The Abundant Table (501c3) started as a campus ministry of the Episcopal Church at California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI) in 2004 to support staff, students and faculty, particularly in areas of spirituality and social change.
Where We Have Been:
In 2001, before CSUCI opened its doors, the people of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church were committed to developing a campus ministry at CSUCI. The Rev. Julie Morris, serving as the assistant rector at St. Columba’s, contacted Pastor John Soyster at Mt. Cross Lutheran, and the two of them, in consultation with Dr. George Morten of the CSUCI administration, began the process of organizing Campus Interfaith which would serve as an umbrella organization for religious groups of all faiths and denominations who wanted to be of support to the CSUCI Community.
The Episcopal/Lutheran Campus Ministry began functioning in 2003 with small group gatherings. A weekly Sunday worship service began in January 2006 with Dr. Ted Lucas as the musician. These weekly worship services extended to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday services each year, being the first of their kind on the CSUCI campus.
In 2007, CSUCI Campus Ministry received a two-year grant from the National Episcopal Church, which allowed the ministry to hire a part-time associate chaplain. Sarah Nolan filled this position the summer of 2007, and works with the students, staff, faculty, and community members of CSUCI Campus Ministry to continue the vision set forth by St. Columba’s and the Rev. Julie Morris. Part of this work included the naming of the campus ministry to The Abundant Table, the addition of community meals after each service, and increased hours on the CSUCI campus during the week.
In 2009, in partnership with local DeBusschere Family Farms, the organization developed the Abundant Table Farm Project (ATFP), a one to two year internship for young adults to work on an organic farm (Join the Farm!), live in intentional community and engage in community justice building. ATFP seeks to change lives and systems by creating sustainable relationships to the land and local community.
