Our intrepid university chaplain, Kelly Johnson, had begun a part time ministry to Mount Royal College. Having started it, he has passed it onto Glen Ryland, whom I will let speak for himself…. I am quoting him from a previous email....
I have been a chaplain at Mount Royal College for the past year. the work is part-time at this point, but I fill my time with other work at the college, so I am always around. It is a privilege to be building on what Kelly started here at MRC 9-10 years ago. There is a good group of students who meet weekly, the Multifaith Office is developing, and the campus offers many opportunities for ministry. We are looking forward to the fall to continue what we were doing last year and building further. In addition to building a community of Christian students on campus, I am particularly interested in finding ways for students to engage in positive dialogue about faith and religion in the classroom, in special events, and informally on campus.
We moved to Calgary in 2007 after some time of study in Germany and the need to be closer to family. Our background is mixed, both in terms of church affiliation and education. I served for a number of years in a Pentecostal church in North Vancouver, then spent a few years in the academic setting (Simon Fraser U, U of Notre Dame, and now at MRC). I had not thought of chaplaincy work when Kelly approached me to consider taking on this role at MRC. But I have had a sense of calling form the Lord to be engaged on our campuses, and I had already been working part-time at MRC as an Academic Strategist.
Mount Royal College is transitioning into a university,which it anticipates becoming in 2010. It began in 1910 as a Methodist college, became part of the United Church, and then in the 1960s became a public institution. There are about 14,000 full-time students, 36,000 Continuing Ed. students. With new degrees being added each year, the student body is expected to grow considerably over the next few years, and the campus is gearing for growth. It is a good time to be here on campus and part of the changes that are taking place.
There.. I couldn't have said it better myself. Mount Royal is actually an impressive institution. It is actually a small medium sized university, already. It is poised for further growth.
Glen provides a great model of someone who is working in the college with two hats. He is an academic strategist/sessional lecturer as well as chaplain. It was a privilege to see him relate to the students during his noon hour session and challenge them to be in tune with what God is actually doing in their lives. He was a good role model in sharing freely from his own life regarding how Jesus is helping him with personal challenges.
As well as having the opportunity to speak to the gathered students, it was also a privilege for me to speak with a director of Student Affairs to whom Glen reports. She embraces chaplaincy as part of the Diversity that is so important to the university administration. She also has real intentions to get the offices out of the basement corner they presently reside. There is actually much more I could say, but that will have to be enough for now...
Robb
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