UKirk Nashville

Our longstanding mission statement is “UKirk Nashville exists to provide area college students a place for Christian community and spiritual growth by: deepening relationships through fellowship, experiencing God through worship, and encouraging discipleship through service.” The purpose of this organization is to fulfill the mission of this ministry: To exist and joyfully share the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord, and nurture an incarnational relational ministry with students through divine worship, hanging out, scripture study and serving others. Our first mission is a ministry of presence. To create a safe space for all who come in and for peace, regardless of ability, age, belief, denominational affiliation, gender, race, sex, sexual orientation or anything else—a space in which students, young adults, and others can explore their faith and ask hard questions about what it means to be Christian and Presbyterian in the world. To be conscientious servants to Belmont and Vanderbilt Universities, where we are both guests and currently official student organizations, the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee (Presbyterian Church USA) and the Nashville Presbytery (Cumberland Presbyterian Church), where we are a mission, Nashville, where we are residents, and the national UKirk Network, which exists in partnership between the CPC and the PCUSA.

UKirk Nashville is a faith community for college students. We are supported by the PC(USA) and CP denominations, but we draw students from ecumenical backgrounds to worship with us each week. We primarily serve students from Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities but are glad to have participants from any undergraduate or graduate program in the Nashville area. Students are given opportunities to worship, learn, and build community together in an inclusive environment that affirms the belovedness of each individual. Every day, we seek to support students’ spiritual health and Christian practice, to offer them love and belonging, and to develop them into leaders for the church. We meet twice a week for regular programming with students. On Wednesdays, we meet at Bongo Java for coffee. We have found this to be a much appreciated space for students to get a break and check in with one another, giving us touchpoints into any pastoral care concerns that we can follow up on individually. We meet each Thursday night for dinner and worship at St. Augustine’s Chapel on Vanderbilt’s campus. Belmont students carpool over to St. A’s, and sometimes we will see recent alumni as well. The meal each week is provided by and shared with volunteers from local Presbyterian churches. Our student board helps guide our themes for worship, largely based on their own questions and curiosities in their faith. Students also serve as liturgists and musicians for this weekly service. We hold additional programming periodically as well, including Bible Studies, our fall retreat, and Montreat College Conference. Each semester we joint lead a community worship night with the Canterbury (Episcopalian) and Wesley (Methodist) campus ministries. UKirk provides opportunities for students to live their faith. In the past year, we have partnered with local churches, Room in the Inn, Nashville Launchpad, and Habitat for Humanity to serve.