United Campus Ministry in
Aggieland
"The only thing that counts is faith made
effective through love."
-
Galatians
1:6
Three Denominations with a Unique Mission at Texas A&M:
What makes us unique?
We are the only ecumenical Christian
group on campus. "Ecumenical" is simply a
biblically based word (from the Greek 'oikumene') for an
understanding that diversity of belief is the beautiful
handiwork of God and that our quest for unity among
these diverse beliefs is the will of God. We are a
group of churches that hold to particular beliefs but
are committed to understanding the light of truth that
others can help us see. Like the early Christian
leader known as St. Augustine, we proclaim "In essentials unity, in non-essentials
liberty, in all things love." Being an ecumenical Christian group, we
offer the right hand of Christian fellowship to
Christians of various creeds and no creed.
Admittedly, many of our students and leadership hold to
and teach classical
Reformed
theology. However, we do not
demand adherence to these beliefs.
We embrace Christian Unity and
Freedom of Religious Expression
We support Texas A&M as a public university setting
where religious diversity, dialogue and mutual understanding are
cultivated and a climate of religious uniformity and
dogmatic exclusion is soundly rejected.
We stand in solidarity with the
policies of Texas A&M
University in the right of groups and individuals to
hold the beliefs they wish without fear of manipulation or coercion.
We believe in Jesus's
prayer "that they may all be one" and strive
toward that goal.
We are Reformed in that our
supporting churches and our theological assumptions have
their history in the
Reformed
theology which evolved during the 16th century
religious movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
It emphasizes God's authorship over all of life and
humanity's chief purpose as being to glorify and enjoy
God forever.
We continue to be ecumenical
in nature which means we take seriously Jesus' prayer,
"that they may all be one." We believe that we learn
more about what it means to be Christian by talking
through our differences and seeking unity amidst those
differences rather than dwelling upon or making light of
them.
We strive to be inclusive as we
welcome all persons into our fellowship. Seeking to
follow Jesus' own example of welcoming the stranger, we
believe that each person has an important role to play
as part of this community of disciples openly seeking
the Way of Christ together.
We also seek to share
the
hope of Jesus Christ with a profound sense
of gratitude for what God has done with and for us. At
United Campus Ministry, our approach to outreach
is simply as "one beggar showing another beggar where to
find bread for the journey."
History of UCM in
Aggieland
United Campus Ministry has been an
Aggie tradition for 77 years. This ministry dates back
to the formation of the Presbyterian Student Ministry
begun in 1928 at the all-male, military college then
known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of
Texas. It was started without a facility or worship
space and shortly grew to between 75-100 men who
were required by the university at the time to gather for prayer and Bible study. In response to this
growth, the Presbyterian Synod of Texas established two
parishes for ministry to the two universities of Texas.
Out of this effort, University Presbyterian Church in
Austin was established adjacent to the University of
Texas campus and A&M Presbyterian Church was
established adjacent to the Texas A&M University
campus.
Due to divergent philosophies in campus
ministry, the Presbyterian Student Ministry located in
an old banking facility away from A&M Presbyterian
Church in 1961. It was at this time that Presbyterian
campus ministries all over Texas began to take a
stronger role in social action and ecumenism. The
A&M ministry would now include the Christian
Churches (Disciples of Christ) and the United Churches
of Christ in their common work under the name "United
Campus Christian Life Fellowship."
In 1976, UCCF moved
back to A&M Presbyterian Church and merged with
L.I.G.H.T. (Love is God's Heavenly Torch) which met at
A&M Presbyterian as well. In 1977, under the
leadership of Michael Miller, the group changed its name
to United Campus Ministry and grew in numbers and
programming. The programming has continued its roots of
prayer, fellowship and Bible study while also seeking to
reach out in mission and promote leadership development.
In 2000, with the sale of the A&M Presbyterian Church
property, United Campus Ministry is currently meeting in
the facilities owned by A&M United Methodist Church in
Northgate.
UCM-Aggieland receives support
from several local churches and denominational
judicatories.
UCM is overseen by a Board of
Directors from our support base of local churches,
judicatories and students.
United Campus Ministry in
Aggieland, Inc. holds its own exemption letter as a
501(c)3 non-profit corporation in the State of Texas.
All donations are tax deductible and go directly to UCM.
