Greetings SLO Deanery,

As we enter the spring quarter of our third year together, I am excited about the ministry we (with God’s help!) are building here in SLO. Although numbers-wise we are still in the growth phase of this ministry, we have come a long way in the two and a half years I have been here, and we have actually hit the target set by the SLO Canterbury board at the inception of this ministry in 2007.

This is on my mind at this time because this past month we had our annual diocesan higher-ed meeting where we divide the diocesan grant between the four campus ministries located within our diocese: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; San Jose St.; CSU Monterey Bay; and UC Santa Cruz. This was the third time I have attended this meeting, and it is clear to me now that our Canterbury ministry here in SLO has the most flourishing program, the strongest base of deanery support, and has become a model for the other diocesan Canterbury programs.

The reason I can say this confidently is that for the second year in a row, SLO Canterbury has received, by far, the largest portion of the diocesan higher-ed grant. Why did the higher-ed committee decide to award the highest amount to us? My response to that question, from a theological standpoint, would be to look at Jesus’ parable of the talents: we were given the most because we have been able to do the most with what we have been given.

This means a couple of things. First, it affirms that the way we built this ministry - relying on strong deanery support – has been crucial to where we are today. And second, it means that we need to speak up and encourage the other deaneries in the diocese to step up and similarly support their Canterbury programs if those ministries are to flourish as well.

With success comes responsibility, and I believe that even though we still have a long way to go as far as our own Canterbury program is concerned, we have reached the point where we need to reach out to the diocese and encourage and support the other campus ministries and their deaneries by letting them know not only what we’ve built here, but how we’ve built it.

The reason for this is that each of the campus ministries relies heavily on the annual diocesan grant for its existence, and in these economic times it is very possible that if cuts have to be made to the diocesan budget, the higher-ed grant would be in jeopardy. Therefore, we need to be vocal and we need to be visible so that the rest of the diocese is aware of what we are doing in our ministries to college students and young adults.

Canterbury ministries at universities across the country are transforming our church and our world. While in many instances our numbers are small, we are forming and sending young adults out to do God’s work in the world in ways that would not be occurring but for their involvement in these Canterbury programs. Through this work, we participate in the coming of God’s kingdom here on earth. It is remarkable and fulfilling work, and I am honored and humbled to be a part of it.

Yours in Christ,

Berkeley