By Courtney Weekley
Bluffton alumna Chalsi Campbell will start as campus pastor in January 2022. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 2012 from Bluffton and then went on to receive her master’s degree in theology from Conrad Grebel University College, a Mennonite institution in Waterloo, Ontario. Since graduation, Campbell has been teaching fourth graders in an Islamic school in Dayton, Ohio.
Amy Marshall and Jackie Wyse-Rhodes were part of the campus pastor search
Amy Marshall, senior social work and psychology major, standing in front of Yoder Hall where Chapel is held photo by Courtney Weekly.
process. Marshall is a senior social work and psychology major and heavily involved member of the Campus Ministries team. Wyse-Rhodes is associate professor of religion and served as interim campus pastor in the 2020-21 academic year.
“When we were looking for a new pastor, we were looking to find someone who could relate to a wide variety of students and a wide variety of religious backgrounds,” said Wyse-Rhodes. “I think that the new campus pastor can definitely do that because she has been educated in Mennonite institutions so she will understand Bluffton’s Mennonite identity.”
Wyse-Rhodes also said Campbell’s background in a separate faith tradition combined
Dr. Jackie Wyse-Rhodes file photo
with that understanding of Mennonite identity will help her relate to Bluffton students.
Campbell was raised in a Catholic home, so becoming the new campus pastor will allow her to understand those students who were raised from outside the Mennonite tradition.
“Some of us on the ministry team talked about what we were looking for in a new campus pastor, and we wanted someone who could have a lot of energy and who wanted to see a lot of different ministries on campus,” said Marshall.
With BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) and Delight Ministries now on campus, the new campus pastor is expected to bring more vibrancy to these ministries as well as spark a new passion for Christ.
“We were looking for someone with a lot of energy,” said Wyse-Rhodes. “She will fill an important role on campus, bringing together students of differing backgrounds and making spiritual life on campus even more welcoming to a wider variety of students.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story had Chalsi Campbell’s name misspelled. The Witmarsum regrets the error.
