My Little Investigation Into The PCA's RUM

For the past few months, there have been some disgruntled voices concerning the Mississippi Joint Committee on Campus Work (MJCCW). MJCCW is a committee set up by Covenant, Grace, and Mississippi Valley Presbyteries to oversee the RUF works within their bounds. Now, I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of what has happened within these presbyteries and concerning MJCCW, but as a member of Mississippi Valley Presbytery (MVP), I am concerned about what is and has gone on in the past months. So, following our February Stated Meeting, I decided to investigate some things (via the RUM offices in Atlanta), and I came to a few conclusions. Please note that these are not necessarily the thoughts or actions of MVP. I am saying these things as an individual.

First, here are some things I found out that I didn’t know before and that you may not have known before:

1. How are RUF ministries started and funded? Your typical RUF is started when a Presbytery decides they want an RUF at a particular college or university. The Presbytery puts funds aside for that ministry to start. Presumably, churches within that Presbytery give as well. After about 40% of the funds are raised, they are ready to hire an RUF minister. After the man is hired, he reaches out to his network (individuals and churches) seeking help financially for his salary and ministry expenses.
2. Does an RUF ministry have to have all the funds determined by a set budget to start? No. It is understandable that in the first year or so it will be more difficult to get off the ground, and the RUM offices in Atlanta help in such cases. However, the need should drop as time goes on and as alumni are able to give. That is another source of raising finances: alumni.
3. If an RUF minister is directly affiliated with RUM in Atlanta and not under the oversight of Presbytery groups like MJCCW, are there administrative costs that he has to pay to RUM Atlanta? Yes. Each RUF minister has to give $800 per month out of their ministry expenses (not salary) to RUM Atlanta. What is the $800/month ($9600/yr) used for? Of the $800, $600 is used for administration costs like audits, keeping books, etc., and the other $200 goes to RUM Atlanta.

I thought this was a steep number for the average RUF ministry, so I asked if men struggle keeping the ministry going financially. Some do, but there are procedures in place to focus more time and effort on fundraising, if there are difficulties. I also asked how many RUF ministries had ceased to exist or closed down due to finances. I was told that four had, though three of those are back up and running again. The other one, Marshall University, is still closed.

Second, I have some questions on the ‘best’ way to do the work of campus ministry (financially and governmentally).

1. Does it make more sense for the Presbytery or General Assembly to be overseeing campus ministries? I guess I should clarify that each RUF minister is still under the oversight of a Presbytery, but I guess this is a question, “Does RUM Atlanta have a hand in everything or anything?” If the Presbytery has oversight, then why do funds go to Atlanta? Why isn’t the Presbytery handling all the administration costs? Isn’t it their ministry, or is it RUM Atlanta’s?
2. What is the best way to fund RUF ministries?  Let’s first ask whether it is more appealing for a potential giver to give to RUM Atlanta, of which their gift goes to some far off college/university on the other side of the nation that they have never been to nor long to go, or for a potential giver to give to a local group (known as the Presbytery) who will give to colleges and universities you are familiar with? I’m from Illinois, so I will use my state as an example. Is it going to be more appealing to me to financially give to help start up an RUF ministry at the University of Illinois or to give to RUM Atlanta where it could go to, say, the University of Arizona? I love my people, don’t I? I love the Fighting Illini. Of course, I want to give locally. Of course, it is going to be easier to raise funds locally then nationally. So, my conclusion is that a Presbytery or Presbyteries joining together should decide how to start and fund RUF ministries within its or their bounds. Of course, in the PCA, most Presbyteries decide to go with RUM Atlanta. Yet, those with Presbyteries leading the way, like MJCCW, are able to start more RUF ministries because more funds are raised, and there are less expenses. Within three presbyteries, there are 13 RUF ministries including small colleges/universities like Delta State University, Rhodes College, Belhaven College, Mississippi College (a Baptist school), the University of Tennessee (Martin), and even community colleges: Holmes Community College and Hinds Community College. Can RUM Atlanta go after the small schools? I guess that is the Presbytery’s decision.