Ministering in the Secular University- A Guide for Christian Professors and Staff

In the past 100 years, Christianity has been relegated to the unimportant or trivial regions of the university. Today, there is no place in the university for Christian thought -- no place in the curriculum for Christian ideals and no place in the university's research enterprise for Christian ideas. What is to be done about this?

The issue must be addressed on two fronts -- an intellectual front and a personal front. The intellectual front has to do with the appropriate role of Christianity in the university. The personal front has to do with how Christian academics attempt to impact students, associates, and individual universities for Christ. This book is for the serious Christian academic concerned with having an impact for Christ in the university.

About the Author

Dr. Joseph McRae Mellichamp is Emeritus Professor of Management Science in the Manderson Graduate School of Business at the University of Alabama and National Faculty Representative for Christian Leadership Ministries. For 25 years, Dr. Mellichamp combined successful academic pursuits with effective Christian ministry activities.

Dr. Mellichamp has published refereed articles in such journals as Management Science, Decision Sciences, Expert Systems, Interfaces, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, The Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Simulation, IEEE Networks, and The Harvard Business Review. He was principal investigator for contract research projects totaling over $1.25 million and served as a consultant to AT&T, General Motors, N.A.S.A. (The Space Shuttle Program), and the U.S. Army (Strategic Defense Initiative).

In addition, Dr. Mellichamp has been an Associate Staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ since 1972 and helped to found Christian Leadership Ministries, the faculty ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, which networks thousands of Christian professors on hundreds of university campuses in the U.S. and abroad. He helped to develop many of the ministry strategies and materials used within Christian Leadership Ministries. And he also founded the Christian Faculty/Staff Fellowship at the University of Alabama and directed the group for 20 years.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Part One: Ministering Individually

1. Identify Yourself as a Christian

2. Ministry Talks/Papers

• The Personal Testimony
• Grades and Time Management Talks
• Other Ministry Talks

3. Discipline Papers/Talks

• Position Papers/Talks
• Issues Papers/Talks
• Success Papers/Talks

4. Ministering to Students

• Bible Studies
• Video Discussion Series
• Lunch with the Professor
• In Your Home
• Christian Student Ministries
• Hosting International Students

5. Ministering to Colleagues

• Book Studies
• Discussion Series
• Bible Studies
• Mentoring

6. Focused Research/Teaching

• Specialized Courses
• Secular Publications
• Christian Publications

Part Two: Ministering With Others On Campus

7. The Christian Faculty/Staff Fellowship

• Purpose
• Structure
• Activities
• Getting Organized
• Meeting Mechanics
• Small Groups
• Events

8. Tenure Workshops

9. Newspaper Strategies

• Newspaper Ads
• Every Student’s Choice
• Letters to the Editor
• Op-Ed Pieces

10. Favorite Faculty Events

• Arrangements
• The Event
• Follow-Up

11. Lecture(s)

12. Faculty/Veritas Forums

• The Faculty Forum
• The Veritas Forum

13. Speakers Bureau

14. Student Outreaches

• Freshman Orientation
• International Students

15. Worldwide Web Home Page

16. Fellowship Potlucks

Part Three: Ministering With Others Nationally and Internationally

17. Christian Leadership Ministries Involvement

• Christian Leadership Ministries Conferences
• Faculty Affiliates

18. Speaking Opportunities

19. Organizing Christian Faculty/Staff Fellowships

20. Travel with a Purpose

• U.S. Travel
• International Travel

Part Four: Regrets