About ECM
Ecumenical Christian Ministries involves a diversity of people on the University of Kansas campus and in Lawrence. ECM represents a stream of the Christian faith tradition that tries to be intellectually honest, liberating, and sensitive to how we know mystery in our lives. We take the Bible seriously, but not literally. ECM is part of an international network of churches and campus ministries that affirm the following:
- Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us;
- Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable (including but not limited to): believers and agnostics, conventional Christians and questioning skeptics, women and men, those of all sexual orientations and gender identities, those of all races and cultures, those of all classes and abilities, those who hope for a better world and those who have lost hope;
- Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in the dogmatic certainty --more value in the questioning than in the absolutes;
- Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creations, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers.
We build on a heritage of 102 years as a ministry with the University of Kansas. Our vision is to have communities of faith where learning to listen with your heart, without losing your mind, is celebrated as a risk to be taken in the university and in society. We welcome your involvement with open arms, hearts, and minds.
ECM was awarded Campus Ministry of the Year for the South
Central Region, 2005 by the National Campus Ministry Association:
Ecumenical Christian Ministries
The ECM Center houses the office of the ECM, the University Christian Fellowship (Southern Baptist), and the University Church (Nazarene). Several of the following organizations and ministries cosponsor programs of ministry: First Presbyterian Church University Team Ministry, Lutheran (ELCA), Peace Mennonite, Jubilee Cafe, KU Environs, Hillel Foundation, Center for Community Outreach, University Christian Fellowship, Latin American Solidarity, Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, KU Amnesty International, KU Environs, Wesley at KU, University Nazarene Church, Sustainability Center at KU, and KU UNICEF.
Offices in ECM
- The Rev. Thad Holcombe - ECM Campus Minister - 843-4933
- The Rev. Rick Clock - Campus Minister for University Christian Fellowship (Southern Baptist) - 841-3148
- The Rev. Sean Heston- University Church- 550-6563, info@kuchurch.edu
- ECM Intern Shannon Gorres- 843-4933
Rev. Thad Holcombe, ECM Campus Minister
Barbara Higgins-Dover, ECM Administrative Assistant
Rev. Sean Heston
Skeeter & Bob, ECM Facility Managers
ECM Intern Shannon Gorres