By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief
Whenever change is mentioned, people’s ears perk up and their muscles tense in preparation to jump up and resist.
Naturally, people would be concerned when change is mentioned for an 87-year tradition in the Churches of Christ.
But as students and guests discuss Sunday night’s announcement to move Bible Lectureship from February to September, they should consider the advantages the change will bring to the event and the university.
As it stands now, Lectureship comes on the heels of Sing Song, a time when many students only care about the next time they will see their beds. This, in no way, inspires student involvement.
Lectureship should not be about several thousand visitors taking over campus while an uninterested student population watches from the sidelines. It should be about several thousand Christians coming together in community with the several thousand Christians already living on campus.
A move to September-a time when students are not yet worn down by activities and the school year-could encourage more students to be involved.
Lectureship has had the same feel to it for a long time. Dr. Mark Love, director of Ministry Events, even admitted it feels mostly like a “talking-head event” right now. He said he would like to see it become more participatory.
A change in the date should help signal a change within Lectureship itself, and it will allow Love and the organizers to put a new stamp on the event should they choose.
Transitioning to the new Lectureship date will not be easy for any staff that helps organize the event.
Love and his staff will have the difficult task of planning two Lectureships within seven months during the first year. The offices of University Events and Creative Services will have Lectureship, then turn around a month later with Homecoming.
Next year won’t be easy. People still might struggle to transition in 2007. But give it three years, and Lectureship will be entrenched in its new time, and all involved will hardly recall what it was like to do anything different.
Love said he has dreams about Lectureship-about what it can become. If achieved, those dreams will be good for Lectureship and how it operates with the university. The move to September will help facilitate that change.
