Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
It’s the season of giving and Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) is about “open” a historic one. The university announced it will receive an extraordinary gift from Salina’s Church of the Cross – their entire building and property at 1600 Rush Street, in Salina, Kan. This distinctive partnership between a United Methodist Church and a UMC-affiliated university appears to be the first of its kind, marking a pivotal moment in KWU’s 138-year history.
The gifted church property. Photo: KWU.
The agreement strikes a careful balance. While the church’s congregation will stay active, KWU gains its first off-campus property since its downtown business college closed its doors in the 1930s. Sitting just half a mile from the main campus, the church property opens up fresh possibilities for both institutions.
“We’re looking at two organizations that have served the Salina community for over 140 years, coming together,” said KWU President and CEO Matt Thompson. “I think that’s really special.”
Thompson noted that university leaders are working closely with church members and campus representatives to reimagine the facility’s role. The timing seems perfect – KWU recently announced more than $2 million in gifts during this fiscal year’s first quarter, pushing their “Power of AND Campaign” past $42.5 million. The funds will underwrite a wide rangeof activities from student scholarships, to endowment programs and facility improvements.
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The story of KWU itself is a testament of faith put into practice. Starting in 1886 with just two college students and 61 preparatory students, the college quickly built an impressive legacy. It broke barriers early, accepting Kansas’s first African-American college football player in 1928, and has continued launching innovative programs through the decades.
One key aspect of the new partnership: community services will stay intact. The YMCA’s Angel Child Care program, which serves local families, isn’t going anywhere. “They will take over the contract with the YMCA to continue the infant and toddler childcare,” Pastor Libby Themis explained. She added that the church plans to “continue our ministry, to partner with them in ministry and to hopefully continue to build partners in the community.”
Bishop David Wilson of the Great Plains Conference sees strong potential in this collaboration, pointing to benefits for both institutions through their United Methodist connection. Looking ahead, the agreement includes a thoughtful provision – any future property sale proceeds would support campus ministry programs, ensuring the partnership’s spiritual impact endures.
The university and church will mark this historic moment with a joint worship service at Church of the Cross this Sunday at 10:30 a.m., where they’ll sign the official agreement.
–Dwight Widaman | Metr0 Voice
