Erin Cherry
Staff Writer
University Church of Christ embodies a real sense of community, says Ken Durham, its minister since 1998. He likens the Church to early Christian believers who met in their homes in the First Century A.D. Durham’s preaching style is often conversational and although it focuses on Scripture, it rarely delves into highly liturgical matters, he says.
Combined with a capella worship – vocals without musical accompaniment – and Durham’s plainspoken sermons, the atmosphere has led an increasing contingent of Pepperdine students and staff (nearly 85 percent of a typical 400-person Sunday morning crowd) to swell the ranks, prompting the Church to first add a second Sunday service and now a third in Stauffer Chapel.
Its history began with the university’s founding in 1937. In following with the Church of Christ’s tradition, the University Church continues to emphasize Jesus’ teachings, primarily relying on the New Testament as its model for church leadership and worship.
“Our intention is to model ourselves after the earliest Christian fellowship,” Durham said. He describes the church as having “Christians only, but not the only Christians.”
In keeping with the church’s objective – to base everything on the Bible – Durham preaches from the Bible in expository style. He tries to spend a lot of time preaching from the word, and his 30-minute sermons often give thorough analysis and scriptural commentary, he said.
Weekly communion, songs without instrumental accompaniment and an emphasis on baptism differentiate the church from other religious traditions by holding strong to the church’s Scriptural interpretations. Though these practices differ from those of some other churches, Durham said the University Church of Christ holds its goal to be a community of Christ on campus.
Some consider Pepperdine’s church to be one of the more progressive congregations in its denomination. One indicator is the Church’s view on gender roles: While some Churches of Christ do not allow women to be involved publicly in leadership, the Univeristy Church frequently has women assist with communion and read scripture to the congregation.
Durham said a great deal of this progressive push is due to the influence of students – around half the congregation – whom he calls “young, educated and free thinkers.”
Campus Ministries is the University Church college group. Toward the beginning of each school year, Pepperdine student interns form and head small groups ranging from service and discipleship teams to activities coordinators. Students are welcome to get involved any time throughout the year. The groups meet for a weekly Bible study and organize programs including the fall and spring retreats and a mission trip to San Felipe, Mexico.
Campus Ministries combines with two other programs to create a sense of community and fellowship for Pepperdine students. Wednesday Night Worship, formally called Care Group, offers fellowship and plenty of songs. Students can also meet Sunday nights for Chapel, a student-run church service.
Sophomore Lauren Waugh, who grew up attending a Church of Christ in Texas, is enthusiastic about the opportunities to meet people and get involved through Campus Ministries.
“It has given me the opportunity to get to know other students who share my beliefs,” she said. “I know that otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten to know most of them, and it is so important to have some kind of support group.”
Junior John Calhoun, who is now in his third year of Won by One, Pepperdine’s six-person vocal group, is a fan of the worship without instruments.
“I really like the a cappella worship,” he said. “It helped me get involved in worship in my home church and gave me a leadership role in the youth group.”
Waugh enjoys the a cappella worship, a style that takes many college students by surprise. “The focus is more on the lyrics since we don’t use any music, and that makes you actually think about what you are saying to God,” she said.
08-29-2005
