Spiritual Life Center

 

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

JULY 10, 2012

 

Portland Christian Campus Ministry (PCCM) is announcing a change in its ministry to the students and faculty at Portland State University, downtown Portland OR. PCCM will be actively engaged in a process of visioning and redeveloping the ministry during the coming academic year.

 

During this process the Spiritual Life Center on the corner of Broadway and Montgomery streets will be closed, but the ministry will have a continuing presence at Portland State University through the Episcopalian Campus Ministry (ECM). Popular programs and relevant ministries such as the labyrinth, weekly worship, and prayer groups will continue to meet as regularly scheduled during the year, and the ECM chaplain will also be available for spiritual counseling and pastoral direction.

 

PCCM has already completed Phase One of a strategic plan to examine critical realities of campus ministry and the unique location of Portland State University. A renewed sense of collaboration is happening amongst churches in downtown Portland, and campus ministry is a vital sign of a cooperative Christian community. This interim process will allow PCCM to maintain existing relationships, form new partnerships, and look to the future, developing a fresh vision and new strategic initiatives for a successful and relevant campus ministry program in the future. Your support is appreciated during this interim process.

 

PCCM has been blessed by Carol Joy Brendlinger’s leadership as Campus Minister for the last seven years. We regret that the process in which PCCM is now engaged has eliminated the position which Carol Joy has so gracefully filled. We look forward to honoring her contributions at a special event to be held this fall.

 

For more information contact PCCM Board President Audre Bratcher at pccm@pdx.edu.

Note from Carol Joy

Hello friends of the Spiritual Life Center!

I hope your summer is going well, and that you are getting plenty of opportunities to get out in this gorgeous weather we are having!  I’ve been enjoying a lot of bicycle riding and some camping and kayaking!

I wanted to let you know about some changes at the Spiritual Life Center.  As many of you know we had a consultant visit to help us look at how to move forward in our ministry with the challenges around the  decreasing of our non profit funding.  Our PCCM board (Portland Campus Christian Ministry) had a retreat with our consultant and had to face the challenging reality around the loss of our  funding over the last number of years.  After a long day of work and prayerful discernment, the board decided that the best way forward was to take a year off of the ministry to do some board development and sort out how to move forward in a sustainable way.

The board discerned that It made the most sense to them to give me notice and also let go of the lease at the Spiritual Life Center.  The board is in the process of clearing out the space, and will be ending the lease at the end of August. I feel very at peace with this choice–understanding that it is what is needed.  The Episcopal Campus Ministry will continue to have a presence on the PSU campus.  Rev. Dennis Parker is moving on to work only at St. Stephens.  However, the Episcopal board is hiring an Episcopal priest to continue the campus ministry at PSU.  This person will facilitate the programs that have become an important part of life on the PSU campus such as the monthly Labyrinth walk and the Thursday evening Eucharist and the Beloved Community evening meal and discussion.  Noah Kilian, who is a PSU student and is also on the PCCM board and Episcopal board is in process of putting together a campus ministry student group.  Feel free to contact Noah if you’re interested in being a part of this student group!  Noah.kilian@gmail.com  

Many other programs are continuing through the summer and will continue in the fall:   Centering Prayer continues to meet on Wednesdays at 8:30am at St. James Lutheran Church; Quaker Meeting continues to meet at noon on Wednesdays at First Christian Church; The Labyrinth walks will continue on second Tuesdays starting Oct. 9 in Smith Center.  I hope you can stay connected to the visioning with the PCCM board.  They will continue to work with the consultant to discern where God is leading next. 

The past seven years of my ministry here at Portland State University has been such a gift!  I am so grateful for all of you—for your presence in my life. It has been amazing to reflect on all that has happened and how each of you has touched my life in a different and valuable way. I am leaving August 8 to walk the Camino de Santiago, an ancient Pilgrimage path in Northern Spain. I will carry you all in my heart and prayers! I will be on campus in the Fall, teaching a Spiritual Leadership class at PSU with Jill Townley on Tuesday evenings.  I look forward to seeing you around campus!

If you have questions, feel free to contact the PCCM board at www.pccm@pdx.edu

Many blessings,

Carol Joy