NCWC News: Methodist Minister Named Campus Chaplain

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February 26, 2003

Methodist Minister Named Campus Chaplain

Rocky Mount, N.C.—Barry Drum, an ordained elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, has been named chaplain at Wesleyan, filling a vacancy of several years. Drum has nearly 20 years of experience in various types of pastoral ministry and has taught at the college level for five years.

He already has resurrected weekly chapel services on Wednesdays at noon and maintains office hours for counseling.

President Ian Newbould said, "I am delighted that through the generosity of a devoted trustee, reinstatement of the chaplaincy became possible. I am grateful to Bishop Marion Edwards’ support for this initiative, which I expect will become full-time in the near future. Barry has had an immediate impact here on campus, due in no small part to his role as adjunct faculty member during the past few years."

Drum wants to enhance the overall spiritual climate on campus through worship, teaching, counseling, and sponsoring special events, he said. "I hope to involve as many students, faculty, staff, and administrative officers as possible, along with speakers and musicians from area churches.

"I have a passion for multicultural ministry, and Wesleyan is an ideal situation for me. We already had several excellent campus ministries when I began in January, and one of my tasks is to serve as a resource person for all of them."

Drum also will work to strengthen Wesleyan’s ties with The United Methodist Church and all Rocky Mount area churches.

The Catawba County, North Carolina, native earned a B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, a B.S. degree from Emmanuel College, a master of divinity degree from Duke University, and is a doctoral student at North Carolina State University. He and his wife, the former Karen Jones of Raleigh, have a son, Kenan, age 10.

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