Making Disciples—Developing a Campus Movement
A Strategic Plan for Developing CRC Campus Ministry
Prepared by Bill Van Groningen, Christian Reformed Home Missions
Introduction
This strategic plan arises from the vision and mission of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Keeping in mind the denomination's strategic plan and the goals identified in it, the plan situates itself within the Gathering goals articulated by Christian Reformed Home Missions. The campus ministry documents which establish the specific parameters of this plan are the Christian Reformed Campus Ministry Association's VISION and To Pursue the Mission documents.
Vision
Christian Reformed Campus Ministry endeavors to engage the world of higher education passionately, and in partnership with others, with a vision of God's creative wisdom and embracing love. We see the academic community as a place where the spirits of the age reveal themselves, but also where humble service, noble character and intellectual integrity, by the grace of God, are manifest and can be cultivated.
Mission
The mission of Christian Reformed Campus Ministry is to announce the reign of God through Jesus Christ in ways that address persons involved in the academic environment, to voice the redemption made possible by the work of Jesus of Nazareth, and to promote gatherings of God's people who explore and take up the summons to follow him. Such communities are to engage in holistic Kingdom ministries, mindful of the specialized context of higher education. The ministries ought to be led and served by campus ministers and sustained in relationships of mutual accountability.
Purpose
The purpose of Christian Reformed Campus Ministry is, in concert with the movement of the Spirit of God in the lives of students, faculty and staff, to help form persons who will in turn become part of a missional movement grounded in Christ, the redeemer and creator. This movement is best characterized by radiant hope, learning that glorifies God and commitment to community within the global world of higher education.
Strategic Plan
I. Prayer
II. Initiating, Supporting, and Guiding Disciple-Making on Campus
III. Financial Support
I. Prayer
Goal #1
Prayer for God's blessing on the work of CRC campus ministry is offered regularly.
Indicators:
1. Campus ministry concerns and opportunities are included in denominational prayer guides.
2. Campus ministry concerns and opportunities are regularly included in the congregational prayers of supporting churches.
Goal #2
The practice of prayer is an essential component of each CRC campus ministry.
Indicators:
1. Campus ministers regularly host campus ministry staff on their campus for gatherings of prayer.
2. Gatherings for prayer with students, faculty and staff are an integral component of each campus ministry's weekly program.
II. Initiating, Supporting and Guiding Disciple-Making on Campus
Goal #1
The vision and mission of campus ministry becomes an integral part of the larger vision and mission of Christian Reformed Home Missions and the Christian Reformed Church.
Indicators:
1. Denominational, Canadian, and US CRC gatherings for missional planning and administrative support have campus ministry representation.
2. The CMD participates in CRHM Board, EC, ET, HMLT/G
3. The profile of campus ministry increases until every classis actively supports a campus ministry and every CRC is aware of the CRC's mission and goals for campus ministry.
Goal #2
Campus ministry works collaboratively with many missional partners to achieve its goals.
Indicators:
1. CRC agencies (Calvin College, Calvin Theological Seminary, CRWM, CRWRC) participate in select campus ministry initiatives.
2. The CRCMA partners with the CMD office to provide professional development, campus ministry publications, and support networks.
3. HMRD's and IMD's participate in identifying new campus ministry possibilities and evaluating current ministries in light of ECD and CPD initiatives in the region.
4. Para-church and other ecumenical partnerships extend the missional influence and enrich the nature of CRC campus ministry.
Goal #3
CRC campus ministry is characterized by faithful, effective and sustainable growth.
Indicators:
1. A strategic plan for developing CRC campus ministry regionally, nationally and bi-nationally is in place.
2. A variety of "emerging leadership" initiatives identifies and equips new leaders for campus ministry.
3. Ethnic minority campus ministries are developed and sustained.
4. Professional development programs resource campus ministers with the necessary tools for effective disciple-making ministries on campus.
5. Consultation and evaluation services of the CMD stimulate ongoing growth and increasing effectiveness.
III. Financial Resources
Goal #1
Sufficient financial resources for campus ministry are identified and sustained.
Indicators:
1. The CRHM partnership grants to campus ministry grow to one million dollars annually.
2. Charitable Trusts and Foundation support increasingly supplements denominational funding.
3. CRHM partnership support decreases and local support increases to a sustainable level, understood as that point where local accountability is maximized but campus ministers are not diverted from their missional call to become fund-raisers.
Goal #2
CRHM partnership funding is administered in a timely and consistent manner.
Indicators:
1. Nobody complains.
March 1999
