Our Mission
Awakening faith and flourishing at the intersection of church and university through deep listening and purposeful design.
Our Story
We all long for purpose and belonging, especially in times of transition or dislocation. When we discover our place in healthy communities of unconditional inclusion and formation, we cultivate life-giving relationships and risk awakening to faith and flourishing.
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Mere Christianity Forum (MCF), a collegiate ministry in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, is one of 92 organizations funded through the Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s, Thriving Congregations Initiative, a 5-year grant supporting congregational thriving across the United States.
Through the support of this grant, MCF has launched a brand new initiative - The Vinery: Awakening Faith and Flourishing at the Intersection of Church and University, to cultivate congregational thriving in ministry with their university neighbors and broader communities.
Our vision is to be an incubator for thriving congregations ministering faithfully and effectively with young adults and other members of nearby universities and supporting vibrant local communities.
The Vinery cultivates dynamic learning cohorts of congregations located in close proximity to universities and helps them remember their calling to ministry with students and other members of universities as a part of their total ministry in the world.
Vinery Promo Video
Our Team
With over 30 combined years of experience in congregational, campus, and consulting ministries, The Vinery team is committed to seeing the intersection of Church and University life thrive.
Rimes McElveen
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Executive Director
Rimes McElveen, Executive Director of Mere Christianity Forum, loves creating contexts for people to discover the love and leadership of God’s grace in their lives - primarily through rich conversations and authentic communities. Before directing MCF Rimes attended Furman, Duke Divinity School and Candler School of Theology, and worked for the YMCA, Bell South, churches from four different denominations, and a United Methodist mission agency. Rimes met his wife at Duke, Kathryn, who is the ED of the Center For Courage and Renewal. Together they love supporting one another’s working for the Common Good in the world while raising their four kids and taking National Park adventures every chance they get.
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Maggie Proshek
Program Director
Rev. Maggie Proshek lives in Texas with her husband, Will, and their son. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in Developmental and Family Studies. She then attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and received her Master of Divinity in 2017. Maggie is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Her call has always been deeply rooted in walking alongside others as they grow in their faith and helping them discover who they are as God’s beloved. In her free time, Maggie always enjoys running around with her son, watching a good show with her husband, or decorating cookies.
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Cate Tedford
Operations Coordinator
Cate Tedford joined The Vinery team in June 2023. She graduated from Clemson University in the Spring of 2023 with degrees in Spanish and Philosophy. After working in food access, advocacy, and nonprofit development in Greenville, SC for a year and a half, Cate is now pursuing a Master of Divinity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. She is passionate about people, justice, and common flourishing. When she's not working or studying, you can find Cate reading in a coffee shop, running outdoors, taking a yoga class, or trying a new dessert recipe.
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Collegiate Ministries Podcast
