Over the past 10 years the University of Wisconsin-Madison student body has grown from 43,000 to 52,000. And over that period of time, a Christian institution has become an established presence in the middle of campus, at 365 East Campus Mall.
Last month, Upper House had several events to celebrate it’s first decade, culminating in a final program Thursday evening, January 30, 2025.
“Our mission is to lead Christian thought and formation for the UW-Madison community and beyond,” said executive director John Terrill. “We bear fruit as long as we abide in Christ.”
Upper House has grown from three staff in the early years, when this news organization helped coordinate a regional conference at Upper House called Reporting on Religion, to 28 staff currently. It now has five different outreaches to help it fulfill its mission as part of the Stephen and Laurel Brown Foundation.
In our archives we have more than 60 news articles that we have posted covering, or at least mentioning, some of the newsworthy events that have taken place at Upper House in the last decade. These articles include:
a report on a revealing survey of Dane County churches, an interview with the editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, a talk on How to Report on Cat Cults and Snake Handlers, a speech on economics and Christianity by then chancellor Rebecca Blank, and a mind-blowing presentation on virtually unrolling and reading ancient scrolls through computer technology.
In a report on a Grand Opening celebration a decade ago real estate developer Stephen Brown — who owns the building housing Upper House, ground level businesses and upper level apartments — said “Upper House is an expression of our desire to give back to the UW community.”
In one way, it’s giving the community something that has been lost. John Terrill talked about higher education across the country being somewhat confused these days about it’s mission and the value it offers. Yet, “God is present in this place,” he said, referencing the famous statement by Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”
John Dahl, a campus minister for InterVarsity and Upper House board member, noted generations of UW leaders whose Christian faith led them to pray for the UW to fulfill its mission, such as Charles Van Hise, Stephen Babcock, Helen C. White and John Alexander. “We stand on the shoulders of the people who have loved this institution and wanted to see the university succeed,” he said. “We are the substance of their prayers.”
After the celebration, Upper House hosted a lecture by Anne Snyder, editor-in-chief of Comment magazine, “Reimagining Our Moment for Whatever Comes Next.”
Referring to the “chaos” of the new administration in Washington, Snyder said she was disturbed by people on both the right and the left who are “wrapping their positions in the sacred.” She mentioned a friend who spoke of the need for “clear eyes,” and said what is needed right now is really good discernment.
“No one knows what’s next and we need to re-calibrate for the future,” she concluded, suggesting prayer, silence, allowing Scripture to speak, being part of a covenantal community, turning down the volume of commentaries, and reading a good book.