CCO Campus Ministry

Home / Transformed Lives / BJ Woodworth

BJ Woodworth

woodworth_bj.jpg“My family’s choice to live in the inner city, in Christian community, and the choice to head up a church plant in the city are all decisions that were influenced by the CCO,” says BJ Woodworth, pastor of The Open Door, a PCUSA New Church Development. “The CCO’s training and equipping perspective on life has taught me to take risks. When [my wife] Katrina and I moved onto Rippey Street in 1994, we didn’t know what we were doing. We thought it was a good thing—community, simple living, racial reconciliation in an urban environment were all aspects of our faith that we believed should be intentionally lived out. It’s that sense of calling that keeps us here, and it all ties back to the CCO.”

BJ connected to the CCO’s ministry early in his days at Westminster College when he met Dave Murray, his soccer coach and a CCO staff member.

“I considered myself a Christian when I showed up at college, but I didn’t go in with a huge expectation of getting involved in Christian activities. But early on, I attended a Bible study Dave led at his house for soccer players, then I started going to Chapel Vespers services regularly, and I got to know [CCO staff member] Greg Carmer, who was the assistant to the Chaplain.”

BJ’s involvement continued throughout this four years at Westminster, as a member of the student Chapel Staff and through service projects, including Habitat for Humanity. In 1990, he participated in the CCO’s Ocean City Beach Project, an intensive Christian student leadership development experience. Two years later, he ended up joining CCO staff himself, and for 11 years, he and his wife Katrina reached out to students at the University of Pittsburgh through Bellefield Presbyterian Church. During his years at Pitt, BJ was instrumental in starting up a Habitat chapter on campus.

While pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Bellefield’s congregation and Pittsburgh Presbytery supported BJ’s desire to plant a missional church, called The Open Door. He now serves that congregation as its lead pastor.

“I really can’t envision what life would be like, or how I would understand life, had I not been influenced by the CCO,” says BJ. “The relationships and conversations I had all through college were formative, and the Jubilee conference was very influential in helping me discern my sense of calling. I tell people all the time, in the midst of the emerging church conversations, how grateful I am for the CCO’s ministry. The emerging church is sort of a reaction to a truncated Christianity that the CCO first dispelled for me. Because I was in the midst of the CCO for so long, first as a student and later as a staff person, I don’t think I realized how different that perspective was until I entered the mainline and emerging church circles.”

“My work with Habitat at Westminster, then starting the Pitt chapter when I was there, my involvement in local and political advocacy groups in the East End, it’s all tied together,” BJ says. “I really can’t envision what life would be like, or how I would understand life, without the CCO’s influence. I get to do a kind of Beach Project 24/7 as a pastor—I get to equip people in all areas of life to integrate their Christian faith into their vocation and lifestyle.”

“The vast majority of people in my congregation has been in some campus ministry experience, and there has been a disconnect for many of them between church and community since leaving college. One of them once said to me, ‘The best part of my life as a Christian couldn’t just be in college.’ That’s true. At The Open Door, we’re trying to keep that rich sense of community that many of us had in college, as well as a strong sense of calling to live out our faith in every area of life.”

“When I was at Westminster, [CCO staff member] Carol Rettew said to me that ministry happens in the wake of your own pursuit of God. That’s what my life continues to be about.”