Ministry Leadership House Covenant
2013-2014
PURPOSE
AndersonUniversityprovides Ministry Leadership Houses for the sole purpose of complementing/enhancing campus ministry on campus. Thus, each house is a tool for ministry.
EXPECTATIONS/ QUALIFICATIONS
Residence within a house is both a high honor and a serious responsibility. Each resident of the house must be proactive in ministering to the campus. The Ministry Leadership House program is not designed for students who are simply in campus leadership positions, but for students seeking to go above-and-beyond in ministering to the campus on an ongoing, personal basis. Upon acceptance, members may not voluntarily leave the ministry house. The MHL Committee will only grant a release
for legitimate medical, psychological, or family/personal emergencies, etc. on a case by case basis. Lack of participation may result in the resident being involuntarily reassigned to traditional campus housing as needed.
Additionally, the following standards are expected upon acceptance of a space within a Ministry Leadership House:
MINISTRY RESPONSIBILITIES
A.Residents will participate in developing a focused ministry plan and calendar of activities for the year. Each house will have a mentor to support them through this process. The final plan will be approved by the MLH committee. All residents must be involved in the development of the plan and calendar.
· As a part of the plan, each person must demonstrate a daily ministry through relationships with students on campus. (These require getting
out
of the house.)
Examples include, but are not limited to:
· Meeting with others for lunch or coffee on a regular basis.
· Invite others to church, bible studies, social functions, or other campus events.
· Include others in your social circle.
· Actively seek ways to pray for and meet the unique needs of other individuals.
B.Each house will be assigned a mentor (staff or faculty) from AU to offer support, counsel and encouragement during the academic year. Each house will be accountable to the mentor by providing monthly reports that demonstrate progress of the focused ministry plan.
(See Mentor Responsibilities)
C.Each house will select one resident to serve as the Point Personfor communication with their House Mentor and the AU administration. This person will be responsible for the following:
· Submit monthly reports on House Goals and Community Builder Forms to Campus Ministries
· Coordinate a mid-year and year-end presentation for the Celebration Dinner.
· Coordinate house meetings for regular updates and discussions as needed.
· Bring any needs to Residence Life and Campus Ministries.
· Check campus email regularly for announcements and updates.
D.Each House is responsible to meet as a group on a weekly basis for a minimum of one hour.
(All team members must be present) This time should be devoted to personal, spiritual renewal and fellowship.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
· Family Dinners
· Bible studies
· Attend together the monthly Residence Life living area event sponsored by the RA
· Creative fellowships/ Game time
E.In addition to the focused ministry plan, each student should seek opportunities to use their house to meet spontaneous ministry needs of the campus community.
Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
· Allow ministries to use the house for studies
· Host Mission teams the night prior to leaving for a trip
· Use the house to host gatherings
· Using the stove to bake cookies for groups
F.All houses will plan an event to minister to new and returning students during the month of August. Houses may partner together in order to maximize resources.
G.Each resident must
participate in a minimum of one Leadership Training Opportunity each semester as provided by Campus Ministries.
H.Each house will be assigned a Host Church. The House will assist the Host Church with one church project/program
, and in turn, the church will provide assistance to the House in their ministry goals.
(See Host Church Responsibilities)
I.Each MLH will be assigned a month on the academic calendar to assist Campus Ministries with selected eventsand willassist with weekly Journey Worship
.
RESIDENCE RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Students must check in as well as vacate the home within the scheduled house move in day established by the Residence Life Office. There are no special extensions for residents to occupy these properties outside the timeframes established for the traditional residence halls. (Christmas break, etc
B. Residents will be careful to observe and support all university policies and departments as models of campus citizenship. The same policies that are established for the traditional residence halls will also be applied in the Ministry Houses. (Visitation hours, candles, extension cords, alcohol, etc.) Not only will violations of university policy weaken the witness of a house, but also they will threaten a student’s ability to retain the privilege of living in the house.
C. RSVP hours for the Ministry Leadership Houses are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7:00pm -11:00pm.
Events hosted at the house including members of the opposite sex should be planned within the established hours.
Additional hours will not be given to host events at the house.
D.
Residents are responsible for maintaining neat and sanitary conditions on the interior of the home at all times. Residents will respect the property and treat it as their home.
The ministry houses have the same policies as the residence hall with regard to damage.
NO changes may be made to the house (painting, structural, etc.). Requests for ANY changes must be made to the Residence Life Office.
E. These residences are in the historic district of the City of Anderson and are a reflection to the public of the University. The exteriors of the homes are to be tasteful at all times. Residents will keep the exterior of the home neat and free of trash and debris. Only furniture pre-approved by the Residence Life Office will be used on the exterior of the home. Camp chairs are not permitted as is any furniture that is intended to be used on the interior of the home, such
as a sofa.
Porches are not to be used to store, even temporarily, students possessions or furniture. Lights (except at Christmas and then only pre-approved lights), advertisements, posters, etc. are not permitted in windows.
F.Residents will remove seasonal decorations within one week of the season’s end, such as Christmas decorations, pumpkins, etc.
G.
Each resident or group of residents acknowledges, due to university growth, there may be a possibility that a house(s) may need to be taken down mid-year to provide space for new construction.
In the event that this should happen, University Staff will re-assign the residents to alternative campus housing.
HOST CHURCH
The Host Church will partner with a Ministry Leadership House during the academic year in order to offer a spiritual support and encouragement to the house and their ministry focus.
The goal of this relationship is to complement and enhance ministries on Anderson University Campus.
*Note: Host churches must be approved by Campus Ministries.
Church/Student Relationship:
Contact information for the Host Church and the MLH will be shared when the year begins.
The Host Church and MLH will set up a time to meet to discuss the following:
- A onetime event in which the MLH will assist the churchduring September, October, November, February, March, or April. Thisevent will allow the students an opportunity to serve the host church and get to get to know members better.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Church celebrations or activities, fall festival, children or youth events, assisting the elderly, providing care for children, Homecoming, local mission project sponsored by the church, helping the needy in the community.
· Specific ways that the Host Church may minister to the MLH.
Campuses Ministries will help in any way needed to see that this partnership is a success.
We believe this partnership will boost the success and morale of the MLH and their ministry focus.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
o Developing a partner prayer team where the Host Church can pray for needs of the MLH and the MLH to pray for needs of the host church.
o Invite AU students to the church to: Share about their spiritual walk or missions experience, share in a worship service, make the congregation aware of the partnership.
o Provide meals or fellowship time with the MLH.
o Provide supplies or food for events hosted by the MLH related to their ministry focus.
o Establish a mentoring relationship with one or more of the house residents.
o Provide encouragement and support during crisis moments in the MLH (Death in the family, illnesses, tragedy, personal crisis)
HOUSE MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
A Mentor (staff or faculty member) from Anderson University will be assigned to each MLH. The Mentor will offer support, counsel, and encouragement, during the academic year on a regular basis.
The Mentor will be a liaison between Campus Ministries and the Ministry House in order to ensure clear parameters in the execution of the ministry goal.
Mentor/Student Relationship:
- The Mentor is to be a prayer warrior for the MLH for the academic year.
- Meet weekly during the month of September to advise as students plan for the upcoming year.
- Meet monthly for: prayer, discussion of goals & ministry strategies, review of monthly reports.
- To serve as a resource to the contact person.
- To be a liaison between the House and the MLH Committee.
- Assist house members in times of tragedy, personal crisis, death in the family, or other issues.
- Refer house members to counselors, campus ministers, and others when deemed necessary
- To keep confidentiality and professional codes in keeping with Anderson University
MINSTRY HOUSE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
The Committee is comprised of Campus Ministry Staff and Residence Life Staff.
Responsibilities include:
· Commit to prayer the MLHs and their ministry focus for the academic year.
· Create and develop criteria that assist in the successful execution of ministry focus on Anderson University campus.
· Update and develop materials and programs that will ensure clear communication between MLHs, Host Churches, and Mentors.
· Address
discipline issues or other needs that may arise in the Ministry Leadership Houses.
· Meet bi-yearly to evaluate and update criteria that are in place for the MLH Program.