Presbyterian collaboration with Lilly Endowment hopes to address young professionals’ needs

February 7, 2018

Madison, Wisconsin, is undergoing what can only be called a renaissance. Lured by work in healthcare, technology and other industries, hundreds of young adults are pouring into the downtown area to work and live.

But where will these young professionals find spiritual care and community?

That question is being answered, in part, by a coalition of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministries and congregations, all focused on providing “third space” alternatives for young adults to grow relationships, engage in service and deepen spiritual connections beginning in mid-2018.

Sunday worship at Pres House in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo via preshouse.org)

The project is getting off the ground thanks to the initiative of Pres House, the PC(USA) campus ministry in Madison, with support from several local churches, John Knox Presbytery, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, and a grant from 1001 New Worshiping Communities. A three-year, $310,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. provided a big boost for the funding of three staff members, a part-time chaplain and programs. An advisory board of young adults and local church leaders will work with staff to shape the ministry.

“There’s a strong sense of support from the community,” the Rev. Erica Liu, co-pastor at Pres House, said of the leadership and financial corporation with local churches and Presbyterian bodies. “That sense of partnership and collaboration amongst different entities is really exciting. Especially because nobody is going to directly benefit from [this ministry] — we’re not acting as a pipeline into one of these congregations.

“We’re pouring into this effort simply to equip and nurture young adults wherever they are at, and most of them are not in our churches.”

Liu said those engaged in campus ministry have a unique perspective for this type of ministry — they’re accustomed to working with people for years and then having them “move on.” Given that 86 percent of downtown Madison’s residents are between the ages of 15 and 34, there’s an expectation of transience.

“There are some lessons for the larger church about this way of doing ministry,” she said. “You cannot count on people coming and staying and having a traditional sense of membership. That’s not the way we operate. And how can we learn from that?”

The initial vision for the effort includes building community through potluck meals in community members’ homes; a monthly dinner with a program; weekly small groups that focus on study, faith sharing and prayer; and “Brews and Banter,” a weekly gathering in a downtown bar. It also hopes to provide space several times a year for evenings of storytelling, art and music, and ways for young adults to respond to the community around them.

Liu and her husband, the Rev. Mark Elsdon, came to Madison 13 years ago to work with Pres House. According to the Rev. Scott Anderson, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Madison and a Pres House board member, the clergy duo breathed new life into Pres House and the campus ministry in Madison. Although she’s quick to say the new ministry isn’t part of Pres House, Anderson and others involved recognize Liu’s leadership in initiating discussions and forming the vision for what is to come.

“We’ve been talking for at least five years now about what a ministry like this would look like,” Anderson said of the Pres House board acting as a “spark plug” to move the idea generation along for the new project.

“I’m keenly aware that we Presbyterians don’t really know how to do ministry that’s not traditionally church,” he said. “But there’s lots of support in town from congregations that have signed up to support the project financially. There’s a lot of goodwill around this as we get started.”

Liu says goals and benchmarks for the ministry are still in development and she hopes as the staff is hired and prepares to launch the effort they will take shape.

“This is an experiment, not a church plant,” Liu said. “Think of it like a flash mob. We want to be open to God’s Spirit doing new things that are outside the traditional church structure. This effort is not about creating a pipeline to local churches. It is about facilitating spaces that nurture young adults in their spiritual journey and empowering them to serve God in transformative ways.”

 Gregg Brekke, Presbyterian News Service

Today’s Focus:  Young Adult Ministry

Let us join in prayer for:

Westminster Presbyterian Church Staff

Rev. Scott Anderson, Pastor
Joe Chrisman, Minister of Music
Katie Bencze, Church Administrator

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Jason Dobbins, PMA
Carla Dobson, FDN

Let us pray:

God, we love our neighbors as we love you. Let us feel your embrace when we embrace others. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 89:1-18; 147:1-11
First Reading Genesis 27:1-29
Second Reading Romans 12:1-8
Gospel Reading John 8:12-20
Evening Psalms 1; 33