Graduate Students
You will find many graduate students, researchers and visiting scholars sprinkled throughout our campus ministry. We are grateful for the many ways you enrich so much of what we do and who we are. The demands, schedules, needs and life styles of graduate students are quite unique and we seek to find ways to fully embrace you in our ministry.
In addition to our standard programs, Wesley also provides activities designed by and for graduate students. These include targeted study, fellowship and service opportunities. We are also proud of a strong working relationship with the Graduate Employees Organization.
Our graduate ministries include spouses, young professionals and others. Some of our graduate students also have family and children. Make sure to sign up for our Graduate Email list.
Recent Updates
Peer Minister Reblog: “The Distorting Power of a Flawed Narrative” by Stephen Rankin
Pastor Stephen Rankin recently wrote a good post about the relationship between religion and conflict. Here’s a taste:
“We have here what I think of as an attribution error in these narratives. The problem is attributed to something inherent in religion. Whatever that something is, it should be avoided. It is no wonder, then, that college students quickly catch on to the notion that their faith is an optional accessory, therefore can be easily laid aside or modified to suit their private, particular needs.
The attribution error reveals the bias that must be named and corrected. Religion is often portrayed as somehow the cause of the problem when the real problem is more fundamental: people are tempted to abuse power. We can do it through religious teachings or we can do it through entirely secular ones.”
You can read the full post here.
I think that Pastor Rankin is dead on. I would add that abuse of power may not be unique to religion, but the job of standing up to that abuse lies with other in the religious community.
-Kevin Anderson
Snacks for Studying in ETC Coffeehouse
This Friday, May 3rd, there will be free healthy snacks (and some unhealthy snack) (also free) in ETC to aid with studying for finals! Come in and enjoy the best study spot in town.
Peer Minister Reblog: “A Common Life Together” by Eboo Patel
Eboo Patel is coming to campus! Are you excited?
The founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, an adviser to President Obama, and a U of I alum, Eboo Patel will be giving a talk for this coming Friday Forum at the YMCA. The crux of his work is bringing together young persons from all religions to work on service projects together, and fostering the relationships they build during that time.
Read this excerpt from “A Common Life Together:”
“In an interconnected world, the only chance we have is a common life together. If we are to build it, we must insure the bridges between us are strong enough to withstand the bombs of the extremists. As the American poet William Stafford wrote, “The signals we give must be clear now … the darkness around us is deep.”
As with all of the Friday Forums, interested students from the Wesley Foundation can meet in ETC at 11:45 am, or meet at the YMCA at noon. Lunch is $3 for students.
Hope to see you there!
Peer Minister Reblog: “What’s a Methodist?” by Rev. Steve Manskar
Rev. Steve Manskar of the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church writes about an experience he had describing Methodism to woman passing through his church.
‘Wesley acknowledges that he had not yet attained the goal of discipleship as practiced by the people called Methodists. It seems to me that he is saying that Methodists are people who are striving toward the goal of Christian maturity, also known as perfection in love and holiness of heart and life. What follows in “The Character of a Methodist” is Wesley’s description of a disciple of Jesus Christ who has “attained the goal”, who is an “altogether Christian.”
A more accurate response to the young woman at the dinner table who asked, “What’s a Methodist?” would be: A Methodist is a Christian who is in training to love God with all his or her heart, soul, and mind and to love his or her neighbor as himself or herself.’
You can read the full blog posts, and subsequent posts fleshing out the idea further, here.
I believe that Rev. Manskar is right in saying that Methodism is about working towards a perfect relationship with God- a relationship based on a love for God and shown by a love for the world. I hope to see you around the Wesley Foundation this Easter (and later on too), so we can continue sharing that love with each other and bringing that love out to the world!
–Kevin Anderson, Peer Minister
New Grad Study starts soon
Slam Poets needed for Peace with Justice event
On Peace With Justice Sunday, April 7th, Wesley will recognize members of our congregation for their acts of justice and peace. College and high school students are invited to give voice to the Art of Social Justice at the Peace with Justice Sunday Poetry Slam, coinciding with a community potluck at 12:30 PM in the Great Hall. All are invited to this potluck feast!
Poets, please sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F49ACAE2BA75-poets Poets of all faiths are welcome. A concern for social justice is all we ask!
For more information, contact Anthony Stauder at aestauder [at] gmail.com.
Study: Christian Identity in a Multifaith World
Tues. at 8:30PM in Student Lounge, Begins 3/26. Grad Study members will lead grad students and young professionals in discussion of selected chapters of Brian McLaren’s recent book. McLaren calls Christians to develop strong-benevolent Christo-centric identities that overcome human tendencies toward domination, oppression, and violence and, instead, promote reconciliation, peace, and the common good.
Watch the bulletin and web site for a link to a reader (PDF) of the selected chapters. Topics will include:
How a Muslim Boy Converted Me
How the Doctrine of (Un)Original Sin Can Help Christians Be Less Sinful
How the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Can Empower Our Encounter with the Other
How subversive friendship Can Change the World
How God’s Commonwealth of Peace Confronts Earthly Empires of Hostility
For more information, contact Anthony Stauder aestauder [at] gmail.com.
Spring Fling is Coming!
Snackage will be provided! That’s right, FOOD 
Now you really want to come!
If you are Mr. or Mrs. Popular and have hot plans on a Saturday night, the Spring Fling will conclude by 10:00/10:30 PM giving you PLENTY of time to enjoy the rest of your evening!
It is for a FANTASTIC cause!
ALSO! If you would like to be a part of our team for Relay for Life (You do not have to be a regular attendee of Wesley!) or are curious about what exactly it is, check out the event page:
Wednesday Nights Interfaith Meditation
At 8pm on Wednesday nights between February 20th and March 27th, we will be welcoming persons from all faith traditions into a half hour meditation. We will have the sanctuary set up with self guided meditation areas. Each week new themes in meditation will be introduced. Feb 20 Light, Feb 27 Breathing, Mar 6 Chanting, Mar 13 Walking, Mar 20 (Closed over Spring Break but you’re invited to consider Reading), Mar 27 Silence.
Friday Forum
The Wesley Foundation is proud to co-host the weekly Friday Forum at the YMCA.Friday Forum is a weekly lecture series held during the fall and spring semesters that strives to raise awareness about national and international trends and events. This Spring we will be looking at areas of faith and social justice.
The website for Friday Forum can be found here. We will leave from ETC Coffeehouse at 11:45 each Friday and walk to the YMCA. Come join us!