Our Fall Banquet: For Such a Time

Our virtual fall banquet on Thursday, Nov. 19 was a joyful occasion to celebrate the Lord’s work here at UNC through the Study Center this past year. Along with board members, community supporters, and UNC students we were able to tell the story of the North Carolina Study Center’s past, present, and look forward to its future.

We were thrilled to announce the public phase of our capital campaign that includes a thorough renovation of the cherished Battle House, growing the space for future generations of students and faculty at UNC.

Please watch and enjoy it with us!

Politics and the Common Life: A Conversation about Faithful Political Engagement

On Oct. 7, we partnered with other Study Centers and the AEI Initiative on Faith and Public Life to ask, "Is it possible to love one’s neighbors through political action and advocacy? Can we cultivate a common life across lines of partisan affiliation?"

In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, we’re seeking to cultivate a fruitful dialogue about the nature and possibility of Christian faithfulness in public life and politics. A conversation like that begins with a basic understanding that people of faith need not — and, indeed should not — strive to separate Christian life from political engagement. But how we engage matters. Christians are called to love neighbors and enemies in all spheres of life. During this event, we explored a realistic but hopeful vision of Christian discipleship and witness in the midst of our fragmented and polarized political culture.

This event was sponsored by: Anselm House, AEI Initiative on Faith and Public Life, The Center for Christian Study at UVA, Upper House, and the North Carolina Study Center.

National Book Launch for 'Reading While Black' by New Testament Scholar Dr. Esau McCaulley

During this live webcast on Wednesday, Sept. 23, New Testament scholar Dr. Esau McCaulley shared about the inspiration for his newly released book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, the timeliness of its release, and his hopes for its impact on readers. In the book, Dr. McCaulley expresses that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition can help us connect with a rich faith history and address the urgent issues of our times. Demonstrating an ongoing conversation between the collective Black experience and the Bible, Dr. McCaulley shares a personal and scholarly testament to the power and hope of Black biblical interpretation.

Purchase a copy of Dr. McCaulley's book: www.ivpress.com/reading-while-black

Learn more about this event: www.ncstudycenter.org/rwblaunch

Robert P. George and Cornel West in Conversation

On Sept. 10, in partnership with the UNC Program for Public Discourse, we hosted a discussion between Drs. George and West on fostering dialogue and friendships across the political aisle. The event was moderated by Thomas Chatterton Williams, with an introduction from Dr. Terry Rhodes, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and we’re thrilled to be able to share the recording now here!

Dr. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. He is also frequently a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.

Dr. West is Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He has also taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. Thomas Chatterton Williams is the author of ‘Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race and Losing My Cool’ and a contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, the London Review of Books, and many other places. He is a 2019 New America Fellow and the recipient of a Berlin Prize.

Study Center Community Serves Students in Quarantine & Isolation

After last week, numerous community members expressed concern for the students impacted by COVID-19. They generously offered to fund meals and/or care packages for those in quarantine and isolation. 🤍

Thank you to everyone making it possible for us to demonstrate the love of Christ together in this way to students at UNC. We are eager to serve and humbled by your support. 🤍

Interested in funding a meal for a student in quarantine or isolation? Learn more here.

Are you a student in quarantine or isolation in Chapel Hill? Submit a meal request here! Let our staff drop off food for you or send you a meal.🍴

John, Sanha, and Parker ('24)

Kristina ('22)

Adam, Jakob, and William ('21)

Fall Welcome Week Schedule + Carolina Way Casual

August 3-9: Welcome Week on the Study Center lawn
11am - 3pm, daily

Please let us know when you plan to stop by!

On the day of your move-in, we invite you and your family to come visit us under the 40’ x 60’ tent on the two-acre Study Center front lawn! We’ll have spaced-out picnic tables set up, refreshments, and several staff members and student leaders present to greet you between 11am and 3pm.

When not in the midst of a COVID-pandemic, the Study Center is a revolving door of students constantly buzzing with life, conversations, and various activities. We are a "home away from home" for you while you're at UNC, a community hub that encourages you to grow and connect with God and one another. We’re a short five-minute walk from the Pit. Over 100 students stop by throughout the average day for all kinds of reasons: the best coffee (or tea) in town, comfortable places to study, a place to meet with friends on the front porch rocking chairs, or to play with the house dog, Barrie, on the lawn. 

While this fall will be scaled-down as we follow UNC’s COVID-guidelines, the Study Center ethos will be the same. We’ll continue to offer a wide-range of optional Christian educational programs and public events designed to help you grow as a spiritually integrated, holistic person and student during your four years at UNC.

August 11: Regular hospitality hours begin at the Study Center
9am - 5pm, daily

Beginning on FDOC (the first day of class), our tent and lawn will be open daily (Monday – Friday) from 9am - 5pm.  Come visit us anytime for any reason! Refreshments will be available.  

Please also enjoy this short video from Amber Younger (Director of Hospitality & Operations) on what daily hospitality will look like this semester.

August 15: Carolina Way Camp Casual (CWC)
SIGN-UP HERE in < 30 seconds

Carolina Way Camp has been postponed due to COVID concerns and UNC policies.  Fortunately, Carolina Way Camp’s more chill cousin, Carolina Way *Casual* is a go!  We hope you all will join us on Saturday, August 15th for a full-day of speed-friending, orientation activities, hearing from campus leaders and campus ministers, connecting with upperclassmen, etc.  Meals are provided and there is no cost to register.

In order to confirm your spot, you need to tell us you’re joining on the sign-up form listed above. Please RSVP asap so that we can pair you with your cabin!

Anytime: Connect with our staff, or your CWC cabins and counselors

As you register for CWC, your Carolina Way Casual counselors will be eager to meet you! After registering, you’ll be placed in a cabin and your counselors will reach out to connect with you and to introduce you to your Class of 2024 cabinmates. 

Bonus: Learn about UNC campus ministries and local churches on this newly launched webpage.

COVID-19 Hospitality Update for Fall 2020

Please get in touch with our staff as you have questions, follow us on social media for other regular updates, and check back soon for more news!