Creighton University Campus Ministry has a new staff member, Reverend Martha Slocombe, who is the new Protestant chaplain and retreat coordinator. Slocombe is the first full–time Protestant chaplain Creighton has hired. 

Slocombe said she first considered becoming a pastor in high school, but her journey was a roundabout one. After various positions in politics and campus ministries, she felt called once again to ministry as a pastor. 

“I found a seminary that seemed like a good fit, spent three years doing that and started serving in the church,” Slocombe said. 

Slocombe attended a Jesuit school, Marquette University, for her college undergraduate education and said that she appreciates the Ignatian way, so Creighton is a great fit for her.  

According to Slocombe, she has experience serving in various churches and is a certified yoga instructor.  

Robby Francis, Director of Campus Ministry, is excited about the role that Slocombe will be filling.  

“Martha is such a great fit for Campus Ministry and I know [she] will make a lot of connections with students across campus,” he said in an email. 

As Protestant chaplain, Slocombe leads the services and events for The Common Well, Creighton’s Protestant Campus Ministry group. holds service every Sunday in the Harper Faber Chapel at 8 p.m. 

“[The Common Well is] a community of Creighton students who come together for worship, social gatherings, and outings…students could be Protestant or Christian, [or] don’t identify with a particular denomination,” Slocombe said. 

Rashwn Riney, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a member of The Common Well Core Team, said he is looking forward to Slocombe’s leadership. 

Riney’s goal is for the Common Well to help students “deepen their faith in God and know they don’t have to do it alone… to show other students that this is a place for you.” 

CORRECTION: The headline of an earlier version of this article said that Slocombe was the first Protestant chaplain at Creighton. She is the first full-time Protestant chaplain, but not the first generally.