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More about Campus Ministry at Manchester College
Manchester faith leader
leaving
for new calling, but will
remain close to campus
Campus Pastor Jim Chinworth ends more than eight years of service
to the College in January, when he steps into a new role as associate
pastor for youth ministry and congregational life of the Manchester
Church of the Brethren.
While
Manchester is a college of the Church of the Brethren, its community is
built of almost 30 denominations, including Catholic, United Methodist,
Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, Jewish and Muslim.
Chinworth, whose insightful prayers have opened scores of campus
ceremonies and celebrations, led development of the annual community
Martin Luther King Jr. service, student involvement in spirituality
groups and Holocaust remembrance programs. His work on dissipating
liberal-conservative tension on campus was influential in a new format
this semester for acclimating first-year students to academic life. The
campus religious life program, led by Chinworth, includes weekly chapel
services, retreats and Bible study, and other spiritual development and
enrichment.
Chinworth also serves on the College counseling team, and provides
personal and pre-marital counseling. He holds a master’s of divinity
from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
His new
position at the Manchester Church of the Brethren will give Chinworth
opportunity to develop a congregationally based youth ministry while
assisting the congregation in making connections with the local
community. The congregation voted to call Chinworth as associate pastor
on Sunday.
“The
entire campus community will miss the energizing and fortifying presence
of Jim Chinworth, but we are grateful he is staying close at hand in
North Manchester,” said Beth Switzer-Riley, vice president for student
development.
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