back row - Matt Lightfoot, Nicki Carpenter, the Rev. Adam Thomas, Caitlin McIntyre, Amy Porterfield