Last month Rob and I joined  our  son on a college visit to our alma mater, Purdue University. Needless to say, we were  both very  excited to  spend a day  on campus where  we  could  point out our favorite  "haunts"  and share  some of our fondest  memories  of life as Boilermakers. (Of course,  not all the details  of our college days  need to  be shared with  our  children,  right?)   Still, we were  eagerly  looking forward  to this  special rite-of-passage moment and had high hopes that Mark would fall as much in love with Purdue as we had 30+ years ago.

As with all campus visits, the purpose of our trip was to give Mark the opportunity to discover the campus and programs so it could become "his" college.  As you might imagine, we expected to see and hear important things about the university and the admission process. What we did not anticipate was just how much Purdue has changed through the years.

Some changes were immediately obvious.  It seemed that for every building and landmark that Rob and I remembered, there was a new one that we did not.  Other changes were less noticeable and had to be discovered:  like learning that the girl's dorm where I lived as a freshman and sophomore is now co-ed.  Don't get me wrong, there have been many wonderful  improvements at Purdue - things I wish had been there when we were.   However, it completely caught us off-guard to discover just how different student-life at Purdue University is now.

In fact, it seems that the entire college experience, on any campus, is not what it used to be. It reminds me of the old advertising cliche: It's not your father's Oldsmobile. The car is a still an Oldsmobile, but it looks, drives and feels completely different than the one your dad drove, back in the day. Well, as I'm finding out, college is still college, but it looks, drives and feels completely different than when I attended, back in the day.  If you haven't checked out a college campus recently, you should. Many now have centralized dining facilities that feature award-winning food. Dorm rooms are air-conditioned and wi-fi technology is available everywhere. Many colleges have exercise facilities that far exceed the best gym memberships you can buy. And some offer amenities nicer than what we have in our own homes - like granite countertops in the bathrooms (which is the case at our daughter's school - not Purdue!)

As I noticed all the "differences through the decades" transpiring at Purdue, it struck me that the university has been quite intentional about the transformation process.  They have not sacrificed their reputation for academic standards and research, but have addressed the pressure to remain competitive and attractive to a new generation of students.

Learners of the 21st century have unique expectations and needs for their college experience. As such, universities must be nimble and strategic in response to those expectations and needs, as well as to changes in the academic world, the business world and society in general.  While the core purpose of an institution of higher learning must always be regarded, I suspect many universities have been forced to re-examine goals and objectives, re-focus on core values and maybe even re-brand themselves in order to recruit the next generation.  I also imagine it is a constant challenge to balance the hopes of donors and alums, the needs and expectations of the students, and the demands of the prospective employers who will someday hire the graduates.

When you think about it, the work of transformation in educational institutions is not all that different from transformation in the church. In fact, although our scale is much smaller, we have been engaging in some of the same transformative activities here at FPC. Encompassed in prayer, with hopes of an emerging vision for our future, we continue to discover how to become a church that connects with Christians of the 21st century, just as colleges seek to connect with prospective students.  Whereas the universities strive to make a name for themselves among potential students and partnerships, we seek to discern our identity and role in God's plans for the Body of Christ in this community.

Watching my son sort through his decision about which university is right for him - which will feel most like home, which will meet his needs, which will help him grow - my heart can't help but wonder about people seeking a place in a faith community.  I suspect their questions are similar, don't you?

 

PRESBYTERY OF WABASH VALLEY

Pulpit Supply List

 

****** 

 

 Synod Of Lincoln Trails


******

Saturday, April 12
7:00 pm
Battell Center
Mishawaka, IN
Click for More Information

******

Center for Parish Development

 Subscribe to the newsletter -- Taking Part in God's Mission! 

******

Daily Prayer and Scripture app

Daily Prayer PCUSA app brings you morning and evening readings from the lectionary and Book of Common Prayer. 

Available for iPhone and now for Android devices.

 

The daily lectionary is also available online and via email.

******
 

Nourished by the living waters of Jesus Christ,

we awaken, enliven and enhance worshiping communities

to courageously extend their branches  

and bear new fruit in the Spirit.