Posted on 10/05/2005 2:32:40 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
A faith-based campus coffeehouse is struggling to survive now that its 50 or so volunteer workers are boycotting it.
Catacombs Coffeehouse, 731 State St., lost most of its kitchen help and customer base over a dispute between the board of directors and the students who provided the free labor and positive word of mouth.
Former volunteer Charlie Hoyt said board members are pushing a hard-core Christian theology that is at odds with the coffeehouse's reputation for religious tolerance and open- minded discussions.
"It's not welcoming," said Hoyt, who is Jewish. "I think people are really scared about being proselytized while they have a cup of coffee."
Board treasurer Vern Visick said the board in no way is trying to dampen religious diversity. However, he said board members think the coffeehouse could use a course correction after drifting from its goal of encouraging people to adopt the Christian faith.
"This is a church project," said Visick, a Methodist minister. "Its survival depends on support from local churches, and those churches need to feel it is part of a ministry."
Visick said he hopes the volunteers return but that the board also wants to attract a broader base of supporters than the tight-knit group that had been running the place.
"It became kind of cliquish," he said.
The coffeehouse was founded in 1993 by Madison Campus Ministry. Ownership has since shifted to an independent, nonprofit offshoot of the ministry that goes by the same name as the coffeehouse. The nonprofit group's mission statement says its goal is to "reveal Jesus Christ through building relationships and encouraging creativity and responsibility for the world."
The coffeehouse rents space on the UW-Madison campus in the basement of Pres House, a ministry of the Presbyterian Church. In the past few years, the coffeehouse had become known as a vibrant place to hear bands, talk politics, view art exhibits and grab $3 lunches. It serves only locally roasted, fair-trade coffee and tries to buy its food from nearby organic farmers.
Things soured this summer when the board hired someone from outside the organization to manage the kitchen instead of Jonny Hunter, a longtime, popular volunteer who had most recently balanced the coffeehouse's books, assisted in the kitchen and booked bands as one of three paid employees.
Hunter, 26, said he was told by two board members that he wasn't religious enough to be kitchen manager. Hunter said he considers himself spiritual but is not a member of a local church.
Visick said that while the board wants its coffeehouse leaders to be members of local Christian churches, Hunter's lack of church affiliation was not the sole reason he didn't get the position.
The handling of the kitchen manager position was just one example of board members not respecting the work and opinions of volunteers, said Veronica Bayetti, a former volunteer.
"After years of cleaning the bathrooms and mopping the floors, you'd think we'd be consulted about the new direction of the place," she said.
Many volunteers were spooked by a strategic plan updated earlier this year by the board. It stresses that all aspects of the operation should adhere to the belief that the Bible is "God's inspired and authoritative word." Team leaders are to pray for and with volunteers, and kitchen volunteers should be able to answer questions about the ministry.
"In trying to make it a more Christian space, they've alienated anyone who isn't Christian," said Bayetti, who said she does not attend a church.
The board wants the coffeehouse to be a welcoming place for everyone, but it can't shy from its Christian mission, president Bobbette Rose said. There is nothing particularly new about the strategic plan, although it does promote "a greater degree of permeation" of the coffeehouse's ultimate mission, she said. She'd grown concerned that some students didn't know they were volunteering with a Christian endeavor.
"We want to be a place that honors a full discussion, not a place where only one thing can be said," Rose said. "But we did sometimes wonder if there was anyone at the table who could bring up the Christian perspective."
The board wants people at the leadership level who understand Jesus and can express his teachings, Rose said.
"That's been distorted to mean that only Christians can be volunteers," she said.
Only a few new volunteers have replaced the old ones, who used to donate about 200 hours a week. The coffeehouse has closed at times due to a lack of workers.
Meals aren't being served right now, so the lunchtime crowd of 100 or so was down to fewer than a dozen Tuesday. The walls are bare of artwork and no concerts have been held yet this fall.
Rose is optimistic that business will pick up. However, the value of the Lord's work cannot be based on numbers, she said.
"We're going to greet anyone who comes in the door, whether it's a handful or a bustling crowd."
I agree with you.
And just what did you expect, going into a coffee house established by Christians for the express purpose of spreading Chrisitianity? You can't go to the Starbucks just across the street or any of the dozen or more coffee shops within walking distance? Who's forcing what on whom, genius boy? Maybe if you were as "intelligent" and "tolerant" as you claim to be, this wouldn't be a problem.
Advise to my daughter:
1) Never date a man who goes antique shopping with this mother.
2) Stay away from a man whose looking for a girlfriend who's "open minded". Chances are you're not that open minded.
My first thought too.
Ironically Starbucks has been pushing the homosexual agenda lately with some quotes on the sides of coffee cups.
Independent coffee shops are also prone to having agitprop periodicals available for "free".
All depends on who is doing the proselytizing I guess. Christians, bad. Liberals, homosexuals, etc. good.
The left can be quite preachy.
That's because you guys are my "Therapists," LOL! I'm 10 miles south of there, though I'm still stuck in a Blue county, overall. Aside from a few blue WI counties up close to the Twin Cities in MN, as well as Dane County and Milwaukee County being Blue, the rest of the state is nice and RED and pretty darn normal. :)
Yeah, a local shop I visited in Knoxville was THE hangout spot for teens. Live mostly Christian bands with some secular but positive acts, coffee, poetry, and all the usual cafe stuff.
No problems keeping the place Christian-oriented. I went to a concert with my little cousin and was shocked to see close to 200 people there. No other place really catered to teens like it did.
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