Covenant  Groups
at Gettysburg Seminary

What Are Covenant Groups?
Forms of well-being
Looking Ahead to 2007-2008

Point-person, Mr. George Bennett  Tel. 717-633-1227
Resources
       Spiritual Direction
      
The need for intentional spiritual formation and leadership development which complements our worship life and curricular offerings was highlighted with the call elsewhere of the Campus Pastor and Mission Leadership Coordinator in the summer of 07. The spring 2007 semester provided time for a pastoral care leadership task force to think creatively what might be done to supplement our formation of students. Through extensive conversation and planning the idea of Covenant Groups emerged.

A group of twelve seniors are serving in the role of  conveners. Mr. George Bennett, a seminary graduate and staff member at Lutheran Counseling Services is serving as the institutional “point person” to oversee the groups, lead convener training, respond to issues and concerns and to develop an assessment tool so that we can repeat what works well and remediate what doesn’t work so well.  When we are in a position to call perhaps a part-time campus pastor these groups should continue to provide a venue for intentional prayer, formation and leadership development.

Looking Ahead to 2007-2008
All members of the community, who are enrolled in courses or on internship will be assigned a Covenant group at the beginning of the Fall semester.  At various times in the year, there will be all-campus events to which every group will be invited.  Please watch for the announcements of these special events.

Mini-grants of $200 will be available to each group for a special project or event that directly addresses one of the components of wellness listed above.  This money may fund a retreat away from campus, for example, or purchase copies of a specific book the members in a group want to read together.  Vouchers for the mini-grant requests are available in the Dean’s Office.  At the end of 2007-08, each group will be asked for feedback about their year, and the activities they found most helpful to better shape the program in the future.

Spiritual Direction Resources

        Lois Nell Richwine , Certified Spiritual Director
                 Phone 717-432-5657 Lonerichw@aol.com

        Ruth House ministries, spiritual formation and hospitality,
        (individual, group, or themed direction, retreats and more)
                 335 Ridge Avenue, Gettysburg, PA  717-334-0875 
                 Rev. Sandra R. Mackie (smackie8@earthlink.net)
                 Rev. Fredrice K. Meitzen (fmeitzen@earthlink.net)

        The Rev. Robert Hoover, 717-843-8348

        Rev. Julia Hart, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
                 Lancaster, PA , 717-394-6771

__________________
In the Spring of 2007, President Cooper-White appointed a task force chaired by the dean, comprised of three faculty members, the class presidents and student association president , to explore some creative possibilities that would open the way for us as a community to deal with the absence of a campus pastor. The task force established “listening posts” throughout the student body, with spouse fellowship, board members, local parish pastors, region 8 bishops, faculty and staff. We worked hard to listen to the concerns, hopes and creative ideas generated by this extensive process. The outcome of that process has generated the exciting idea of covenant groups.