Living in faith

The houses located at 1605 N.E. 47th St. and 4554 16th Ave. N.E. fit in perfectly well with the neighboring homes in the area north of campus.

The larger Northeast 47th Street house has deep-red bricks, a German-style white and dark wood design and three large letters nailed over its doorway, while the smaller is an annex-style yellow house. Both houses have been around for quite awhile, the former being nearly a century old, the latter just 10 years its junior.

The houses appear to be the usual type of housing establishments students would expect to find in this area. But inside resides a community different from neighboring homes: University Christian Union (UCU).

For students of the Christian faith and not interested in living off dorm food or joining the Greek system, UCU is an alternative they can turn to for their housing needs. It provides housing for Christian undergraduates of any denomination who wish to grow in their faith.

UCU first began as a men’s living organization in 1935, with a women’s organization soon to follow, though the women’s half ceased operation after a few years and restarted in 1963. The men’s house holds up to 26 people, and the women’s house holds up to 18. According to the Web site, the houses are both owned wholly by the UCU Alumni Association.

Unlike other Christian houses off campus, which are mostly associated with the University Presbyterian Church, UCU is an independent Christian organization, said sophomore Rachel Oberto, the vice president of the women’s house.

“Each house is unique and has its own character to it,” she said. “The majority of students move in freshman year. I would say, on average, people stay two years.”

Oberto has been at the house since she started at the UW. One of the things that attracted her to UCU was the sense of community that came from such a living arrangement. She also said that while the organization encourages its members academically, its focus is on their faith. For Oberto, the encouragement in faith between her and the rest of the house was another big draw.

UCU members also reach out to those outside of the organization. Because the houses are open to Christians of any denomination, Oberto has had the opportunity to learn about them and their viewpoints on faith. This intermixing has both reinforced her own faith and forced her to reexamine it.

“It’s a good environment for spiritual growth,” she said.

Similarly, on the men’s side, junior Zach Sanford and freshman Daniel Cloes — the president and vice president of the men’s house, respectively — both joined the house because they were looking for a place where they could encourage others in their faith while being encouraged themselves.

Cloes said there is quality fellowship at UCU. They meet in small core groups and talk about not just the Bible and faith, but life as well. Through this fellowship, members are able to hold each other accountable for their actions and make sure they are following God, which is one thing that Sanford said he really likes about UCU.

On Monday nights, members of both the men’s and women’s houses gather for joint worship time. Afterward, they split up into their respective houses for Bible study.

“Occasionally, we’ll have joint Bible studies, but mostly they’re split,” Oberto said.

These weekly meetings are not exclusive. Sometimes residents will invite visitors, but most newcomers are those who wish to join UCU, Sanford said.

Potential members apply online to alumni. The selection process for both houses is on a first-come, first-serve basis, since space is limited. Students can apply any quarter, according to the number of spaces available, and only if they are Christian, honestly interested in living at the house and willing to follow the house rules. If there is no room left for the quarter initially applied for, then students are put on a waiting list for the next quarter.

Residents pay a quarterly fee, which includes room and board as well as food provided by the cook that both houses share. Occasionally, financial support is provided for those who need it, but there is no formal scholarship program.

Sanford said that outside of faith-related activities, UCU members also put on activities to go with the holidays throughout the year. The group hosts a Halloween party in October, a full turkey dinner at Thanksgiving and a Christmas party during the first week of December.

When it comes time for the Apple Cup between the UW and Washington State, the UCU men’s house plays their own game of football against their WSU equivalents. Despite the Huskies’ loss, the UW UCU team won the 2007 Apple Cup match.

The house also typically has intramural sports teams at the IMA. Cloes said that they have had teams for ultimate Frisbee, volleyball and football.

“It’s a pretty fun house,” he said.