The Wesley Center
at the University of Oregon
A Community of Many Communities for Students at the U of O, LCC, and
NCU
1236 Kincaid, Eugene OR 97401
(541) 346-4694
"No
one has ever become poor by giving." -- Anne Frank
1. Our Mission: “The Wesley Center is a community –in the midst of
learning—encouraging faith, love, and justice. All students and young adults,
regardless of denomination or religious
background are welcome to attend.
2. Wesley Foundation at the U of O include, but are not limited to:
·
Welcoming
◦
Accepted, Christians
and LGBTQQ and allies
◦ Survivors of sexual assault and
rape through partnerships with the Attorney General’s Task Force and Sexual
Assault Support Services of Lane County and Co-sponsorship of Take Back the Night
◦
Diverse religious communities, including Muslim Prayer Room, Zen Meditation,
Yoga, Suffi Dances, and other Interfaith Connections
◦
the community to a Wesley-UofO Vigil for Muslim Community Safety with Mayor,
Dean, President, Muslim Leaders
◦
All students, faculty and staff from U of O, NCU, LCC - beginning with our
early term welcome back BBQs [real Texas-style]
◦ and Supporting through counseling,
referral and reaching over 1/3 more students this year
·
Partnering
◦
with the Dean’s office to provide support for families of students who have
died.
◦
with over 50 identity, advocacy, and service groups to feed the hungry, affirm
justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God
◦
with access-ability communities including service dog training groups
◦
Ahiru Daiko, Taiko Drummer
◦ Studies
at the Wesley Center
◦ “Liberation
Lunches” - Learning about UMC Social Principles and Human Rights
◦ Sharing
UMC perspectives on faith at a roundtable discussion with Good and Evil Discussion with
Association of Happy Atheists
◦ Film
Nights, Speaker nights, and Seminars
·
Serving
and Leading
◦ Leading
as a strong student-led presence in:
◦
Leadership in Alliance for Sexual Assault Prevention
◦
Leadership in Substance Abuse Support Groups
◦
Leadership in Religious Response Network
◦
Leadership at Pride
◦
Walking and “representing” at CROP
◦
Working with students in outreach to prisons
◦
Leadership at Community Matters [Anti-hate Task Force in Eugene]
◦
Invocation at U of O Day at the State Senate
Feeding Hungry Families through the Homeless Shelter and Food for Lane
◦
Working to restore wetlands in the area
◦ Saving
lives in the desert at “no More Deaths” in AZ
3. Changed
Lives: Testimonials and Sharing
The
Wesley Foundation at the University of Oregon employs a community model for
program, missional outreach and evangelism.
This model immerses the Board of Directors and Campus Ministry into the
lives of students, staff and faculty.
The outcomes have been inspirational.
Persons who have been touched by these ministries have written:
“The
Wesley Center sustains my faith that the Church can be the hands and feet of
Christ. . . . I would not have been able to study
social justice concerns from a Christian perspective with other students. I would not have been able to learn first
hand about issues of food justice and homelessness. I would not have been filled with delicious,
home-cooked meals and caring conversation. I would not have felt a sense of
community and belonging in my faith at college.” Katherine [Graduate, now a leader in
faith/justice work]
“The Wesley Center was our safe haven &
our place to share our cultures. . . . I come from a non-religious background
and it’s so refreshing to see something like the Wesley Center that is all
about giving.” Colin [Graduate, now
working with Asian Pacific Communities]
“I
am not affiliated with any faith-based organizations and previously had an
aversion to them. The work of the Wesley Center has opened my eyes to the good
work that these organizations can do. I am impressed.” Abigail Leeder, Current Director, Sexual
Violence Prevention & Education, UO [Staff]
“I
know the Wesley Center has affected my daughter’s life in a transformative way
– and thus has affected mine. The
Center has provided her with a platform for leadership, a safe place to explore
ideas, a chance to learn technology through the blogs, friendships with folks
she might not otherwise have met and a place to bring her non-Wesley Center
friends. You have personally provided
her with love, wisdom and guidance in her daily life and in her major life
decisions.
There
is no doubt in my mind that her’s faith has been profoundly and permanently
affected by her association with the Wesley Center. Because of your influence she is not
experiencing the long spiritual dry spell that I experienced during college and
that continued into the decade after it.”
Jeri [Mother of Current Student]
“The
Wesley Center (from a bystander perspective) seems to have a created a standard
of community involvement that I have never experienced in community. The
elements of support and acceptance that the Wesley Center makes essential to
the community are refreshing.” McKenna
[Student]
“The
Wesley Center stands apart. The Wesley Center creates a space that encourages
free and critical thought, supporting all of us in engaging, not disconnecting
our intellect and our hearts. . . . There are an abysmally small number of spaces
our LGBTQ students feel comfortable working in. When we say we are doing
training at the Wesley Center there is visible ease of tension and sometimes a
smile of knowing and relief.” Erin
McGladrey, ASUO Women’s Center
“The
structure of the Wesley Center is extremely effective and important. Students are both lead effectively and
invited into leadership positions themselves.
This structure allows us to be involved in the activities and concerns
of the larger community while also exercising our own skills and having our
needs met. . . . I had never been involved in youth groups growing up. I have come to an appreciation for a model of
church leadership that mostly involves compassionate facilitation of
activities, rather than strict hierarchical leadership. What Warren has accomplished at the Wesley
Center is a group of leaders who compassionately support each other. Katie [Current Grad Student]
“The
Wesley Center’s commitment to social justice has broadened my awareness that it
is possible to effect change in one's community as well as provide a community
for people that share an interest in doing such work. . . . Thank you Wesley
Center for everything you have given me as a student at the U of O. I have been
given so many opportunities and so much support by the Wesley Center!” Ben [Recent Graduate, UMC member and
Soon-to-be Med student]
(Masters Grad Katie Dwyer and 2 service dogs in training from Sunstone Service Dogs)
For More Info, contact Warren Light, Director at
541.346.4694 or
email at peaceuofo@yahoo.com
Some - not all - of the
Groups Who Have Partnered with the Wesley Center or Used the Building [at no
cost] recently:
Access/ABILITY
STudent Union
Alpha
Phi Omega
Arab
Student Union
Black
Student Union
Dean
of Student’s Office
Glee
Club
Kultura
Pilipinas
LTD
Muslim
Prayer Room
Multicultural
Center
Muslim
Student Association
Office
of the President, University of Oregon
People
of the Pacific Club
Radical
Cheer Leaders
Religious
Director’s Association
Saudi
Student Association
Sexual
Assault Support Services
SWAT
Student
UMCs
Suffi
Dances
Sunstone Service Dogs
UNICEF
Vagina
Monolgues
Vietnamese
Student Association
Willamette Valley Assistance Dog Club
