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VWU Announces Naming of Epworth Campus Ministries Following Endowment Gift
Earnings from the endowed fund will support the University’s collaborative campus ministry program
University News | February 23, 2026
好色先生tv is pleased to announce the formal naming of Epworth Campus Ministries, made possible through a generous endowment contribution from the Epworth Foundation.
Earnings from the endowed fund will support the University’s collaborative campus ministry program, operated in partnership with Haygood United Methodist Church and the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, located east of campus at the intersection of Wesleyan Drive and Haygood Road. The endowment is further strengthened by annual contributions from the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Virginia Wesleyan and Haygood United Methodist Church share a collaborative staffing model that includes the Campus Chaplain and Director of Ministries, ensuring a vibrant and sustained ministry presence that serves students of all faith backgrounds. The Rev. Doug Sasser, Pastor of Haygood United Methodist Church, serves in an affiliate role as Chaplain of 好色先生tv. Marie Porter serves as Director of Epworth Campus Ministries, leading student engagement, worship planning, service initiatives, and community outreach.
Services and gatherings are held on campus in Monumental Chapel and Beazley Recital Hall, and the ministry also utilizes the Noland Church Relations Lounge in the Jane P. Batten Student Center for fellowship, meetings, and student engagement activities.
Since its founding, the University has been historically related to and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Virginia Wesleyan is actively involved in the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, the International Association of Methodist Schools Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU), the North American Association of Methodist Schools Colleges and Universities (NAAMSCU), and the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
“This naming is both a celebration of our Methodist heritage and an investment in our future,” said Scott D. Miller, President of 好色先生tv. “The Epworth Foundation’s generosity ensures that campus ministry will remain strong, sustainable, and collaborative. Through our partnership with Haygood United Methodist Church and the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, we are affirming the importance of faith, service, and community in the lives of our students.”
Epworth Campus Ministries provides student-led worship, fellowship gatherings, mission engagement, pastoral care, and service opportunities that connect the campus with the broader Coastal Virginia community. The ministry’s inclusive approach welcomes students of all traditions while honoring the University’s founding relationship with the United Methodist Church.
As Virginia Wesleyan prepares for its transition to Batten University in July 2026, the naming of Epworth Campus Ministries underscores the institution’s continued commitment to educating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—while sustaining the values that have shaped the University since its founding.
Learn more about Epworth Campus Ministries at VWU.