On Sunday morning you can find students lying in their dorm room beds at Scott Quad; meanwhile, just across Morton Hill, there is a congregation of people gathered to worship God.
Within the boundaries of Ohio University’s Athens campus sits The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, which was first built in 1952 to serve the university, Ted Foster, the church’s junior warden, said.
The church was originally off campus but then bought land from private owners to be present for students and faculty, Reverend Deborah Woolsey said. The church had also owned the building that became the Konneker Alumni Center when OU later purchased it.
“We always think of campus ministry or our presence here on campus as for the students,” Woolsey said. “But I’ve seen there are quite a few faculty who have come looking for a place, for a community and some who have come for some pastoral council.”
Woolsey said the church’s unique location leads to a very fluid congregation.
“(The attendance) depends whether class is in session. Between the two services, our average Sunday attendance is between 50 and 60,” she added. “(The congregation is) quite diverse, you know, we have everything from students, faculty, retired faculty, to people who lived here their whole lives.”
Woolsey has only been the reverend for a year and this is her first time being a preacher on a college campus.
“I love it,” she said. “There is an energy here that you don’t get at the church in the suburbs.”
Foster said he can get frustrated with the changing makeup of the church.
“They’re so great, they’re wonderful, they’re here three of four years and then they’re gone,” Foster said. “It’s always great to discover new ones, but there’s a lot of loss in that sense.”
Elizabeth Larson first joined the congregation as a freshman at OU back in 1949 and said she enjoys having the students around.
“In a way, Athens never ages, all the rest of us do, but the main population always stays the same age and that’s interesting to watch,” Larson said.
Woolsey added that the church is liberal and welcoming to everyone.
The sign for the church has a rainbow flag to signify that it is welcoming to those who identify as LGBT.
“I find this a safe place,” Woolsey said. “We’ve had many people come here from the LGBT community, looking for a safe place. Other people who are students who say, ‘When I talk about my faith people call me dumb.’ ... They are looking for a safe space and they find that here, and that’s an exciting thing to offer.”
Lia Knox, an OU alumna, said, as part of the LGBT community, people have been very welcoming.
“The flag is new,” she said. “They are trying really hard, and the people are great.”
Foster said the church accepts all people in their life and spiritual journey.
“Being on campus or part of the campus is like living in a Grecian city or something,” Foster said. “Like a little piece of heaven.”
@M_PECKable
mp172114@ohio.edu
