Iowa City Board Of The Wesley Found Ation Of Iowa City Iowa

WESLEY CENTER IS A SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS WITH DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND BACKGROUNDS. THE WESLEY CENTER INVITES STUDENTS TO BE, BELONG, BREATHE, AND BE NOURISHED-WITHOUT QUALIFICATION OR RESERVATION. WE DO THAT BEST AT THE TABLE, SHARING OUR STORIES AND FINDING CONNECTIONS, WHETHER OVER COFFEE, HOMEMADE MEALS, OR CHOCOLATE. WE LET OUR QUESTIONS LEAD US, EXPECTANT TO DISCOVER DIVINE POSSIBILITY IN OUR MIDST.

GENERAL PROGRAM: TUESDAY TABLE IS HELD WEEKLY ON TUESDAY EVENINGS DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THIS "PLACE AND TIME FOR NOURISHMENT, IN BODY AND SOUL" GATHERS AROUND A DOZEN STUDENTS EACH WEEK FOR A MEAL PROVIDED BY THE WESLEY CENTER AND CONVERSATION ABOUT SPIRITUALITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND LIVING AN ENGAGED LIFE THAT MATTERS. TUESDAY TABLE ALSO OFFERS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEIR SPIRITUALITY BY PRACTICING THE PRAYER OF EXAMEN TOGETHER, AND TALKING ABOUT VARIOUS SPIRITUAL PRACTICES AND WAYS OF PRAYING, MEDITATING, AND CONNECTING WITH THE DIVINE. (NOT YOUR TYPICAL BIBLE STUDY IS A WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY WHERE WE TAKE THE BIBLE FAR TOO SERIOUSLY TO TAKE IT LITERALLY, AND WRESTLE TOGETHER WITH THE TEXTS AND OUR CONTEXTS. EVERY WEEK, STUDENTS GATHER IN OUR COFFEE HOUSE SPACE, TOGETHER WITH NON-STUDENTS SUCH AS FACULTY, PASTORS, AND WESLEY BOARD MEMBERS, TO READ AND REFLECT ON READINGS FROM THE BIBLE. THIS STUDY DRAWS ON THE REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY FOR SCRIPTURE READINGS AND OFTEN INCORPORATES POETRY TO EXPAND AND FRAME THE CONVERSATION. WEEKLY ATTENDANCE RANGES FROM 3-7 PEOPLE. OUR CHAPLAIN PROVIDES ONE-TO-ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH STUDENTS. WE RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COUNSELING SERVICE AS WELL AS OFFERING COUNSELING TO STUDENTS' ACTIVE IN OTHER WESLEY CENTER PROGRAMS AND WALK-INS. THEY MEET IN THE CHAPLAIN'S OFFICE, COFFEE SHOPS, OR OTHER SPACES AS APPROPRIATE TO THE TOPIC CONVERSATION. COUNSELING IS GENERALLY SHORT TERM (ONE TO THREE SESSIONS) AND CAN COVER A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES IN THE STUDENT'S LIFE, SUCH AS: SPIRITUAL FORMATION, AND CONFRONTING AND HEALING FROM RELIGIOUS TRAUMA; VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT; MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL; RELATIONSHIP STRUGGLES (DATING, FAMILY, ROOMATES, ETC.); NAVIGATING IDENTITY, ESPECIALLY GENDER DYSPHORIA AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION EXPLORATION; SEXUAL ASSAULT; EATING DISORDERS; DISERNMENT ABOUT ACADEMIC MAJORS, INTERNSHIPS, GRADUATE PROGRAMS, ETC.; SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE.