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Dimensions Magazine
Summer • 2014
Campus News
Delivering on the Investment
Making Time for Ministry Celebrating 25 years of service to the Church, campus pastor Ernie Worman guides spiritual growth one relationship at a time
As a teenager growing up in Toledo, Ohio, Ernie Worman spent his Sundays at a nearby Lutheran church where the pastor made a point of shaking Ernie’s hand, greeting him by name, thanking him for coming and inviting him to return. He felt genuinely acknowledged and appreciated. That simple act of kindness and welcome had a profound affect on the impressionable young man. In fact, when Ernie became a pastor himself, that lesson from his youth influenced his approach to ministry. Ernie calls his method “the ministry of presence.” He describes it as being in the moment; focused on the person he is with, whether that moment is a single minute or an entire semester or more. He says it’s about being there for people as a resource, a sounding board, a spiritual adviser and a cheering section. “A ministry of presence requires you to be there and to seek out the opportunities to be present,” Ernie said. “It’s about giving time in a world where it seems there is little to give.”
An Unexpected Calling Ernie didn’t always aspire to be a pastor. In fact, he dropped out of college at age 20 and joined the Navy. When the Navy stationed his wife Annie, a Navy officer, in Hawaii, Ernie took a position as a civilian computer customer engineer with Wang Laboratories. When their church pastor in Pearl City resigned, Ernie picked up the slack by leading worship, preaching sermons and helping to keep the church vibrant. Much to Ernie’s surprise, “I discovered that ministry was my calling and my joy,” he said. Ernie went back to school, completing his bachelor’s degree and seminary training. He was ordained in 1989 and served in parish ministry. He returned to the Navy in 1992, where he served as a chaplain until his retirement in 2007.
Campus pastor Ernie Worman led an effort to install porch swings, rockers and other comfy seating throughout campus. They helped create a greater sense of community and have become popular resting spots for conversation and relaxation. Ernie’s ministry with the Navy may have come to a close, but the Lord wasn’t done with him, leading him to campus ministry at Newberry College. When the offer came, he said, “I jumped in with both feet and never looked back.”
Being Present Along with planning and presiding over weekly chapel and other worship-related activities, Ernie makes a point of attending an array of campus events. In fact, in his five years with Newberry College, he has never missed a Wolves football game, eagerly cheering on “his kids” from the sidelines. Pastor Ernie also seeks out numerous ways for Campus Ministry to support student-led mission and outreach projects. His widespread involvement in campus life allows him to develop relationships with a broad range of students, faculty and staff. Through word and deed he has the opportunity to minister to them, model his faith and share his love of Christ. After 25 years of service to the church, the last five as campus pastor for Newberry College, Ernie has fine-tuned his ministry of presence. “While I minister from a Lutheran perspective,” Ernie said, “I respect our differences, sharing my faith, not mandating particular beliefs.” He added, “My priority is simply to be present in their lives, to be a guide for them and to assist them as they ask.”
Newberry College is recognized as one of eight private colleges worth the time and money by former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett in his book, “Is College Worth It?”
Tuition costs and student debt have been a hot topic in the media for several years. In a challenging economy, students were entering the workforce with freshly minted college degrees and limited job prospects, leaving them saddled with worries about how to repay their college loans. For the first time in generations, students and their families questioned whether a college degree was worth the investment. Their argument: being a well-rounded global citizen doesn’t pay the bills; good jobs do.
The Higher Ed Perspective
Richard Ekman, president of The Council of Independent Colleges, agreed that perceptions may not be accurate. “The increase in tuition rates is relatively small compared to the rate of inflation, “Ekman said. “In those terms, the cost of college has actually gone down. The media focus on students who graduate with exorbitant debt, but they are the rare exception rather than the rule.”
“Newberry College is one of
Perception is far from reality, according to Mike LeFever, president of South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.
the shining examples of what
“Numerous studies show that people with a four-year degree have significantly more income over their lifetime than people with a high school or two-year degree,” LeFever said. “It depends on the individual, but there is no question that having a college education will provide greater potential for a very rewarding career.”
– Mike LeFever, President, SCICU
a small liberal arts colleges can accomplish.”
Responding to the Challenges
Families were not alone with their concerns about costs. Colleges and universities faced budget cuts from declining enrollment and donor giving.
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They quickly understood the need to work smarter and get creative in developing solutions for their issues. In response, Newberry College approved its Tuition Promise in 2013, which guaranteed students that their tuition would not increase for the four consecutive years they were in school. The College also focused on aggressively controlling expenses and increasing scholarship support. “Our Tuition Promise was an important step at a critical time in our history to ensure that we would remain affordable for students and their families,” said Newberry College president Dr. Maurice Scherrens. CIC President Richard Ekman concurred. “What Newberry College has done was a very bold move, he said. “It shows a real commitment that is consistent with the efforts of other schools, but is much more pronounced in its ability to help families plan for college costs.”
Making College Worth It
The school’s efforts to ensure that a Newberry College degree is an investment of value recently attracted the attention of former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett. The New York Times best-selling author recognized Newberry College’s Tuition Promise in his book “Is College Worth It?” Newberry was in good company among the eight private colleges Bennett judged to be worth the time and money. Amherst College
Howard University
Baylor University
Newberry College
Furman University
Spelman College
Hillsdale College
St. Vincent College
Reflecting on the efforts of schools to manage costs and affordability, LeFever noted, “Newberry College is one of the shining examples of what a small liberal arts colleges can accomplish.”