Fall 2008 UCMA Meetings

Our Scheduled UCMA meetings for Fall 2008 are as follows:

• Sept. 23 (Tuesday):
  Welcome, ministry updates, Vince updates on Veritas Forum
  
  
• Oct. 23 (Thursday):
  Eric Dussault from the university's Student Activities Office, on student groups and grant funding.
  
  
• Nov. 12 (Wednesday):
  TBA

All of the fall meetings will take place from 11:30am to 1pm
in Coffman Student Union in the Board Room (2nd floor)

Welcome Back 2008-2009

Welcome back. We'll be posting our UCMA meeting schedule here before September 10, so check back for details.

UCMA Meeting April 7

The next UCMA meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2008, at 11:30am.

Coffman Student Union, Room 325

As usual, this meeting is a BrownBag Lunch:

Topic: Dan Cho and Dana Tuckey of The Veritas Forum (based in Boston) will be discussing a proposed Veritas Forum for 2008-2009 here at the U of MN.

Galilean Center Invitation

EVENT :

Presentation and discussion of two chapters from Philip Friesen’s book project for Herald Press on the Old Testament Roots of Nonviolence.

Jesus' Fulfillment of the Vision, Chapter 7

An Adequate Social Gospel for Mission, Chapter 8

This is a follow-up to Philip’s MacLaurin & Galilean Center lecture last fall based upon

The Old Testament Roots of Nonviolence: Moses; Social Vision, Chapter 5

LOCATION:

Bordertown Coffeehouse on 16^th Ave. SE behind Hillel in the conference room.

TIME AND DATE:

Tuesday, April 8 and April 15 from 8-10 AM.

RSVP:

If you definitely plan to attend, please contact Phillip Freisen with a quick e-mail (frie0081@umn.edu), just in case we need more space.

Students Looking for a Good Elective?

Our own Dr. Bob Osburn, of the MacLaurin Institute, is teaching a new course in spring of 2008. This is an important course, and a good opportunity for students to understand the practical implications of faith and its applicability to public life:

Religion, Ethics, and Educational Policy
EdPA 3010: Special Topics for Undergraduates

Religious pluralism and disputes regarding religion in public life demand greater skill in handling topics in religion and ethics in educational settings. Topics include church-state issues, religion and science, sex education, school prayer, students’ and instructors’ rights/ responsibilities with respect to religious expression, and related topics.

Students can register now through OneStop:

• Course # 91030
• EdPA 3010 Special Topics for Undergraduates
• 3 credits
• East Bank location
• Tuesday/Thursday 11:15 am-12:30 pm
• This course is expected to be approved for the proposed Diversity, Ethics, and Peace Institute

Student Apologetics Training -- Feb. 1 & 2, 2008

Promote this among your students!

The MacLaurin Institute is sponsoring a Student Apologetics Training Seminar on February 1 & 2, 2008. There is a discount for those who register before January 15, 2008.

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
(I Peter 3:15-16, NIV)

For more information, visit MacLaurin Institute's Apologetics Conference website.

UCMA 2007-2008 Meeting Calendar

Here is a quick update of the UCMA calendar for the upcoming year.

• October 24, 2007:
  OUR NEXT EVENT! Stadium Village Church at 11:30am
  Sharon Dzik, Director of the Office for Student Conduct and Academic Integrity at the U of M will be speaking. Thanks to Bob Fuhs for making these arrangements.
  
  
• November 19, 2007:
  Vishal Mangalwadi to speak on the use of the Bible on campus (led by Karl Quikert)
  
  
• February 4, 2008:
  U of MN Christian professor will speak (led by Bob Osburn)
  
  
• March 5, 2008:
  TBA (led by Sam Helgerson)
  
  
• April 7, 2008:
  Derek Melleby, author of The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness (Brazos, 2007), Director of the College Transition Initiative in PA. (led by Bob Osburn)

Campus Ministry Info Brunch - August 30

If you’re a campus minister or involved in student ministry, please join us for the fourth annual MacLaurin Institute Campus Minister’s Brunch on Thursday, August 30 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. This is a great opportunity to meet other campus ministers and to hear how the Institute can be a resource for your students through its programs.

We’ll meet in the Princeton Review offices right across the hall from us at 1501 University Avenue SE, Suite 300 (Dinkydome). We’ll have juice and donuts, as well! Please RSVP to Scott at scott@maclaurin.org.

Response to 35W Bridge Collapse

Our hearts go out to all those who have suffered loss and injury due to the collapse of the 35W bridge. We are praying for you and ready to help where needed.

Thanks to all from around the country and the world who have contacted many of us to see how we're doing and offer encouragement. Please keep our city and our campus in prayer.

CSF 2007 Tony Diggs Award Recipient

The UCMA congratulates Christian Student Fellowship for receiving the UMN's Tony Diggs Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Service/Philanthropy Project. The aware was given for CSF's Spring Break service trip to the Gulf Coast to do relief work. This was CSF's fourth service trip to the area devasted by the Katrina Hurricane of 2005. The Minnesota Daily published a photo essay of the CSF trip on March 22, 2007.

Thank-You Dr. Richard Hays

Thanks to Dr. Richard Hays, George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament, Duke Divinity School for speaking at our April 22 Lunch Meeting. His topic, "Sense and Nonsense in New Testament Scholarship" was very informative and thought provoking. Thank you Dr. Bob Osburn and the MacLaurin Institute for sharing such wonderful speakers with the UCMA. Thanks to Pastor Kathleen Macosko and the Stadium Village Church for hosting all our meetings during the 2006-07 academic year.

Thank-You Dr. Wolterstorff

Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, famed Christian professor of philosophy who once held the Noah Porter Chair in Philosophical Theology at Yale University, was our guest speaker at our UCMA Lunch Meeting on February 20, 2007. We appreciated the insights he shared about the role of ministries on campus and the emphases they should have as they help students envision how to live out their faith in their academic and professional careers. Thanks to Stadium Village Church for hosting our meeting.

Thanks to Vice Provost Jerry Rinehart

The UCMA thanks Jerry Rinehart, UMN Vice Provost of Student Affairs, for addressing our members at the January 22, 2007 Lunch meeting. We really enjoyed our time with him and believe we were able to discuss some important ways the UCMA can make a contribution toward the fulfillment of student affairs goals on campus. Thank you, Stadium Village Church, for hosting our meeting.

2006 UCMA Guest Speaker Goes to Iran

David W. Shenk, who spoke at our UCMA Lunch Meeting in March 2006, recently traveled to Iran (Sept. 6-7) to participate in a conference on the Islamic doctrine of the Mahdi - a figure similar to Christ in Shi'a Islam. Dr. Shenk is global consultant with Eastern Mennonite Missions, Salunga, PA.
Read more about his trip to Iran here.

New and Renewing Memberships

It's time for new and renewing UCMA applications for 2007. You can print out and complete the attached application form (click here). Mail the completed form to Dave Burkum, 1337 Cleveland Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108. Be sure to enclose your check for $20, payable to UCMA. You can also just hand deliver the form and check to Dave at one of our upcoming UCMA Lunch Meetings.

If you don't remember if you need to apply or renew, go to our member roster page. If you are not listed, you are not currently a member. If you are listed, look for the membership year under your name. If it says "2006" for the membership year, you need to renew.

If you have any questions, contact Dave Burkum.

MacLaurin / UCMA Resource Brunch

Thanks to everyone who attended the MacLaurin/UCMA Resource Brunch today at the MacLaurin Institute. It was exciting to get together once again in anticipation of a new academic year of ministry together. Be sure to mark the upcoming UCMA Lunch Meetings on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you there.

Thank You Int'l Student & Scholar Services

We thank Dr. Alisa Eland (Assistant Director for Advising and Counseling), Dr. Barbara Kappler (Assistant Director for Programming and Training), and Dr. Mohammed Bari (Assistant Director) for speaking at our April 25th Lunch Meeting at Stadium Village Church. We appreciated the insights, suggestions, and concerns they shared with our members.

Thanks to Dr. Robert Osburn (MacLaurin Institute) for arranging and leading the meeting.

Begin or Renew UCMA Memberships

If you would like to be a part of the University Christian Ministry Association, now is the time to begin or renew your membership. Membership dues are $20 for now through the end of December 2006. For more information about UCMA membership or application information, contact Dave Burkum or attend an upcoming UCMA Lunch Meeting.

Thank You, Dr. David Shenk

Dr. David Shenk spoke to our group on March 22nd. We really appreciated the time and insights he shared with us. We also thank him for contributing to healthy and quality dialogue between Christians and Muslims on our campus.
See pictures of our March 22, 2006 lunch meeting here.

Thanks to Stadium Village Church for hosting our meeting.

If you were not able to hear Dr. Shenk when he was here, you might be interested in some of the books he has written. Two we would recommend are: Global Gods and A Muslim and a Christian in Dialogue.

Thank You, Dr. Sairsingh

We thank Dr. Krister Sairsingh for being our special guest at our February 2, 2006 lunch meeting. Drawing from the life and writings of Augustine and from his own life experiences, Dr. Sairsingh shared some wonderful insights about the hearts and minds of those who seek God.

Dr. Krister Sairsingh, former international chaplain at Harvard University, is currently a professor at Russian State University for the Humanities (Moscow). He was on the U of M campus as part of the Veritas Forum, February 2-4.

Thanks Glenn, Kathleen, & Jeff!

Thanks to UCMA members Glenn Kenadjian, Kathleen Macosko, and Jeff Ballantyne for sharing their combined wisdom on ministering to international students at the U of M at our Decmber 8th lunch meeting.

Glenn Kenadjian (China Outreach), Pastor Kathleen Macosko (Stadium Village Church), and Jeff Ballantyne (International Student Friendship) have been involved with ministry to internationals at the U of M for many years and gave us a good overview of the opportunities for international ministry that exist, what is currently being done, and who is doing it.

Thanks to Dr. Michael Kent

Our thanks to Dr. Michael Kent who addressed our UCMA Lunch Meeting, on Thursday, October 27, 11:30am-1:00pm. Dr. Kent addressed the topic of intelligent design.

Michael Kent, PhD is a Research Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories. He received his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1990, and engaged in post doctoral research at the Curie Institute in Paris from 1990 to 1992. His research interests are focused on bacteria interactions with surfaces, protein and peptide interactions with lipid membranes.

Photo: UCMA Members with Dr. Kent. (L-R) Brad Dewing (Christian Student Fellowship), Brad Mateer (Harvard Market), Karl Quickert (The Rock), Dr. Michael Kent, Joe Mulvihill (Leadership Ministries).