Reflections on Multifaith Work: Skipping Stones and Tangible Reminders
The Chaplaincy is excited to welcome Multifaith Program Manager Olivia Rosenblum as the newest member of our staff! Here she offers her reflections on the Chaplaincy's multifaith work during the fall 2024 semester.
At the beginning of this academic year, a student expressed skepticism about multifaith programming, noting they hadn’t seen the “needle” move after attending events and intentional dialogues in the previous year. Their honesty prompted reflection and brought to mind how multifaith work is a lot like skipping stones.
On each bounce, the stone marks the water and begins a ripple which spreads out before the water settles. On the surface, a single impact does not seem to create dramatic change, and yet to look down at the water from a bird’s eye view there is immediate change. The change in multifaith work isn’t often immediate or dramatic. It happens subtly – in individual relationships, shifts in mindsets, and the quiet moments when students find understanding, affirmation, or a new perspective. Thus, the Chaplaincy is committed to skipping all kinds of stones: active and passive, formal and informal, and collective and individual.
This fall brought the return of the Coffee Talk series with the Jewish and Muslim Chaplains, where students gather to observe productive dialogue (and disagreement) and are invited to join in the conversation. In October, Christian and Muslim students took on the tangible reminder of how faith can inspire action through a service opportunity in Bryan Park. Our Jewish, Muslim, and University Chaplains hosted a multifaith program this semester ahead of the presidential election, focusing on religious identity and civic engagement.
Our informal and passive “stone” is our building, the Wilton Center, which has become a dynamic hub of interaction and reflection. Our shared student kitchen has been used for a Muslim Life dinner as well as a Jewish Life Challah Bake. The Multifaith Room is a near perfect example used for multiple group prayers, text studies, and services as well as social gatherings and meals, on campus retreats and so much more. It is with and through each of these that we celebrate a space flexible and meaningful enough to hold all of these programs.
As we enter December, the ripples of these and previous engagements are becoming evident. Many students who participated in last year's pilgrimages are now active leaders across communities. This momentum carried over into this year’s outstanding applicant pool for the Chaplaincy's Pilgrimage program and interest in multifaith leadership
Of course, challenges remain. Multifaith work is inherently complex, touching on deeply personal aspects of identity and belief. Yet, the resilience and willingness of students to show up for themselves and one another continues to inspire.
As we look ahead, we invite you to join us in celebrating these small but significant shifts. Multifaith programming isn’t just about events or initiatives—it’s about building a community where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. Together, we’re moving the needle, one connection at a time.