History

1890-1899

1890 – State Land Grant College established
1891 – George Lilley, President (1891-1892)
1892 – State College opens – 29 students; 63 prep. Students: 5 faculty
1892 – John Heston, President (1892-93)
1893 – Enoc Bryan, President (1893-1915)
1894 – YMCA established (November)
1895 – YWCA established

1900-1909

1905 – College name changed to State College of Washington

1910-1919

1916 – Ernest Holland, President (1916-1944); enrollment reaches 2130
1919 – Cougar adopted as mascot

1920-1929

1922 ca. – Trinity Lutheran Campus Ministry established
1924 – Wesley Foundation established (April)
1924 – Enrollment reaches 3129

1930-1939

1936 – Enrollment reaches 4702
1938 – Campus based University Christian Mission Federal Council Student
Christian Movement (SCM)

1940-1949

1940 – Enrollment reaches 5114
1942 – Stan Rheiner, YMCA Director (1942 -1975)
1945 – Wilson Compton (wife Helen), President (1945-51)
1945 ca. – Cunningham, Wesley Staff-Methodist Campus Minister
1945 – Herb Schulze, Presbyterian Campus Minister (1945-55)
1945 – Westminister Foundation established
1946 – Inter-Varsity meets in Baptist Church
1946 ca. – Disciples join Presbyterian Church
1947 ca. – Quincy, Wesley Staff-Methodist Campus Minister
1948 – Wesley Building
1949 – Enrollment 7836

1950-1959

1951 – President Compton resigns
1951 – UCM
1952 – C. Clement French, President (1952-1966)
1953 – Roger Williams Foundation begins in response to Inter-Varsity
1954 – Myron Erickson, Baptist campus minister at Roger Williams House and Buchanman House
1956 – Wally Toevs, Presbyterian campus minister (1956-62)
1957 ca. – Karl Ufer, ALC campus minsiter
1957 ca. – Dean Holt, Canterbury Club-Episcopal campus minister
1957 ca. – George Mink, Wesley-Methodist campus minister
1957 ca. – Religious Directors Association (RDA); “Food For Thought” campus ministers develop close working relationship
1958 – Koinonia House puchased by the Presbyterian Synod from Alpha Chi Omega
1959 – Bill Goding, Baptist campus minister – Roger Williams Foundation
1959 – WSC becomes WSU

1960-1969

1960 ca. – Faith and Life Community later joined by Baptists (1960-69)
1960 – Serendipity House (girls)
1960 – Roger Williams House (boys)
1961 – Hal Hargraves, Canterbury Club-Episcopal campus minister
1962 – Arland Fowler, Presbyterian campus minister
1962 – Bill Goding leaves over church struggle
1962 – Migrant Ministry Program with YWCA – George Mink
1962 – Faculty Forums (published papers) – Hal Hargraves
1962 – Roots of the COMMON MINISTRY
George Mink (Methodist)
Bill Goding (Baptist)
Dean Holt (Episcopalian)
Wally Toevs (Presbyterian)
Hal Hargraves (Episcopalian)
Phil Engstrom (Lutheran)
1964 – Earl Gosa, half-time Baptist campus minister
1964 – Harley Hunt, Student Intern (64-65)
1965 – THE COMMON MINISTRY established
Staff Covenant (Jan. 7, 1965)
Articles of Incorporation (Fall, 1965)
1965 – Ted Edquest, UCC Pastor
1965 – Tony Phillips, Staff Theologian – “Help the University be the University”
1967 – Glenn Terrell, President (1967-1985)
1967 – Dave Leach, half-time Baptist campus minister
1967 – Bob McCrory, Student Intern
1968 ca. – Lloyd Peterson, AG, stops worship in CUB
1968 ca. – ‘SBLOOD’ published by The Common Ministry
1968 ca. -‘SBLOOD’ becomes ‘SCORN’
1968 ca. – Coffeehouse opens in basement
1968 ca. – Forerunner of Black Studies Program starts at K-house with YWCA
1968 – Fowler leaves, Mink leaves, Hargrave leaves – Staff is down to Phillips, Sandy Kreiss (Lutheran), and Leach
1968 ca. – CUB closed for remodeling for almost 2 years
1968 ca. – Free University begins
1969 – John Butler, Disciple, Director of The Common Ministry (1969-75)
1969 – Loren Rude, Lutheran campus ministry
1969 – Hildie Lewellen, Secretary (1969-70)
1969 – Anti-Vietnam War Protest and student unrest results in sit-in in Placement Bureau and French Adm. – 3 week student strike
1969 – K-House becomes strike headquarters
1969 – Exchange program with Doshisha Hawaii Ryo – Masaaki Takashi & John Robertson

1970-1976

1970 – Guns on campus, Black Activist movement, students with long hair and beards attacked
1970 – University offers Racism Workshop
1970 – Rogers Field burns
1970 – K-House programs: racial involvement, shepherding, religious studies
1970 – Reconciling ministry, rebuilding credibility
1970 – Jo Ellen Savage, secretary (1970-73)
1971 – King Rockhill, Meth. Campus minister
1971 – Hunger Program & Rural Church Project
1971 – Ed Turner, SDA campus minister (1971-73)
1971 – Doshisha exchange program – Kazuhiko Nagatomo
1971 – Gay Awareness, Black Students, ADA Mothers use K-House as their meeting place
1972 – Doshisha exchange – Takashi Nakamoto, Dean Reynolds, Dan Hunter
1973 – Living Faith Fellowship begins
1973 – Marva Sedore, Concordia Lutheran campus minister
1973 – Elaine Zinke, secretary (1973-75)
1973 – Doshisha exchange – Eiichi Iwaki and Myong Lee
1974 – King Rockhill leaves
1974 – Roger Pettenger, Lutheran campus minister (1974-1998)
1975 – Sue Lott, secretary (1975-76)
1975 – Rick Redman, UCC, Interm Director
1975 – Doshisha exchange – Moto Kabayashi and David Muller
1975 – Bob Luhring, Concordia Lutheran campus minister
1976 – Ann Russell, secretary (1976-77)
1976 – Jim Nielsen, Presbyterian, Director of The Common Ministry
1976 – Doshisha exchange – Hideo Inoue and Ron Kennedy

1977-1979

1977 – Marge Cameron, Office Manager (1977-81)
1977 – Bob Harvey, So. Baptist campus minister office at K-House
1977 – Programs: Life/Work Planning, Parenting, Marriage Preparation, Assertiveness Training, Men’s Issues, Crisis Line
1977 – Doshisha exchange – Hideo Ito
1978 – Crisis Line established and housed at K-House
1978 – Laurie Fox, Luth. Campus minster at U of I
1978 – Increased visibility of Fundamental religious groups
1978 – Doshisha exchange – Mikio Kido, Tim Arnold and Marc Modica
1979 – President Carter reactivates Draft Registration
1979 – Common Ministry organizes protest of Draft Registration and establishes Whitman County Draft Counseling Service
1979 – Father/Infant Program (1979-83)
1979 – Doshisha exchange – Marc Modica

1980-1981

1980 – Increased conflict between religious groups and homosexuals
1980 – Referendum passed to remove Gay People’s Alliance committee status, G.P.A. evicted from CUB office
1980 – Common Ministry provides strong advocacy for G.P.A.
1980 – Maranatha Ministry begins
1980 – Enrollment reaches 17,468
1980 – President Reagan begins CIA directed Contra War in Nicaragua
1980 – Mt. St. Helens erupts
1981 – G.P.A. office moves to K-house
1981 – Advocates for Peace in Central America organized
1981 – Leslie Petterson-Scott
1981 – Heather Douglass, Methodist US-2 minister to students
1981 – Common Ministry brings play DAMIEN to campus
1981 – Lee Meier, Office Manager (1981-1990)
1981 – Doug Bosscher, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship office in K-House

1981-1984

1981 – WSU declares financial exigency – fear and distrust high
1981 – Common Ministry brings together faculty leadership to explore ways of dealing with fear and distrust among the faculty
1982 – Common Ministry sponsors first all campus forum to address to fear and distrust on campus
1982 – Doshisha exchange – Stuart Forsyth
1983 – “Reverse Mission – Latin America Experience” in Cuernavaca (Aug.)
1983 – Community Forum on “Aryan Nations” (Fall)
1984 – Jim Watson, Meth minister to students (1984-1991)
1984 – Doug Ammon, SDA campus minister – established Studio 7
1984 – Jo Hughes, Coordinator for Hunger Task Force/Bread for the World
1984 ca. – Demonstrations against Contra War
1984 ca. – CUB Board “evicts” YWCA
1984 ca. – YWCA moves office to K-House

1985-1990

1985 – Sam Smith, President (1985-2000)
1985 – “Reverse Mission-Latin America Experience II to Nacaragua
1985 – Leslie Petterson-Scott and Jim Nielsen nominated for 1st Annual Palouse Prize
1985 – Beth Snyder, SDA – Studio 7 manager
1986 – Inter-Faith Dialogu group convenes
1986 – Becky Glaesner, SDA-Studio 7 manager (1986-88)
1986 – The Common Ministry nominated for 2nd Annual Palouse Peace Prize
1987 – Joseph Chen Ming-Hsien from Taiwan joins staff for Fall Semester as part of a campus minister exchange
1988 – Jim Nielsen travels to Asia as part of a campus minister exchange
1988 – Mark Thomlison, SDA-Studio 7 manager (1988-89)
1988 – WSU Faculty Stress Study
1988 – Common Ministry begins process to establish a conflict Resolution (Mediation) Center
1989 – Common Ministry begins process to establish a Service/Learning Center
1989 – Blodwyn Eckert, SDA-Studio 7 manager (1989-92)
1989 – Wanda Jo Johnson, YWCA director (1989-91)
1989 – Gail Stearns, Presbyterian – Campus minister for Spirituality and Women’s Concerns
1989 – 1st Annual progressive Dinner and Auction
1989 – Branch Campuses open

1990-1999

1990 – Tish Ryan, Office Manager/Minister to Those Living With AIDS
1990 – Gulf War
1990 – Whitman County Draft Counseling Service re-established; draft information seminars offered
1990 – Inter-Faith Dialogue provides seminars on Middle East
1990 – Establishment of the Herb and Ruth Schulze Campus Ministry Endowment Fund (Phyllis Thonney)
1990 – Participated in a joint venture with St. Thomas More in an Alternative Spring Break “Urban Plunge”
1991 – AIDS Awareness seminars and programs begun
1991 – Peer Minister Program established
1992 – Mark Randall, Methodist Campus Minister to Sutdent (1992-98)
1992 – Marie Eldridge, SDA – Studio 7 Manager
1994 – Common Ministry declares itself “Open and Affirming”
1994 – Controversy over the dismissal of Dallas Barnes; racism concerns voiced
1995 – Baptists threaten to withhold money because of seminar on “The Bible and Homosexuality”
1995 – Formal charges filed with the Presbytery against Jim Nielsen for officiating at same-sex union
1995 – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Association granted ASWSU committee status
1995 – GLBA moves office from K-House to CUB after 15 year exile
1995 – Total enrollment 19,596
1996 – First Mexico Mission Trip-Alternative Christmas Break
1996 – Peace Pole planted
1997 – Tish Ryan named WSU Woman of Distinction
1997 – Morris Dees brought to campus by Inter-Faith Dialogue group
1997 – Wilhelmina Sarai-Clark, Episcopal campus pastor
1997 – Barbara Aston, Office Manager (1997-98)
1998 – WSU’s first Rose Bowl appearance in 67 years
1998 – Riot on campus just before finals related to campus alcohol policies
1998 – Kathy Neary, United Methodist campus pastor
1998 – Doug Venn, Seventh-Day Adventist campus pastor
1998 – Julie Roberts, Office Manager
1998 – Roger Pettenger retires as Lutheran Campus Pastor
1998 – Janine Goodrich, Interim Lutheran Campus Pastor (1998 – 1999)
1999 – Jim Nielsen retires as Director of The Common Ministry
1999 – Gail Stearns, Presbyterian, Director of The Common Ministry
1999 – Randall Nicolai, Lutheran Campus Pastor

2000-2009

2000 – V. Lane Rawlins, President WSU
2000 – Russ Leonard, House Manager
2000 – Common Ministry participates in WSU Council on Campus Climate (2000-2001)
2000 – Debi Robinson Smith, YWCA Director (2000-2003)
2001 – Kelly Fields, House Manager
2001 – Common Ministry participates in WSU’s First Annual Diversity Kick-Off
2001 – Common Ministry representation on Pullman Human Rights Commission
2001 – 9/11 Common Ministry staff and students organize series of Interfaith gatherings
2001 – CM brings Dr. Mel White, co-founder of Soul Force, to campus (October 10)
2002 – Development Campaign begins – in honor of former Director Jim Nielsen
2001 – CM works with Honors College and other campus organizations to bring Parker Palmer to campus (March 6)
2003 – Tim Bartunek, House Manager
2003 – Kathy Neary moves to Seattle, Pastor of Green Lake UMC
2003 – Robert Hicks, United Methodist Campus Pastor
2003 – Common Ministry launches Koinonia House Campaign
2003 – Wilhelmina Sarai-Clark, Community Liaison
2003 – Betty Clark, YWCA Director (2003-2004)
2004 – Vegans becomes the Down and Out Cafe
2004 – CM brings Mark Potok of SPLC to campus in response to Christ Church proslavery stand (February 5)
2004 – Clare Niemi, House Manager
2004 – Emily Sly, YWCA Director
2004 – Randall Nicolai and Lutheran Campus Ministry moves to St. Thomas More Newman Center
2004 – Accessibility renovations to K-House begin in August
2004 – Director chairs one of three Faculty Senate task forces drafting an Academic Integrity Policy for WSU
2005 – Common Ministry and Interfaith Dialog sponsor talk by Imam Yahya Hendi of Georgetown University on Christian, Jewish and Muslim cooperation
2005 – Shari DeMaris, House Manager
2005 October – Common Ministry at WSU celebrates 40th anniversary
2006 September – Joan Opyr, YWCA Director
2008 Common Ministry recipient of WSU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Community Organization
2008 Zoe Underground Coffee Shop opens in basement
2008 Alissa Bertsch Johnson, United Methodist Executive Director & Campus Pastor, Wesley Foundation

2010-Present

2010 Koinonia House changes its name to Interfaith House
2011 Dr. Robert Snyder, Interim Director of the Common Ministry / Interfaith House
2012 CM continues ministry and building management without an acting director
2014 Presbyterian Synod of the NW sells Interfaith House building
2014 April 30, 2014 The Common Ministry moves office to 525 NE Campus Street
2014 Rev. Jessica Stokes, Director of the Common Ministry