Policies of Operation
The Wesley Center is to be a small covenant group of university students (four to six individuals) and a Director in residence at the Wesley Living Learning Center located at the Fairview United Methodist Church in the Near West Side of Bloomington, Indiana.
The Wesley Center is to be a safe and affordable place where a diverse gathering of university students will be welcomed. All students, from the diversity of their interests, cultural, religious, social, economic and national origins and traditions are invited to become residents and/or to participate in the Wesley Center programs and activities.
The Wesley Center especially seeks to support those students with modest financial resources.
The Wesley Center will be a place where students are encouraged to grow in their faith understandings. Questions are intentionally fostered and each student’s personal faith will be honored.
The Wesley Center is envisioned as an enclave for exploring future vocational direction.
The Wesley Center also will be a place where other non-resident university students are invited to participate in the activities of fellowship, prayer, study and service in the neighborhood, city and beyond.
The Wesley Center, as one expression of “a new paradigm” for student ministries, affirms the different ministries of the several congregations and the officially recognized student religious organizations that actively serve the students of Indiana University and Ivey Tech.
The Wesley Center will seek to join these several efforts and, through collaboration, will seek to develop cooperative programs for ecumenical and interfaith witness, ministry, outreach, and service such that all congregations and student organizations can be enhanced and strengthened.
The Wesley Center will practice sound financial operations based upon the established procedures of stewardship, transparency and accountability as outlined by the National Council of Nonprofits.
The Center will publish and file reports annually, or more frequently upon request, that will be available to all donors, constituents and investors as well as file all necessary reports, in a timely manner, with appropriate ecclesiastical judicatories and governmental agencies.
The Center will follow the employment guidelines of the National Council of Nonprofits. All compensated and non-compensated staff and residential students who participate in the Wesley Center will be required to have personal background checks and participate in the United Methodist “Safe Sanctuaries” Training.
The Wesley Center as a ministry of the United Methodist Church and affiliated with Fairview United Methodist Church upholds the United Methodist Book of Discipline (2016) regarding administrative and financial policies and guidelines as well as the historic theological and doctrinal statements as a rule for faith and conduct.