Monmouth College STUDENT CHAPLAINS
Monmouth College STUDENT CHAPLAINS
Monmouth College Student Chaplains exist to offer leadership opportunities and co-curricular learning experiences to students who assist the College Chaplain with the planning and delivery of religious and spiritual life programming to the campus community. Student Chaplains actively seek to nurture campus spiritual life and walk with others on their spiritual journeys. They
§ take a leadership role in spiritual life programming and are expected to participate in one or more religious life fellowship groups on campus (e.g., Monmouth Christian Fellowship, Covenant Groups, Campus Crusade for Christ, Newman Club, Hillel)
§ support Space for Grace (the weekly campus chapel service) with their prayers, presence, and help with planning and leadership
§ participate in and provide leadership for student spiritual retreats, Bible studies, and/or other aspects of campus spiritual life
§ serve the wider community through the annual Angel Tree project
§ are themselves seekers, unafraid to question tradition, eager to explore possibilities new and old
§ refuse to put God in a single “right” box, knowing God is Mystery who chooses to reveal Godself in myriad ways and none of us can possibly know all there is to be known about God
§ engage in random acts of kindness, aware of the ripple effect this has in the repair of the world
§ practice and promote environmental stewardship, understanding that dominion does not mean domination; that God made us keepers of the Earth
§ are compassionate
§ are good listeners
§ are open-minded and refuse to engage in bigotry and/or prejudice with regard to another’s race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, gender, age, physical appearance, mental aptitude, or any other human characteristic
A number of students serve as volunteer student chaplains to help meet the spiritual needs of the Monmouth College Campus. They meet together on a regular basis to share ideas for nurturing student spiritual life. They are available to talk with members of the campus community individually or in groups.
Danny Asbell Jen Erbes Jim Fry Steven Godsil
Cassie Hart Cami Johnson Kara Kitterman Patrick LeBlanc
Sarah Mathis Alicia Phillips Cody Rogers Ian Smith
Jillian Steamer Megan & Sarah Zaubi
One of the major
projects the student chaplains sponsor each year is the annual Angel Tree.
This project benefits the residents of the Warren Achievement Center--adults who
are often forgotten in the many philanthropic efforts put forth by various
groups during the winter holidays. These are folks who might otherwise
receive nothing. The angels are always "adopted" very quickly by the
Monmouth College community.
In April, 2005 & 2006 they co-sponsored Social Awareness Week with a number of other student organizations in an effort to raise consciousness about social issues such as racism, diversity and the environment. Additionally, in 2005 they held a raffle on Scots Day to help raise money for Tsunami relief. Their 2006 Scots Day project was a car smash to raise money for a trash hauling vehicle for the people of Belize. The result of these social awareness activities was the creation of a new campus organization called "Listen Up!" which has continued to sponsor speakers and other social awareness events.
The student chaplains have also sponsored Earth Day activities. One year they held an environmental education program in the Quad and had participants plant flowers in plastic cups to take home with them as reminders of our need to care for the earth. Another year they planted an oak tree at the college's LeSeur Nature Preserve. They also sponsored t-shirt tie-dyeing. To generate interest in this project, they came up with the BYOBS advertising scheme (bring your own blank shirt!). The resulting splendidly multi-colored shirts reminded everyone of God's covenant with the earth symbolized by the rainbow. The band ALEX provided live music for the event! You may view more pictures from Earth Day events at: Earth Day Activities.
Student Chaplains Historical Page: Who Were They? Where Are They Now?
Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 14, 2002
Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 6, 2003
Photos from Other Student Chaplain Fellowship Events 2003-2004
Student Chaplains Senior Farewell Gathering - April 30, 2004
Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 11, 2004
Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Lake Warren - September 18, 2005
Photos from Student Chaplain Retreat at Coldbrook Christian Church - September 2, 2006
Photos from Student Chaplains White Elephant Gift Exchange - December 2, 2006
Retreat at St. Mary Monastery - September 6, 2008
Student Chaplains Service Day At Camp Summit - April 25, 2009