2. Summary and Findings

Overview:

We contacted Christus Rex and asked to visit. Tim and Kathy, the two full time staff members, set up interviews with faculty, students, and key ministry leaders for us throughout the course of our 2-½ day visit. The interviews took place at Christus Rex; we also joined them for worship on Sunday morning. We also experienced some campus activities with individuals who are involved with the ministry at Christus Rex.

Introduction to Christus Rex:

The following information was found on their written material:

Mission Statement:

We, the people of Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center, are a Ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America at the University of North Dakota.

We are a people of promise, purpose and hope.
People of Promise:
Celebrating our Identity as God's people who we are, where we have been, and what God calls us to become.
People of Purpose:
Exploring our gift of faith, focusing our study, empowering our service, rooted in a ministry of Word and Sacrament.
People of Hope:
Living and working within this community of Higher Education, reflecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, proclaiming and witnessing to God's faithful presence in our lives and in our world.

Brief History:

A ministry with Lutheran students at the University of North Dakota began in 1942. A Lutheran Student Center was established in 1948. Throughout their history there have been several configurations of ministry teams. Currently they are staffed with two full time ministers, Tim Megorden, an ordained Lutheran pastor, and Kathy Fick, a lay minister. Both individuals have a background in counseling and a variety of ministry experience. They are both in their 10th year in ministry at this site. Christus Rex also has a history of significant student leadership. For 35 years, core student leaders have been commissioned as deacons in the community, and participate in weekly worship, study and service.

Physical Location:

Christus Rex is located on one of the main roads in the center of the University of North Dakota. They recently added Tabula, a coffee house, as an extension to their facility and their hospitality ministry. Tabula has two doors that connect the coffee house to the ministry building, both of which are open at all times. Many students hang out, study or meet others for conversation in Tabula; the ministry staff and deacons also frequent the coffee house. The Christus Rex facility itself is made up of a worship center / sanctuary that seats 150 - 200 people, a small commons area, a large fireside lounge, a library, kitchen, an apartment for the residents, and several meeting rooms.

Observations

Both Tabula and Christus Rex have developed an easy and welcoming environment. People appear to be glad to be there and seem both comfortable and appreciative of the physical space. The campus ministry staff was welcoming to both of us and the students, faculty and alumni were excited to tell their personal story of how the ministry at Christus Rex has affected their lives. This purposeful ministry also had a "we are up to important business" feel to their programs and ministries. One of the core values of this ministry is hospitality. This is frequently referenced and displayed in simple acts of kindness among deacons, staff and those associated with the ministry.

Interviews:

We were able to interview a variety of individuals that were involved in the ministry at Christus Rex. These interviews took place primarily in the Christus Rex library, adjacent to Tabula. We interviewed two groups of six students, two individual students, four faculty or staff individuals of the college, and three alumni in addition to several conversations with the two full time staff members.

We conducted the interviews together, often taking turns asking questions and recording responses. The interviews were audio taped as well.

The interviews followed a simple three-part question.
1. Tell us about your involvement and experience with the ministry at Christus Rex.
2. What makes the ministry of Christus Rex valuable?
3. What is the wisdom, genius or the core of what makes Christus Rex effective?

Worship

Sunday morning Worship is traditional in structure and yet contemporary in embracing elements of music and student participation. Student deacons lead the liturgy, read the lessons, assist with communion and other practical elements of the worship service. Pastor Tim and Kathy take turns preaching and share the liturgical roles in the service. Despite a winter storm on the Sunday we were present, worship was well attended. It was also the one Sunday in the year where new deacons are commissioned for service.

Wisdom/Genius

Listed as both observations and reflections from the interviews:

Hospitality

• Hospitality was a high priority, demonstrated in both formal and informal ways.
• Creating a welcoming environment and the focus on hospitality is a shared value among the leaders of this ministry and the students they serve.
• Although many of the students may be in very differing places in their spiritual journey, they come together around the value of hospitality and mutual respect.
• Every student that comes in contact with Christus Rex is considered, "one of us." There is not a "members only" view of ministry, rather there is quite an emphasis placed on caring for those who come their way.
• "More people involved the better."

Staff

• Highly committed, passionate, credible and relational staff members
• Both Tim and Kathy are key because of their passion, skills and tenure with Christus Rex. Each has diverse gifts; together they set the tone for the ministry by striving for equality and affirmation in their working relationship, and making decisions collaboratively.
• Discovering gifts and passions of the students and then putting them in positions of leadership is a clear strategy of the ministry team.
• Christus Rex's pastoral team is considered a respected and valuable partner to the UND administration and campus

Faith Formation

• Asking questions about faith and allowing people friendly space to discover answers shaped the theological environment.
• Exploring one's faith is a shared value.
• Passion for ministry and making use of individual gifts are more important than structure or administration.
• People are more important than political or organizational structures.
• Being a deacon is both a great spiritual and a leadership experience.
• Collaborative decision making and the process leading up to key decisions are tended to with care. Decisions based on authority or position is less preferred.

Physical space

• Coffee shop is a hospitality place on campus - an expression of their mission as a faith community to the Grand Forks community.
• Ministry center is open for students at all times, with lots of small cozy rooms of all sizes for students to use as they wish.
• People were very respectful of the space, those who used it left it tidy.
• Two students live in the ministry center and take care of cleaning, opening and locking, etc.

Conclusion

Christus Rex sustains an active ministry primarily to the college age students of the University of North Dakota. They have found a balance of hospitality and proclamation. The focus on hospitality creates a free space for students to question, explore and discover their spirituality. Christus Rex is clearly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in worship and in relationship. They seem to understand that the individuals they are ministering with and to need creative and caring space to discover the Gospel message. The leadership and passion of the staff attracts similar passions and gifts to be shared in this community. Leadership development and the implementation of gifts are the key focus and passion of the Christus Rex community.

logo and phrase:
"Rooted in baptismal waters Christus Rex is a cross centered community named by a servant king"
Brief mission statement - not sure what we're going to do with that