Multifaith Engagement
Interfaith Ambassadors
This team of Interfaith Ambassadors works together to understand and engage religious diversity on campus, in their own communities, and in the world. Ambassadors actively foster interfaith community with curiosity about the lived experiences of people with diverse religious, spiritual, and philosophical identities and create spaces to facilitate learning, dialogue and action related to these kinds of questions: What does it mean to live democratically with religious diversity? How do we bring our own personal values and practices into the work for social justice? What is the role of interfaith communities in becoming an anti-racist campus community? How do religious and non-religious communities and individuals work together for the common good? Ambassadors have the opportunity to learn more about their own beliefs; to explore what interfaith engagement means to them; and to deepen their understandings of civic engagement, justice, and peace in a pluralistic world. Ambassadors have the opportunity to participate in leadership development across campus and at conferences throughout the year.
The Ambassador team is supervised by University Chaplaincy Elyse Nelson Winger and receives guidance and support from the whole Chaplaincy team. Ambassadors work 6-8 hours per week. Hours include weekly team meetings as well as scheduled hours for study, program development, and program leadership. Students join planning teams for key signature events including Pax et Lux and the MLK Day of Community Action and also work alongside staff and faculty in the development of the new religious diversity and civic life program sponsored by Tisch College for Civic Life, the Religion Department, and the University Chaplaincy.
Be-Friend Interfaith Project
This semester-long interfaith friendship project is designed for participants to go deep and to talk about the things that matter: our values, our sense of purpose, and our questions about life. You will learn the skill of active listening while experimenting with shared spiritual practices from different religious and philosophical traditions. Participants will be paired in dyads and will commit to spending an hour together each week as well as an extra half hour in private reflection. Several of our chaplains have contributed to the program offering a diverse array of spiritual practices, including nature walks, meditation exercises, listening to music, deep reading—of poetry, art, the world, our lives and one another. All Tufts students, staff, and faculty, are welcome to join (please note: students will be paired with fellow students, and faculty and staff will be paired together).
Contact Catholic Chaplain Lynn Cooper if you have any questions. Undergraduates, graduate students, staff, faculty, and alumni and are all invited to participate. The program will relaunch in Spring 2025. You can sign up for Be-Friend here.