The Need
THE BUILDING AS KEY TO OUR MINISTRY
Brent House offers a space where questions of faith may be asked, doubts freely expressed, and religious practice can be, well, practiced. We show how faith can both be silent and introspective, communal and ritualized, debated fiercely, boisterous and full of food.
There aren't many religious spaces on campus where one can be Christian and LGBTQ, unsure about one's inherited religious tradition, or hold different or even contradictory religious identities. Having our own building allows us to respond flexibly and creatively to the various and changing needs the UChicago community.
To that end, every aspect of Brent House is put to use for our ministry:
- The chapel is used for weekly Eucharist and Evening Prayer, as well as individual prayer and meditation. It is also used for meetings and gatherings of community groups where a sacred and more intimate space is preferred.
- The front room provides a larger and more neutral gathering place for conversations with prominent scholars and community leaders, to watch a movie together, to discuss a book, or be warmed by a fire in the fireplace.
- Our seven bedrooms offer full-time living accommodations for graduate students, which form our residential community.
- Our guest room accommodates visiting alumni/ae, friends and relatives of students, and visiting scholars.
- Like many homes, our kitchen serves as the heart of our resident community, worship and fellowship communities. You'll find rich conversations during meal preparation through the washing of dishes.
- Our dining room provides a more formal space for sharing a communal meals and engaging in fellowship.
- While our sunroom is a place of respite for busy students, eating a meal, or conducting a small group meeting.
- The chaplain's office offers safe space for pastoral care and premarital counseling. It is also the central place for conducting staff meetings and the administrative concerns of our ministry.
- Our front and back yards are used for fundraising events, weddings, barbecues, and other social gatherings.
Visitors to Brent House can expect us to welcome them, to join us in community, and participate in whatever way they feel comfortable. We promise not to preach at you, we'll always answer your questions as honestly as we can, and we'll listen to your perspective, even—or especially—when it challenges ours.
This is how we as Episcopalians live out the Gospel.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
- To be a leader in campus ministry for the Episcopal Church, providing formation for future campus ministers and other pastoral leaders.
- A place for seminarian field education.
- To provide more lay leadership opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
- To move more deeply into programs for Ignation spirituality and discernment.
- To expand campus ministry at UChicago, offering more one-on-one and group programs in prayer, discernment, and support.
- To provide more resources and support for faculty and staff.
- To develop a stronger, more active network of Brent House and UChicago alums through 1-on-1 discernment, local and regional cottage meetings, and videoconferences.
- Grounded in the stability, flexibility, and permanence that a physical building provides.
- Therefore, we require on-going building and grounds maintenance and capital improvements.
- We must increase administrative staff to support current and future ministry to provide more consistent and skilled attention to the stewardship of our buildings and free the chaplain to engage in programming, provide more pastoral support, and maintain connection with the current community and alums.
NEXT STEPS
Generations of students have been shaped by Brent House, the Episcopal campus ministry at the University of Chicago.
As we look towards Brent House's future, we are reaching out to students, alumni and friends. We want to hear about your experiences, and your ideas on how Brent House can support the changing needs of our campus community and growing network of alumni around the world.
Your feedback will help us create new programs, deepen our ministry, and invest in the house itself.
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