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United Campus Ministry papers, 1970-1972

1971-04-20 'A Prophetic Ministry at Iowa City'

A Prophetic Ministry at Iowa City 
UCCM began in Iowa City with an understanding, on the part of the local board, that the ministry was to be ecumenical, experimental, and innovative.
Experiment and innovation are possible only when there is freedom from traditional practice. The board never saw itself as the judge and supervisor of its staff; it saw itself rather as a participant with the staff in an effort to respond-- often more quickly than was comfortable-- to a succession of new issues and new crises. Such a ministry is inherently risky. The board understood the UCCM structure to be one in which the board stands behind its staff and the commission stands behind the board.

The Iowa City Board has been slow to understand that campus ministry is to be planned, directed, and judged by the commission. We reject the notion that the commission is claiming power for the sake of power. But the only alternative explanation is that the commission is responding to the concerns of denominational officials who counsel caution rather than risk, and who prefer the safety of committee meetings to the perils of an active ministry.

The Iowa City Board wishes to reaffirm the confidence which it has always had in its staff; it wishes to reaffirm the conception which it has always held of a minisyty shared by staff and board. We deeply regret that we encouraged our staff to act as though it were free to act as though it were free when in fact it was not.
Still more do we regret our inability to shield our staff from the risks of a prophetic ministry. Most of all we regret that the commission has been responsive to the point of view which considers the church more important than ministry. We must observe that an institution which is primarily concerned with its own survival will not be noticed if it succeds, or missed if it fails. 

Approved unanimously by the Iowa City
United Campus Christian Ministry Board
April 20, 1971

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A Prophetic Ministry at Iowa City UCCM began in Iowa City with an understanding, on the part of the local board, that the ministry was to be ecumenical, experimental, and innovative. Experiment and innovation are possible only when there is freedom from traditional practice. The board never saw itself as the judge and supervisor of its staff; it saw itself rather as a participant with the staff in an effort to respond-- often more quickly than was comfortable-- to a succession of new issues and new crises. Such a ministry is inherently risky. The board understood the UCCM structure to be one in which the board stands behind its staff and the commission stands behind the board. The Iowa City Board has been slow to understand that campus ministry is to be planned, directed, and judged by the commission. We reject the notion that the commission is claiming power for the sake of power. But the only alternative explanation is that the commission is responding to the concerns of denominational officials who counsel caution rather than risk, and who prefer the safety of committee meetings to the perils of an active ministry. The Iowa City Board wishes to reaffirm the confidence which it has always had in its staff; it wishes to reaffirm the conception which it has always held of a minisyty shared by staff and board. We deeply regret that we encouraged our staff to act as though it were free to act as though it were free when in fact it was not. Still more do we regret our inability to shield our staff from the risks of a prophetic ministry. Most of all we regret that the commission has been responsive to the point of view which considers the church more important than ministry. We must observe that an institution which is primarily concerned with its own survival will not be noticed if it succeds, or missed if it fails. Approved unanimously by the Iowa City United Campus Christian Ministry Board April 20, 1971