Campus Ministry was organized on the campus of York College in 1982 by the Queens Federation of Churches. The Federation itself is a network of local churches in Queens committed to what is called "ecumenical" ministry. The term ecumenical derives from the Greek word oikumene which refers to a "household." Essentially, it is an affirmation that the inhabited world – God's Creation – is God's household. This leads inexorably to the affirmation that all people dwelling in God's single household are members of one family.

To affirm programs of multi-culturalism is but one current means of affirming the unity in diversity within the household. Other expressions of ecumenical concern include justice as the means of true peace among the peoples of the world; wholeness of the individual as against false bifurcations of secular/sacred, personal/public, home/job; and integrity in the role of civic leadership as community servanthood.

The Ministry strives both to uncover and to build links between students, faculty, administrators and staff and the wider community so that both knowledge and service may increase.

To fulfill this mission, Campus Ministry currently offers these programs:

• Pastoral Counseling, offered by our campus ministers, helps students and faculty explore personally some of the spiritual questions in their lives. The focus is always on the integration of the whole person. This leads to addressing issues of ethics and morality in life and relationship.

• Seminars and Conferences are offered for the purpose of focusing attention and thought to the intersection of the various dynamics of life – education, career, family – with the goal of providing clear values by way of helping individuals to organize their roles for leadership and service in a just society.

• College Celebrations provide the opportunity to affirm the importance of relationships among all of God's children, the wholeness of humanity and the integrity of Creation. The Chaplain is called on by the College to participate in a variety of public programs involving students, faculty and the community.

Campus Ministry stands willing to cooperate in the development of curriculum which includes the explicit teaching of ethics and values as the manifestation of integrity in decision-making in business and professional life. Campus Ministry also offers the resources of the religious community to help develop studies in comparative religion as a means of understanding the religious dynamics which undergird culture and drive society.