Resurrection Liberty

Announced in April 2024, William Jewell College is the home of Resurrection Liberty, a United Methodist Church. The church will lease space on Jewell’s campus to continue the growth of its congregation and will begin holding Sunday morning services in Gano Chapel in December 2024.

While Jewell is not affiliated with the United Methodist Church or any denomination, Resurrection Liberty joins a growing list of area congregational partners with Jewell’s ecumenical campus ministry, the Center for Faith and Culture. Those partners include Second Baptist Church of Liberty, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Village Presbyterian Church, Country Club Christian Church and Community Christian Church.

“Resurrection Liberty is a welcomed partner for the budding work of the Center for Faith and Culture and the Christian Fellows Program,” said Rev. Dr. Craig MacLeod Walls, founding director of the Center for Faith and Culture. “This collaboration is another example of how Jewell is engaging with organizations in Kansas City to further our mission and support our core value of spiritual exploration.” He adds that the partnership will bring new opportunities for the community as well as Jewell students in the form of internships, mission trips, education, worship, music and church leadership for Jewell’s Christian Fellows Program.

Since its founding, William Jewell College has rooted itself in the Christian tradition. The General Association (forerunner of the Missouri Baptist Convention) approved a proposal, and the Missouri Legislature granted a charter to found the College in 1849. Jewell’s relationship with the Missouri Baptist Convention continued through 2003, when the association ended over the College’s inclusive support for all students. Jewell’s faith tradition continues to this day with various Christian ecumenical church partners and a 175-year historical connection with American Baptist churches.

Today, this ecumenical Christian tradition is primarily expressed through the work of the Jewell Center for Faith and Culture and the ministry of the Office of the Chaplain, Rev. Melissa Bryson Dowling, a 2006 Jewell alumna and ordained Baptist minister. Spiritual exploration is a core value of William Jewell College, is rooted in the interdisciplinary approach and serves students of all faiths and those with no faith at all. Currently, the Center for Faith and Culture teaches Educational Flourishing classes in partner congregations and is always looking to add church partners to its network.

Read frequently asked questions about this partnership and Jewell’s faith history.

Read more about Resurrection and to indicate interest in learning more about Liberty’s plans for the new location at resurrection.church/about.