A history of being in ministry to students.
Clemson United Methodist Church
Clemson Wesley and Clemson United Methodist Church have a long history of being in ministry to students in the Clemson area. Today, the two entities operate under a Covenant Agreement to provide ministry to the many college students and other young adults living in the area.
As part of this Covenant, the Director of Clemson Wesley also serves on the staff of Clemson UMC as an Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry. Most of the Director’s local church duties are limited to occasional preaching or assisting with Clemson UMC’s two morning worship services and serving as a pastor to the 750 or more students who will worship at the church during an academic year. Financially, approximately one-third of Clemson Wesley’s budget each year is underwritten by Clemson UMC.
In 2005, Clemson UMC moved to its current location at 300 Frontage Road, the site of the old Morrison Elementary School. Prior to that date, the church had always been located next to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Clemson, across from historic Riggs Field. When the old Clemson Methodist Church burned in the 1960s, a student center was built on the adjacent property. Today, Clemson Wesley continues to operate its main office and hold small group and other social gatherings in the Clemson Wesley Student Center, located at 105 Addison Lane off College Avenue.
Since 2001, Clemson Wesley and Clemson UMC have co-sponsored Evensong, the primary weekly gathering for the Clemson Wesley community on Sunday nights. For many years Evensong was held in the basement of the Student Center, a small space that can accommodate 25-30 people comfortably. In the fall of 2001, Evensong was moved to Clemson UMC’s fellowship hall where it grew in attendance over the next few years. Today, Clemson Wesley continues to hold its Evensong gathering at Clemson UMC’s new location a mile from the heart of Clemson University’s campus. In recent years Evensong attendance has grown to an average of 100 persons each week.
In 2012 Clemson Wesley launched a new large group gathering on Wednesday nights called Eventide. Eventide takes place on Clemson’s campus in the Hendrix Student Center. Eventide is a relaxed time of praise and worship followed by a study and discussion of scripture.
Clemson United Methodist Church offers multiple worship services on Sunday mornings. The traditional services happen at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of Clemson UMC. The modern worship service, The Vine, starts at 10:30 AM in the Christian Life Center at Clemson UMC. The Vine offers weekly communion and modern worship music through a praise band.
During a typical academic year, more than 1,000 different students will make a connection with CW and/or CUMC through their combined efforts. Many students regularly worship and participate in the ministries of CUMC and CW, while others are only active on Sunday mornings or on Sunday evenings. While two to three dozen students each year will make the decision to join CUMC as full or affiliate/associate members, many others become active in the life of the local church by serving in the nursery, assisting with children’s choirs, working with the youth group, visiting elderly members, or by participating in one of the many choirs. College students continue to be the “heart and soul” of CUMC, and they often comprise 25 – 33% of the worshiping congregation on many Sundays during the academic year.
Learn more about Clemson United Methodist Church at their website, www.clemsonumc.org.
As part of this Covenant, the Director of Clemson Wesley also serves on the staff of Clemson UMC as an Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry. Most of the Director’s local church duties are limited to occasional preaching or assisting with Clemson UMC’s two morning worship services and serving as a pastor to the 750 or more students who will worship at the church during an academic year. Financially, approximately one-third of Clemson Wesley’s budget each year is underwritten by Clemson UMC.
In 2005, Clemson UMC moved to its current location at 300 Frontage Road, the site of the old Morrison Elementary School. Prior to that date, the church had always been located next to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Clemson, across from historic Riggs Field. When the old Clemson Methodist Church burned in the 1960s, a student center was built on the adjacent property. Today, Clemson Wesley continues to operate its main office and hold small group and other social gatherings in the Clemson Wesley Student Center, located at 105 Addison Lane off College Avenue.
Since 2001, Clemson Wesley and Clemson UMC have co-sponsored Evensong, the primary weekly gathering for the Clemson Wesley community on Sunday nights. For many years Evensong was held in the basement of the Student Center, a small space that can accommodate 25-30 people comfortably. In the fall of 2001, Evensong was moved to Clemson UMC’s fellowship hall where it grew in attendance over the next few years. Today, Clemson Wesley continues to hold its Evensong gathering at Clemson UMC’s new location a mile from the heart of Clemson University’s campus. In recent years Evensong attendance has grown to an average of 100 persons each week.
In 2012 Clemson Wesley launched a new large group gathering on Wednesday nights called Eventide. Eventide takes place on Clemson’s campus in the Hendrix Student Center. Eventide is a relaxed time of praise and worship followed by a study and discussion of scripture.
Clemson United Methodist Church offers multiple worship services on Sunday mornings. The traditional services happen at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of Clemson UMC. The modern worship service, The Vine, starts at 10:30 AM in the Christian Life Center at Clemson UMC. The Vine offers weekly communion and modern worship music through a praise band.
During a typical academic year, more than 1,000 different students will make a connection with CW and/or CUMC through their combined efforts. Many students regularly worship and participate in the ministries of CUMC and CW, while others are only active on Sunday mornings or on Sunday evenings. While two to three dozen students each year will make the decision to join CUMC as full or affiliate/associate members, many others become active in the life of the local church by serving in the nursery, assisting with children’s choirs, working with the youth group, visiting elderly members, or by participating in one of the many choirs. College students continue to be the “heart and soul” of CUMC, and they often comprise 25 – 33% of the worshiping congregation on many Sundays during the academic year.
Learn more about Clemson United Methodist Church at their website, www.clemsonumc.org.