 This year, for the first time in two years, many high schools will return to in-person celebrations of and for high school students across the state. As chaplain for St. Francis House on the UW-Madison campus and Missioner for Young Adult Ministries for the Diocese of Milwaukee, let me be the first to congratulate all our graduates! The additional stresses of the past two years, on top of the “normal” challenges of life as a high school student, are due celebration of this accomplishment!
Whether high school is to be followed by college, tech school, or the daily life of “adulting,” my prayer for each student is to experience God’s abundant love. This prayer is shared by many across The Episcopal Church, especially here in Wisconsin. There is a growing movement across our state for young adults (currently defined as ages 18-30) to encourage conversations for their spiritual lives. The Diocese of Milwaukee has two part-time chaplains and one full-time chaplain serving UW-Whitewater, UW-Milwaukee, MSOE, and UW-Madison. The Diocese of Fond du Lac has priests and congregations committed to serving students at UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, Ripon College, St. Lawrence University, and St. Norbert’s College. Additionally, there are congregations committed to providing programming for young adults who are not participating in a college setting. This is the first of updates you can expect from me with news for and about young adult ministry here in WI. Today, let me share three suggestions related specifically to high school graduates.
On behalf of the young adult and campus minsters across the state, Congratulations! We look forward to seeing you in the fall! You are Beloved! The Rev. Bobbi Kraft (she/her) Chaplain, St. Francis House Episcopal Student Center - UW Madison Young Adult Missioner, Diocese of Milwaukee  Some may know Christi Cunningham or others from her family. family. Her dad, the Rev. Marcus Cunningham, served at St. Peter’s, Ripon and Trinity, Oshkosh. She was active in youth ministries of the diocese, and served on the national Episcopal Youth Event planning team in 2017.
A graduate of Hamline University in St. Paul this past August, Christi has decided to spend the next year serving in the Young Adult Service Corps. YASC is a ministry for young adults 21-30 in the Episcopal Church which sends young adults out into the Anglican Communion to work and become a part of the community. Challenge because of COVID, she has received news of her placement. Cunningham will be serving in Liverpool, England and living in community with three others on the grounds of the Liverpool Cathedral. Tsedaqah Community house is a “missional community based at Liverpool Cathedral, made up of young people from around the Triangle of Hope living together in community for a year. Tsedaqah community members work in a variety of social justice projects across the Liverpool City Region, in conjunction with the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool and Liverpool Cathedral.” The work will be be social justice oriented, and she couldn’t be more excited. She plans to keep everyone updated through a blog with lots of pictures and stories of this journey. "What an invigorating opportunity for a young adult from our diocese in another country," Bishop Matt Gunter noted. "Living in community, in service to others, provides an occasion to experience God's presence like no other." "In all this excitement, I must ask for help." Christi informed the delegates of the Diocesan Convention. "I ask you to pray for me and my housemates throughout this year. I ask your support financially, as you are able. I invite you take this journey with me." Donate There are two ways you are able to support Christi in her work with YASC.
Blog cunninghaminliverpool.blogspot.com Facebook Christi Cunningham Instagram christi_cunning  Episcopal Campus Connection Wisconsin, a college student database, has been launched by the Diocese of Fond du Lac Campus Ministry Task Force. for church leaders to be able to make contact with Episcopal students. Episcopal Campus Connection Wisconsin is a Google form where students, parents of students, or clergy can share information about attending a Wisconsin postsecondary school.
Form managers will share this contact information with nearby congregational leaders. Only those managing the database have direct access to the detailed information. The congregation is then able to reach out to the student. They may want to just "Hello" or "Welcome" and offer an opportunity to get together. It is up to each congregation to determine what they want to do based on their gifts and resources. "The goal is information sharing which is simple for reaching out with ease," explained Bishop Matt Gunter. "Ministry with young adults, especially college students, may be one of the most important ministries the church can undertake. Episcopal campus ministries are few and far between so local parishes are often where campus ministry needs to happen." Each Episcopal congregation across the state will receive a letter about the Episcopal Campus Connection Wisconsin along with digital notices. It is hoped the creation of Episcopal Campus Connection Wisconsin can better equip our church leaders for expanding ministry. |
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