Peer Ministry
Our three peer ministers work with Mother Linda to organize programs and services, and to assist fellow students. They are:
Emily Houlik-Ritchey
Emily Houlik-Ritchey is a graduate student member of the Peer Ministry team. She is pursuing her PhD in English Literature and has embarked upon a dissertation that explores the representation of Christians and Muslims in late medieval English and Spanish romances. This close study of the perception different religious groups have both of each other and of their encounters in medieval literature carries great resonance in our own day of multicultural/interfaith conflict and cooperation. The imperative of accepting people for who they are rather than who we would have them be thus remains one of the most important elements of our Episcopal faith and religious practice, as does the recognition of how difficult a road this can be and how often we all stumble upon it (individually and as a community).
Emily grew up with the Episcopal liturgy, which she loves—it is the familiarity, habit, and repetition of worshiping this liturgy in community that makes it holy, in her view. She believes that food and fellowship are just as rewarding and important to our faith as formal worship, and you can regularly find Emily at Canterbury’s Thursday evening service and dinner. She is the person to talk to if you are interested in participating on Thursdays, whether you want to join the rota to lead Evening Prayer, or to provide dinner for the group. The more we join in sharing these tasks and ministries for each other, the stronger our ministries in the world shall become.
Yasuhiko Harada
Yasuhiko Harada is originally from Nara, Japan, where he was baptized in the Holiness-Nazareth Church; in the U.S., this church would be close in theology to the Free Methodist Church or Church of God. He came to the U.S. in August 2001 to study at Michigan State University, where he earned a master’s of music in vocal performance. While at MSU, he was an active member of the University Reformed Church (RCA), and lead a worship team, bible study, and prayer group. In 2005, Yasuhiko joined the Celebrant Singers, a Christian music mission group that gave concerts and provided musical assistance in church services. As a member of this group, he spent three months traveling and singing in Catholic and protestant churches in Costa Rica and in southern states in the U.S.
In summer 2005, Yasuhiko came to Indiana University to pursue a Doctor of Music in voice in the Early Music Institute of the Jacobs School of Music. He joined the Canterbury Fellowship and became highly involved in the peer ministry program. Yasuhiko coordinates the Sunday brunches, serves at the Thursday service, represents ECM at inter-faith gatherings, and plays the organ at our monthly services at Beck Chapel. He also initiated and maintains the Canterbury Face Book page. Yasuhiko has become one of the most beloved cooks in the history of the Canterbury Fellowship, for which he regularly cooks several Thursday evening dinners each semester.
In addition to his doctoral work and ministry with the Canterbury Fellowship, Yasuhiko is a Grad Residence Assistant+ at Eigenmann Hall, a residence hall primarily for international students. He coordinates programming, supervises undergrad RAs, and tends to newly arriving international students. Yasuhiko is a well known volunteer on the IU campus. One of his favorite volunteer activities is with the International Coffee Hour and noon time concert series at the IU International House. He especially loves doing this because it gives him an opportunity to learn about the cultures of other countries and make friends.
In 2008, Yasuhiko was confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church. Now, he is keeping to one of the traditions of the peer ministry program of IU-ECM — he is in the discernment process and hopes to go to seminary to become an Episcopal priest. Yasuhiko asks that people pray for him, this process, and God’s guidance.
Jessie Gutgsell
Jessie Gutgsell is a cradle Episcopalian from the hills of Central Kentucky. She is in her third year of Undergraduate work at Indiana University, majoring in Harp Performance and Religious Studies. Jessie began attending Canterbury Fellowship-Episcopal Campus Ministry events the weekend before her first year began. In her second year she began her service as a Peer Minister for the Fellowship. As a Peer Minister Jessie focuses on two main areas: undergraduate involvement and Interfaith Taize Services. Undergraduate involvement work includes planning social events and also more structured programs such as a panel discussion on sexuality and religion that she helped lead in the 2008-09 school year. The Interfaith Taize Services occur every month and include worshipers from the Muslim, Jewish, Lutheran, Catholic, Buddhist, Baha’i, and other faith communities. Jessie coordinates the services and leads them with a folk harp.
In the fall of 2009 Jessie began the Discernment Process for Ordination to the Episcopal Priesthood. This includes regular meetings with a Discernment Committee, a shadowing assignment in a near-by parish, and lots of reflection through prayer, journaling and conversation. Jessie hopes to begin Seminary in the fall of 2011.
Beyond Episcopal Campus Ministry, Jessie also works as an Advocate for Community Engagement (ACE) with My Sister’s Closet of Bloomington. In this position Jessie coordinates Indiana University Service-learning classes to work with local non-profits in Bloomington.
In her free-time Jessie loves to hike, write in her journal, read, be with her amazing family, exercise, meditate, do yoga and cook. Her favorite hymns are #662 (Abide with Me) and #314 (Humbly I adore thee).