Campus Ministry–Some Adventist History

This year Lutherans are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lutheran campus ministry; it was in 1907 that Howard Gold was called to serve as Lutheran campus pastor at University of Wisconsin, Madison.

It was at University of Wisconsin in 1883 that the organization was founded for Catholic students, the Melvin Club; in 1903, a priest was assigned to the ministry. One of the students involved in the Melvin Club went on to University of Pennsylvania, where he helped found the first Newman Club in 1892 (see my PowerPoint presentation, Catholic Campus Ministry: Yesterday and Today).

In 1907 Bishop Gallagher of the Diocese of Galveston wrote to the Paulist fathers asking them to establish a parish for students in Austin; St. Austin’s parish was founded the following year.

In preparation for a talk I’m giving this weekend, I began to wonder when it was that Seventh-day Adventists first showed interest in ministry to students at state colleges and universities. I was very surprised to find it first expressed in writings by Ellen White in 1891 and 1895. These statements appear in Selected Messages, Book 3, pp. 231 ff., under the heading, “Attending Colleges and Universities of the Land” (the same statements are in Manuscript Releases, vol. 4)

“Now, shall professed Christians refuse to associate with the unconverted, and seek to have no communication with them? No, they are to be with them, in the world and not of the world, but not to partake of their ways, not to be impressed by them, not to have a heart open to their customs and practices. Their associations are to be for the purpose of drawing others to Christ.” –Ms 8b, 1891 (Talk to teachers, Harbor Heights, Michigan, July 27, 1891), 3SM 231.

“The youth who go to Ann Arbor [the University of Michigan] must receive Jesus as their personal Saviour or they will build upon the sand, and their foundation will be swept away. The Spirit of Christ must regenerate and sanctify the soul, and pure affection for Christ must be kept alive by humble, daily trust in God. Christ must be formed within, the hope of glory. Let Jesus be revealed to those with whom you associate.”–Letter 26, 1891 (To Leon Smith, son of Elder Uriah Smith, October 9, 1891), 3SM 233.

“The Waldensians entered the schools of the world as students. They made no pretensions; apparently they paid no attention to anyone; but they lived out what they believed. They never sacrificed principle, and their principles soon became known. This was different from anything the other students had seen, and they began to ask themselves, What does this all mean?” …

“These things I tried to present at Harbor Heights in 1891. Those who have the spirit of God, who have the truth wrought into their very being, should be encouraged to enter colleges, and live the truth, as Daniel and Paul did. Each one should study to see what is the best way to get the truth into the school, that the light may shine forth. Let them show that they respect all the rules and regulations of the school. The leaven will begin to work; for we can depend much more upon the power of God manifested in the lives of His children than upon any words that can be spoken. But they should also tell inquirers, in as simple language as they can, of the simple Bible doctrines.” …

“There are those who, after becoming established, rooted and grounded in the truth, should enter these institutions of learning as students. They can keep the living principles of the truth, and observe the Sabbath, and yet they will have opportunity to work for the Master by dropping seeds of truth in minds and hearts. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, these seeds will spring up to bear fruit for the glory of God, and will result in the saving of souls. … No open controversies should be started, yet opportunity will be given to ask questions upon Bible doctrines, and light will be flashed into many minds. A spirit of investigation will be aroused.” …

“But I scarcely dare present this method of labor; for there is danger that those who have no connection with God will place themselves in these schools, and instead of correcting error and diffusing light, will themselves be led astray. But this work must be done, and it will be done by those who are led and taught of God.” –Ms 22a, 1895 (comments at meeting called to discuss religious liberty questions, November 20, 1895 ), 3SM 233-4.

Moravian Love Feasts: Coffee and Doughnuts in Church

A couple of interesting articles about the “Love Feast” tradition among Moravians.

The Minutemen in Action

NCR article about harassment by the “Minutemen” of a Catholic church in San Diego for its ministry to immigrants (some legal, some illegal).

Pope Meets with Antisemitic Priest–Jews Stunned

On August 5, Pope Benedict XVI met with antisemitic Polish priest, Tadeusz Rydzyk, C.S.S.R. The Vatican had to quell a firestorm of protest when the photos went round the world, saying it was just a “baciamano” (a kiss on the hand), and that it “does not indicate any change in the Holy See’s well-known position regarding relations between Catholics and Jews” (CNS; IHT).

Jewish organizations are not satisfied. The ADL reports on a letter sent to the pope by Abe Foxman:

In a letter to Benedict XVI, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, expressed deep concerns that by meeting with Rydzyk and keeping silent about the issue of anti-Semitism “you have unfortunately lent him the priceless credibility of your office and integrity in the eyes of the world.”

Foxman noted that, “As the founder and director of Radio Maryja, Father Rydzyk is responsible for the anti-Semitic comments and concepts the station regularly broadcasts to millions of Polish Catholic faithful,” and “Father Rydzyk himself has on several occasions made anti-Semitic statements on the air. These are despicable anti-Semitic remarks that must be strongly and publicly condemned by all leaders and people of good will.

“We respectfully request that you publicly condemn the anti-Semitism that is being spouted by Father Rydzyk and other Catholic leaders in Poland.”

Likewise, the Simon Wiesenthal Center says the pope now must speak:

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today reiterated its call to the Vatican to discipline Polish Catholic leader Father Tadeusz Rydzyk for anti-Semitic remarks, following an AP report that the Pope briefly met with the controversial priest this past Sunday at the papal summer residence. Comments by Rydzyk denouncing the Polish government for being “in the pockets of the Jewish Lobby” by delivering a $65 million restitution package to Polish Holocaust survivors, were made public last month.In a letter to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Wiesenthal Center, wrote that he hoped had used the meeting as an opportunity to rebuke Rydzyk, because, “as a priest who reaches millions of people through radio and television, he speaks not only for himself, but for his Church as well.” Hier then wrote, “if that was the purpose of the meeting, then I believe the Holy See did the right thing and should make the rebuke public as an important example to anti-semites around the world that the Church will never tolerate hate speech, especially hate speech uttered by a man of G-d.”

Such a public rebuke would help the efforts of Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor John Paul II to improve relations between Catholics and Jews. “Otherwise,” said Rabbi Hier, “ I’m afraid the Vatican would be sullying its reputation by granting legitimacy to an unrepentant bigot who will claim that rather than being admonished, he was honored to receive the Pope’s blessing. When Rydzyk’s anti-Semitic remarks were made public last month, the Wiesenthal Center launched a petition campaign last month that generated over 25,000 signatures calling on Rydzyk’s superiors to discipline him.

Cancer on the Rise

After years of talk about winning the battle against cancer, we see the reality–it’s on the rise. The culprit? Lifestyle choices.

Cancer Research UK, which compiled the figures, said up to half of all deaths from the disease could be avoided by the use of common sense.

Lucy Morrish, of the charity, said: “While incidence rates for some cancers have fallen over the past decade, others are rising and many of these cases could be prevented if people avoided excessive sun exposure, smoking and obesity and limited their alcohol intake.

Old advice remains relevant: “Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power–these are the true remedies.”