The Organizational Records, 1939-2016, and undated contain the Wesley Foundation (Central Michigan University) (WFCMU)’s plans, reports, board meetings, newsletters, applications, photographs, slides, an object, and a CD. The collection is organized alphabetically. The majority of the collection contains WFCMU minutes, annual reports, and many photographs of different events related to the WFCMU activities including, parties, gatherings, trips, and others. The slide box contains slides of the Wesley Foundation activities including, notably, a mission trip to Jamaica and a metal trading stamp saver with stamp books used in a campaign to purchase a bus to transport students. The oversized folders include a scrapbook, 1948-1950, and loose pages of a scrapbook missing its covers, with photographs of early WFCMU people, places, and events with a description written about each black and white photograph. The Homosexuality folder contains letters of appreciation and welcome flyers that invite all people of various orientation. The CD documents one of the leading pastors, the Rev. Thomas Robert Jones, with a slide show of Jones, the church members and a trip they took to New York City. Another pastor documented in the collection is the Rev. Steven Michael Smith, who was the lead pastor, 1996-2000. The collection also includes newsletters and newsletters about Native American tribes, like the Anishinaabe and the Saginaw Chippewas in the Mount Pleasant area, published by the WFCMU.
Researchers may also be interested in the Above Ground newsletter of the WFCMU and Rev. Thomas R. Jones' collection, which are separately cataloged and housed in the Clarke.
Organizational History:
The Wesley Foundation (Central Michigan University) (WFCMU) started in 1945 as part of a ministry with the Mount Pleasant First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and the Methodist Student Movement. The foundation grew throughout the 20th century and built a new center to accommodate more students in 1967. Meetings are held each Sunday morning of the college calendar. The meetings vary from discussion of social problems with an emphasis on the part religion plays in solving them, to speakers and musicals. The mission of the WFCMU is to have a central Christian presence for CMU students, faculty and staff community which can help people assimilate the Christian perspective into their learning academically and socially in the world (This information is from the WFCMU, Constitution, Mission, Goals, Undated Folder). The WFCMU is known for its acceptance, inviting every kind of person including those of various sexual orientations. The WFCMU also is closely connected to the local Native American Tribes in Mount Pleasant, partnering with them to publish newsletters that discuss the tribes. The foundation led numerous student activities and mission trips to many parts of the world. WFCMU exists in 2020 and retains a large presence of CMU students. (This information is from the collection.)
Thomas R. Jones was born on May 7, 1945, the son of Robert W. and Lucile (Brooks) Jones. He grew up in Farwell (Michigan) and graduated from Farwell High School in May 1963.
After graduating from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 1968, he earned a master’s degree in Divinity from Southern Methodist University in Dallas (Texas). Rev. Jones served churches in East Texas and in North Adams, Jerome, and Horton (Michigan). He was the director of the Wesley Foundation (CMU), 1978-1992. Also, Rev. Jones served as the part-time pastor of the Leaton United Methodist Church.
Rev. Jones was active in civil rights, the peace movement and organic farming. He led many work camps to help people in the United States, the Caribbean and Central America.
In 1998 he published his book, (A) Non-violent revelation to John, which was made into a chancel play for St. John’s Episcopal Church (Mount Pleasant, Mich.)
He particularly enjoyed music, the arts and world travel.
Rev. Jones married Ruth Donan, who also graduated from CMU in 1968, in August of 1968.
On Nov. 4, 2003 Rev. Jones passed away suddenly in Phoenix (Ariz.). His funeral service was held on Nov. 8, 2003 at the First United Methodist Church. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, daughter Sarah Jane Jones, son, Michael Ellis Jones, siblings, and three grandchildren. (This information is from his Collection, 1999, 2003, .5 cubic foot (in 1 box), which is also housed and separately cataloged in the Clarke.)
