The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
May 2008

Province VIII Students Gather in Salt Lake City

For the first time in 12 years, the Diocese of Utah hosted the annual Province VIII Campus Ministry Gathering at the Cathedral Center of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark and at the Episcopal Church Center of Utah. Over 60 students and their chaplains from colleges and universities from the Western states and Pacific gathered in Salt Lake City during the weekend of March 28-30 to explore the event's theme: At(one)ment: Acceptance—Faith.

The Rev. Douglas Fenton, Director of Higher Education and Young Adult Ministries for the Episcopal Church offers a blessing for a member of the campus ministry gathering at St. Mark’s Cathedral.

Three keynote speakers addressed the students and chaplains on various themes directly connected to two Millennium Development Goals: environmental sustainability and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The Very Rev. Frederick Q. Lawson set the tone for the gathering by stressing the interrelatedness of human and natural habitats. Elaine Emmi, Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable, and Steve Ritchey of Holladay United Church of Christ continued the conversation by exploring a "green" spirituality and offering practical ways for students to get involved locally to make a difference in their local communities.

For the first time in the history of the event guests from Province IX were in attendance, Karla Reyes and Carolina Hernandez, of "Siempre Unidos," an HIV/AIDS outreach and prevention program sponsored by the Club Canterbury at the National University in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Their presentation included statistics concerning the AIDS crisis in Honduras, an overview of their program and the difference it has made in their community, and a lecture similar to those offered on their campus.

A rich offering of workshops also reinforced central themes. The topics included an introduction to fundamentalisms, by the Rev. Canon Mary June Nestler; an overview of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, by the Rev. Lee Shaw; the work of Episcopal Relief and Development, by Brin Bon; a conversation on the Millennium Development Goals, by Northern Arizona University Chaplain Tamie Harkins; and a discussion on the work of Utah Interfaith Power and Light, by Steve Ritchey.

Following the workshops the students were treated to a screening of the award-winning documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So, about the lives of gay and lesbian persons and their families in contexts of cultural misunderstandings and hostility.

The youth and campus ministry leaders meet for fellowship and a meal in the Dean's Hall at St. Mark's Cathedral.

The community gathered for a Candlelight Eucharist which included individual prayers for healing and a community blessing and sending of graduating seniors. The service, carefully planned by the Rev. Robin James, Precentor of the Cathedral, was described by many in attendance as a transformational experience as they reflected on the issues discussed over the weekend through the light of their "at-one-ment" with the world God loves. The gathering concluded with Sunday morning Eucharist at the Cathedral Church in which the Rev. Douglas Fenton, Director of Higher Education and Young Adult Ministries of the Episcopal Church, served as guest preacher.

The Dean of the Cathedral, Father Rick Lawson, said the conference highlighted for him the important role that our chaplains in universities and colleges play in helping to lead young people to a better understanding of the church and their role within it.

The Rev. Joel Nau, Chaplain, Lumen Episcopal/Lutheran Campus Ministry

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