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Northwest District (LCMS) Campus Ministry Records

 Collection
Identifier: NWD.15

Scope and Contents

The records of the Commission on College and University Work document the activities of this commission in relation to the various campus ministries. The work was often done in collaboration with other religious groups, with special emphasis on relationships with other Lutherans. The records contain minutes of meetings of the Commission, minutes of meetings of the joint Lutheran organizations, and minutes of meetings of organized student groups. In addition there are position papers, progress reports from the campuses, correspondence with campus chaplains, financial reports, and newsletters. The records also provide insight into inter-Lutheran relationships in the field of campus ministry.

Dates

  • 1948 - 2004

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for research by appointment.

Conditions Governing Use

The Northwest District Archives is the owner of the materials in the Campus Ministries Collection and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Northwest District Archives before any reproduction use. Copyright resides with the creator of the documents or their heirs. The status of copyright is governed by the Copyright Law of the U. S. (Title 17, U.S.C.). In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Historical Note

The Northwest District (LCMS) established a Commission on College and University Work (also known as the Committee on Campus Ministry) in 1958 as an auxiliary committee to the District Mission Committee. The chief task of this commission was to provide for the spiritual needs of the students who came from Northwest District Congregations and were enrolled at campuses in the Pacific Northwest that were not affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In some cases resident chaplains were stationed on the campus, and in other cases a relationship between a campus and a local Lutheran congregation was established. The Commission coordinated, supervised, and promoted the work, and usually provided financial assistance. The records in the collection document the work of this Commission.

The chaplains who worked with students on the campuses were all pastors, with the exception of Donna King at Oregon State University who was a Deaconness.

Although many of the campus ministries included ecumenical joint ventures with other Christian denominations, relationships with other Lutherans were considered of primary importance. Before 1966, a Joint District-Synodical Committee for Higher Education had been formed between the American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). Beginning in 1967 the LCMS sent observers to this group's meetings. By 1969 the Lutheran Council for Campus Ministry in the Pacific Northwest was organized to include all three Lutheran church bodies; it met formally for the first time in 1969 September 14-15. In 1975 the name was changed to Inter-Lutheran Council for Campus Ministry in the Pacific Northwest. This joint Council ceased to function in 1985 when the LCMS formed the Lutheran Student Fellowship--Missouri Synod.

In 1928 a student organization, Gamma Delta: International Association of Lutheran Students, was formed. It had chapters on many of the campuses. It disbanded in 1968 in anticipation of the formation of a pan-Lutheran student organization. Many Gamma Delta chapters joined with the Lutheran Student Association of America (LSAA, founded in 1922) to form the Lutheran Student Movement--USA in 1969, but the LCMS did not formally join. The LCMS ultimately withdrew all support from LSM--USA and formed the Lutheran Student Fellowship--Missouri Synod organization in 1985.

Extent

3.5 Linear Feet (in 3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The records of the Commission on College and University Work of the Northwest District.

Arrangement

The materials are arranged in three series: Series I: Documents pertaining to the ministry at specific locations; arrangement is by name of the city. Series II: Office files of Commission, arranged by subject. Series III: Records of contacts between the Commission and individual campus chaplains, arranged by name.

Title
Guide to the Northwest District (LCMS) Campus Ministry Records
Subtitle
An Inventory at the Northwest District Archives
Status
Completed
Author
Nolan R. Bremer
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Finding Aid is written in English.
Sponsor
Encoding of finding aid supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission

Repository Details

Part of the Northwest District (Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod) Archives Repository

Contact:
Northwest District Archives
Concordia University
2811 NE Holman St.
Portland Oregon 97211-6099 USA