To Cancel or Not to Cancel Your Collegiate Events?

A discussion that many college ministries are having is simply, "If the school cancels the rest of the semester or suspends for a period of time, should we do the same?".

Some say they will simply move off campus and continue to meet because many of their students will be around.  Others say they will cancel events, if the school suspends or cancels.  Which should you do?  I lean toward the idea of doing what the school does.  If the idea of cancelling or suspending is to reduce gatherings, then if a ministry continues to meet, is it endangering its students?

One argument some are making for continuing to hold events is that, one advisory that has been given is people should not be in gatherings larger than two hundred fifty (250) and the majority of college ministry large group events would fall into that smaller category.

Let's think both as a parent and on the legal side.  Obviously, we want and need parental trust in what we do.  Do parents perceive that we are not functioning for the benefit of their son or daughter, if we do other than what the school is doing?  Secondly, if the school cancels or suspends all events and our ministry continues to operate and a student gets sick, have we opened ourselves up to legal action that we acted irresponsibly?

I think there are tough calls to be made here and I do not make a recommendation.  But, I would simply say again that I lean toward the idea of doing what the school does.  As always on this difficult topic, I welcome your input and totally different viewpoints.  You can also check my previous blog posts concerning alternative ministry options.

You can send me information at arlissdickerson@gmail.com or 870.761.2235.  Or, please feel free to post at the bottom of this blog for any and all to see.


Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook or print at amazon.com (type in Arliss Dickerson).