A Brief History of the Cal Aggie Christian Association

The University of California at Davis had its beginning as the University Farm at midnight on August 31, 1906. Agricultural research was begun and Ag students at Berkeley wanting practical experience came to "The Farm" for one or more semesters. Two-year programs, undergraduate instruction and graduate study soon followed. The two campuses of the College of Agriculture were administered at Berkeley. During World War II, the campus was used for an army communications school.

The transition from the Ag School to a general campus of the University began in the Fifties. By 1981 the campus included the College of Letters and Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Law, and Graduate School of Administration. By 1997-98 more than 23,000 students were studying in 130 undergraduate majors and 80 graduate programs.

A petition of seventy students led to the establishment of the University Farm YMCA in the spring of 1916. Its purpose was "to promote clean, manly, Christian life", and it stated, "It is here to stay, and we hope to see it grow." They secured a reading room and headquarters in the basement of West Dormitory (Hall). They published a Freshman Handbook given to all incoming students which was continued until WWII.

The "Y" became coeducational and its name was changed to the Cal Aggie Christian Association in 1924. The organization was active on campus, at the Davis Community Church, and in the community. As part of the Comity Agreement with the Methodist and Congregational (now United Church of Christ) denominations, the Davis Community Church continued its affiliation with the Presbyterian denomination and the other two denominations served the then-small university towns if Orono, Maine (University of Maine) and East Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State College) respectively. This agreement continued until the mid-50s.

During the Twenties, faculty members were advisors to Cal Aggie Christian Association and student members ushered and attended a College Men's Class at the Davis Community Church. In the Thirties, Cal Aggie Christian Association affiliated with the Davis Community Church and was advised by the Minister and/or Director of Christian Education. Wednesday night member-prepared suppers and Sunday evening devotions were well attended.

In 1946 the Davis Community Church called the Reverend James Miller as Assistant Minister to work with youth and college students. A house on the corner of Rice Lane and A Street was purchased as the Assistant Minister's home and an occasional meeting place for Cal Aggie Christian Association. In 1955, the Russell Boulevard property was acquired by the Presbyterian Synod of the Pacific for Cal Aggie Christian Association's use. The mortgage was eventually retired with Methodist funds. Title to the property is now held by the Sacramento Presbytery.

CA House has held bible studies, worship services, workshops, suppers, plays, art exhibits, women's groups, men's groups, student tenants, all manner of fledgling causes, and non-profit organization offices benefiting the campus, the community and Yolo County.

Rev. James Miller, Rev. David Jacobson, and Rev. David Burnight served as Davis Community Church Assistant Ministers and Campus Ministers. In the late Fifties Rev. Burnight became full-time CA House Director and Campus Minister. Since then, Cal Aggie Christian Association has been served by at least one full-time Director/Campus Minister. Serving since 1964 were Rev. John Moore (United Methodist) and Rev. John Pamperin (United Church of Christ), Rev. Ebba Johnson (Lutheran), Rev. Joanne Peterson (United Methodist), Rev. Adam Kittrell (American Baptist), Rev. Pete Sabey (Presbyterian), Rev. Judith O'Neill (United Church of Christ and Presbyterian), Rev. Mike Koppel (Presbyterian), Rev. Maggie McNaught (United Methodist) and our current Director, Rev. Kristin Stoneking (United Methodist). Their ministries have bridged three autonomous communities: the University, the Community, and the Church.

The Sixties saw two changes in student religious organizations structured similar to Wesley and Westminster Foundations. The communions formed ecumenical student ministries, a format already existing at Cal Aggie Christian Association. Second, these ministries, including Cal Aggie Christian Association, which had been similar to church high school youth groups, now began to identify with campus, community, and national movements. Two examples: In 1963, Cal Aggie Christian Association took a leading role in organizing a bus load of ministers, faculty, students and townspeople to make the trip to Selma, Alabama, for the march to the state capitol; during the Vietnam war, a large group of "war resisters" and supporters, including older adults, met every Sunday evening in the CA House. Cal Aggie Christian Association still offered studies of such theologians as Bonhoeffer, Tillich, and Bultmann, but also was doing something new.

The first Black History course in Davis was offered at the CA House. A group called Alternatives in Birth Control (ABC), with a campus minister as advisor, was housed at CA House. CA House's campus minister and other clergy were deeply involved in draft counseling at CA House. These three programs subsequently became University programs. CA House was most effective in relating to and working with Third World students, staff, and faculty, and with the Black community of Davis in the late Seventies when an African American served as a CA House campus minister. The United Farm Workers office was also in the House. During this period many of the committed people on the CA House Board were unrelated to the churches supporting CA House. Financial support became so precarious that CA House's future became doubtful.

The Eighties brought a resurrection of CA House. The Board established a network connecting student volunteers to needs in neighboring communities, and initiated a continuing grant from the Glide Foundation (United Methodist). A husband and wife ministry team, Rev. Pete Sabey (Presbyterian) and Rev. Judith O'Neill (United Church of Christ and Presbyterian), served the campus community in a variety of ways including "P&J"(a weekly column in the campus newspaper), offering meditation, advocacy, and working with and through a number of campus departments. In addition they counseled with individuals, engaged in weekly "Brown Bag Theology" sessions, and drew women together for Women's Worship celebrations.

CA House has been fortunate over the year to have been served by strong Boards of Directors. Our ministry has reflected the variety of gifts of the many campus ministers who have worked with us through the years. We are grateful for our heritage and face the future with hope and expectancy as we move into a new era in campus ministry.