The Wesley Foundation at UVA

A Place to Be, a Place to Become

The University of Virginia is a dynamic place of change and growth. The academic and social transformations that take place in the lives of students and others on this campus is dramatic and often life-changing. It was for me as a UVA undergraduate in the mid-1980’s.

Where do you go to process all of these changes? How does spirituality fit in to this vibrant scene? Where is the community that is safe enough to risk asking these questions and warm enough to be home?

We like to think that one of those places is the Wesley Foundation. Here is a place to be and a place to become. It’s a fun place full of laughter, music and friendships. It’s also a real place where important questions get asked and where worship and faith find new forms.

As the campus minister and director of the Wesley Foundation, let me invite you to come discover a unique corner of the UVA community. Share in our life for a little while and see why others have called this place home. Discover how special a community of faith can be!

A Word about our Ministry

We are a United Methodist supported campus ministry, offering a faith community to students at the University of Virginia.

We often work collaboratively with Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (next door) and with other local churches as we offer welcome and hospitality to all students at the University. Here on “the Wesley block” students have the opportunity to gather together in their peer group and also with the wider faith community at the church. Lifelong Methodists and tentative seekers are all welcome here.

Though most of our events and programs are designed with students in mind, we take seriously our calling to be in ministry with the whole University community. Our McDonald Lecture is open to the entire University, we often host forum speakers and other guests from various departments, and several of our Administrative Board members are UVA faculty or staff. In addition to serving as campus minister and director at Wesley, I also serve as president of United Ministries, an interfaith consortium of religious groups at UVA.

We share our space with friends from the University and the broader local community. Besides our own student group meetings and individual students gathering to study or pray, we offer space to other student groups, UVA departmental gatherings, church groups, and community groups.

There are many ways to be involved in this ministry and many perspectives on it – student, parent, local church member, University faculty and staff, community member… Thank you for taking a moment to learn more and please call if I can answer any questions.

I offer weekly drop-in office hours during the academic terms (see “Contact Us” tab for the current semester) and would be pleased to schedule an appointment with you at other times. Students may email, call, or Facebook me.  I’m here to offer a listening ear, prayer, and pastoral care, or just to chat and visit, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Peace,

Deborah

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Rev. Deborah E. Lewis

Director & Campus Minister

434-977-6500

deborah AT wesleyuva.org