Wesley Foundation
Encyclopedia
A Wesley Foundation is a United Methodist campus ministry sponsored in full or in part (depending on the congregation) by the United Methodist Church
on a non-church owned and operated campus. Wesley Foundations claim ancestry in the founding "Holy Club
" of the Methodist movement, a group of students at Oxford University guided by Wesley in "methodical" (hence "Methodist") study, prayer, and self-discipline. Today a Wesley Foundation is the presence of the United Methodist Church
on or near, and in service to, a state-run, non-church affiliated college or university (Church-related schools have Chaplains that may guide similar groups).
The first Wesley Foundation was established October 13, 1913 at the University of Illinois. Bishop James C. Baker's work in organizing this first Wesley Foundation chose the name Wesley Foundation to emphasize two spheres of outreach. Wesley refers to John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church and first campus minister at Oxford University. While Foundation was selected to mean an "open movement," an ecumenical movement available to all college students.
Wesley Foundations are primarily found in the United States
, Canada
and the United Kingdom
, but can also be found in a number of other countries around the world. They are governed by the basic unit of the United Methodist Church
, the annual conference
; ordained ministers are appointed by their annual conference to serve Wesley Foundations as campus minister in a similar manner to their usual appointment to a church or charge.
The highest-profile UMSM program is Student Forum, an annual meeting held at rotating sites in the United States at the end of May bringing together delegates nominated by their respective annual conferences, mostly from the U.S. but usually including some international delegates as well. Past Locations have included:
UMSM Steering Committee 2008-2009
Chairperson:
Jen Heald (Northeastern)
Elected Members:
Audrey Banner (North Central)
Ken Schoon (North Central)
Lyndsey Seeley (Northeastern)
Jessie Waddell (South Central)
Nickie Moreno (South Central)
Shawn Foles (Southeastern)
Matt Martin (Southeastern)
Noel Estes (Western)
Joe Rokoyawa (Western)
Appointed/At-Large Members:
Dominique Stephens
Marcus Briggs-Cloud
Jeremy Carter
Jade Roy
Courtney Tsotigh
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
on a non-church owned and operated campus. Wesley Foundations claim ancestry in the founding "Holy Club
Holy Club
The Holy Club was an organisation at Christ Church, Oxford, set up by brothers John and Charles Wesley in 1729, who later contributed to the formation of the Methodist Church....
" of the Methodist movement, a group of students at Oxford University guided by Wesley in "methodical" (hence "Methodist") study, prayer, and self-discipline. Today a Wesley Foundation is the presence of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
on or near, and in service to, a state-run, non-church affiliated college or university (Church-related schools have Chaplains that may guide similar groups).
The first Wesley Foundation was established October 13, 1913 at the University of Illinois. Bishop James C. Baker's work in organizing this first Wesley Foundation chose the name Wesley Foundation to emphasize two spheres of outreach. Wesley refers to John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church and first campus minister at Oxford University. While Foundation was selected to mean an "open movement," an ecumenical movement available to all college students.
Wesley Foundations are primarily found in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but can also be found in a number of other countries around the world. They are governed by the basic unit of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, the annual conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
; ordained ministers are appointed by their annual conference to serve Wesley Foundations as campus minister in a similar manner to their usual appointment to a church or charge.
United Methodist Student Movement (UMSM)
The United Methodist Student Movement is the overarching organization of college students in the United Methodist Church, involving students participating in Wesley Foundations as well as others in Methodist-affiliated ecumenical ministries at public and secular private schools and chaplaincy-based ministries at Methodist universities. The UMSM operates at the annual conference level, as well as jurisdictional and national/international meetings.The highest-profile UMSM program is Student Forum, an annual meeting held at rotating sites in the United States at the end of May bringing together delegates nominated by their respective annual conferences, mostly from the U.S. but usually including some international delegates as well. Past Locations have included:
| Past Student Forum Locations | City | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Centenary College | Shreveport, Louisiana | 2009 |
| American University | Washington, D.C | 2008 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma, Washington | 2007 |
| Adrian College | Adrian, Michigan | 2006 |
| Millsaps College | Jackson, Mississippi | 2005 |
Steering Committee
The Student Forum is planned by a committee of 10 students elected by their respective jurisdictions, as well as 5 additional members selected by the Steering Committee to reflect the cultural, leadership, racial, locational, and skill diversity of the UMSM. Collectively these students are known as the UMSM Steering Committee. Elections take place at every Student Forum, which each member both elected an appointed serving a 2 year term.UMSM Steering Committee 2008-2009
Chairperson:
Jen Heald (Northeastern)
Elected Members:
Audrey Banner (North Central)
Ken Schoon (North Central)
Lyndsey Seeley (Northeastern)
Jessie Waddell (South Central)
Nickie Moreno (South Central)
Shawn Foles (Southeastern)
Matt Martin (Southeastern)
Noel Estes (Western)
Joe Rokoyawa (Western)
Appointed/At-Large Members:
Dominique Stephens
Marcus Briggs-Cloud
Jeremy Carter
Jade Roy
Courtney Tsotigh
External links
- The Wesley Fellowship at Duke University
- University of Michigan Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry
- Wesley Foundation at Jacksonville State University
- Louisiana Tech University Wesley Foundation
- University of Kentucky Wesley Foundation
- Emory Wesley Fellowship at Emory University
- Wesley Foundation at Louisiana State University
- Georgia Tech Wesley Foundation
- University of Georgia Wesley Foundation
- Arizona State University Wesley Foundation
- University of Arizona Wesley Foundation
- Florida State University Wesley Foundation
- University of Florida Wesley Foundation
- University Christian Ministry at Northwestern University
- Wesley Foundation at Stephen F. Austin University
- Wesley Foundation at Old Dominion University
- Wesley Foundation at Arkansas Tech University
- Wesley Foundation at the University of Central Arkansas
- Wesley Foundation at Appalachian State University
- Wesley Foundation at Wake Forest University
- The Wesley Foundation at Michigan State University
- Wesley Campus Ministry at UNC-Chapel Hill
- The Wesley Foundation at Western Carolina University
- The Wesley Foundation at Penn State University
- The Wesley Foundation serving San Diego State University
- Wesley Foundation Campus Ministry at the University of Delaware
- General Board of Higher Education
- United Methodist Campus Ministers Association
- United Methodist Student Movement (UMSM)
- Student Forum of the UMSM