Wesley Moves Ahead With Plans to Expand and Renew Ministry at UNC

DATE:                    February 1, 2012

CONTACT:           James Kocher and Brett Piper, Co-Chairs, Board of Directors

Wesley Campus Ministry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

214 Pittsboro Street

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

919.942.2152

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                The Board of Directors of the Wesley Foundation has taken the next step to expand and renew its campus ministry for the fourth time in the 70+ year history of its campus ministry at UNC-CH.   The board announced that it will sell the existing property and building at 214 Pittsboro Street and move to a new yet-to-be identified location that will enable the ministry to significantly increase its programs, staff, and service to the campus and community.

                Wesley at UNC is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is nationally affiliated with The United Methodist Church and began in Chapel Hill as a campus ministry to students in the basement of University United Methodist Church in the 1940s.   In the late 1950s it grew and moved into a house in the Cameron-McCauley Historic District and in 1965 Wesley constructed and moved into its current facility at 214 Pittsboro Street.   For several years now the board has gone through multiple Concept Plan Reviews with the Town of Chapel Hill to explore expansion and rebuilding possibilities at the 214 Pittsboro Street site, in addition to several other locations near campus in the downtown area.   Current zoning of the 214 Pittsboro Street property does not adequately accommodate plans for expanding the ministry at that site and Chapel Hill Town Council has indicated that rezoning the property is not possible.   Therefore, the board has decided to sell the 214 Pittsboro Street property and building and seek a more appropriate site where Wesley can expand and renew, as it has successfully done several times previously in its history.

                The current campus ministry program is flourishing under the leadership of Campus Minister Reverend Amanda Dean supported by two Duke Divinity School interns, a Wesley House resident intern, a Director of Development, and an Administrative Associate.   Each week students participate in spontaneous  informal gatherings as well as various organized activities including worship, student-led programs, Bible study, other study and discernment groups, retreats, mission trips, and campus and community service.   Ten UNC undergraduate students are in residence each semester in Wesley House, a covenant living community.

                Wesley is supported by prayers, presence, donations, and service from the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church and by Wesley students, alumni, parents and friends, and by many local church congregations.   Please contact the UNC Wesley Foundation at 919.942.2152 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to learn more about Wesley and to support current programs and expansion and renewal plans for this important campus ministry.