USF/Tampa Relaunch Cohort

Below is information on key components of the partnership between the Gulf Central District of the FLUMC and Studio Wesley to facilitate a discipleship and learning cohort of college -aged young adults. This project is a part of the relaunch effort for campus ministry at the University of South Florida and is based on Studio Wesley’s intern program. The goal is to create a space where a group of current USF/Tampa area students can be gathered, discipled and supported. These students could also be invited to assist in the relaunch of the campus ministry at USF.

The USF/Tampa Area Cohort is designed to provide college-aged young adults with an opportunity to grow in their faith and leadership skills through mentorship, community, and personal exploration. The hope is that these students would be the core group that will help restablish the campus ministry at USF.

PROJECT COMPONENTS

Participants in the project will be invited to participate in the following components:

Weekly Discipleship Group (1 hour/week): This is the core of the project. This weekly zoom meeting will be led by the Digital Campus Minister and offer participants a chance to connect with fellow students for spiritual growth and community building. We'll tentatively hold these meetings on Sunday afternoons or early evenings.

Studio Wesley Community and Content: Participants will be invited to connect with the larger Studio Wesley community of college-aged young interns and community members as well as young adult staff through various digital platforms and virtual gatherings. Some may also want to participate in Studio Wesley content including podcasts, blogs and social media.

One on One Meetings: Participants will be able to meet virtually with the Digital Campus Minister for personalized pastoral care, mentoring and support.

Relaunch Support: Participants could be invited to assist with the relaunch of the campus ministry at USF. This participation could vary in scope based on the gifts, abilities, capacities and availability of the student. It is suggested that this component include a stipend of some sort for effective implementation.

WEEKLY GATHERING

The primary space of formation and community-building is the weekly gathering. Each Sunday afternoon, cohort participants gather via zoom for a simple agenda based on Studio Wesley’s Intern Gathering:

Centering: 10 minutes
Reading of that Sunday’s Collect Prayer (or other meaningful pieces) and then sharing individual responses

Highs and Lows: 20 minutes
Sharing the week’s high and low points. Participants are asked to be fully “on-screen” for this part of the gathering.

Weekly Teaching: 20 minutes
Teaching Modules or lectionary texts, shared by the Digital Campus Minister or Guest Speaker. Includes discussion questions.

Sharing of Prayer Requests: 8 minutes

Closing Blessing: 2 minutes

COHORT GATHERING
TEACHING MODULES

A part of the weekly gathering is the teaching from the Digital Campus Minister or Guest Speaker. During the first semester, the participants are guided through a set of modules that has been designed to support their basic understanding of Wesleyan theology, spiritual formation, and personal development. These modules are similar to those shared with Studio Wesley Interns.

Module 1: Understanding of Grace
Session 1: Grace Overview
Session 2: Prevenient Grace
Session 3: Justifying and Sanctifying Grace

Module 2: The Relational Model
Session 4: Why Relationships Matter (Introduction to Model)
Session 5: Intimate and Personal Relationships
Session 6: Social, Para-Social and Public Relationships
Session 7: “Window” Relationships and Relational Maintenance

Module 3: Leadership for the Next Generation
Session 8: Introduction to Grace-Centered Leadership
Session 9: Personal and Lateral Leadership
Session 10: Second Chair and Top Down Leadership

After these modules have been completed, the weekly teaching is based on the lectionary texts.