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Oberlin College
Office of Religious & Spiritual Life news
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| An update of opportunities related to spirituality, ethics, culture & social justice | February 25, 2013 |
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We're Social!
Connect with us.
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Campus Interfaith Leadership Regional Conference
Saturday, 4/6, 10 am-2 pm, Case Western Reserve University
Come join in this first campus interfaith leadership regional conference to share ideas and experiences and build relationships with those doing campus interfaith engagement work in our region. Students, faculty and staff are welcome, and participants can present a workshop. Transportation from Oberlin will be provided by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (leaving at 9 am and returning at 3 pm from the Multifaith Center, 68 S Professor Street). Pre-registration is required by 3/1. To register contact greg.mcgonigle@oberlin.edu. Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University, and Oberlin College.
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Careers in Community Organizing and Social Justice
The Direct Action & Research Training (DART) Center will be hosting two webinars February 26 & 27 at 8 pm to discuss careers in the field of community organizing with individuals interested in empowering communities and working for social change. RSVP by contacting Hannah Wittmer at hannah@thedartcenter.org or calling 785.506.8915 with your name, school, phone number, expected graduation date, and which webinar date you prefer. You will then receive instructions for accessing the webinar. DART is now accepting applications for the 2013 DART Organizers Institute, a paid training and career placement program for individuals interested in launching a career in community organizing. The DART Center has built coalitions throughout the country that have won important victories on a broad set of justice issues including: Education reform in low-performing public schools, Job Training, Drugs and Violence, Criminal Recidivism, Living Wage, Neighborhood Revitalization, Predatory Lending, Affordable Housing, etc. The DART Organizers Institute combines a classroom orientation with infield training at a local grassroots organization. Organizers are provided with a cost of living stipend and travel. Graduates of the Organizers Institute are placed into permanent full-time, salaried positions earning $34,000/year + benefits. The DART Organizers Institute will begin June 24, 2013. Training locations and permanent placements sites include cities in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Virginia and Florida. To find out more about DART or to apply, we encourage you to visit www.thedartcenter.org or contact Hannah Wittmer at hannah@thedartcenter.org or (785) 506-8915.
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Trinity Cleveland Year-Long Urban Service Corps
The Trinity Cleveland Urban Service Corps is an experiential urban immersion service program for young adults that lasts 11 months. The program is designed to provide participants with the time, space, and resources to discern their futures and grow spiritually as leaders while living in sustainable Christian community and working in Cleveland's social service agencies. Participants of our program live together in community in one house sharing meals, prayer, reflection, fellowship, and exploring the city together. During the year they will participate in retreats, trainings and worship that will explore the connections among their faith, their service, and their life in community. To learn more and apply go to: http://trinitycleveland.org/urban-service-corps/
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Exploring the Heritage of First Church
Wednesdays, 2/20-3/20, 6:45-7:45 p.m. First Church JFO Room
A Wednesday Night Adult Education series during Lent will explore the heritage of First Church, which is both rich and complex, and how that heritage informs the church's connection with the wider community today. Edward L. Long who served as professor of Religion at Oberlin College for 19 years and professor of Christian Ethics at Drew University for 20 years will lead these discussions. Topics to be covered include: perfectionistic evangelism; social idealism; divinely given grace as embodied in the Reformed side of the United Church of Christ's heritage; and the free-church approach to belief and worship. College and community members are most welcome to come and enrich the conversation. All are also welcome to come to the supper preceding each session. Supper begins at 5:45 p.m in the Fellowship Hall. Cost is $3/person; students and children eat for free.
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Mini Course: Jewish Values and the Environment
Jewish Values, the Environment, and Social Responsibility (JWST 191)
Two lectures Sunday, 3/3, 2 pm-4:30 pm and 7 pm-9:30 pm
One lecture Monday, 3/4, Tuesday 3/5, Wednesday 3/6 and Thursday, 3/7, all 7:30 pm-9 pm
This course utilizes both Biblical texts and ancient Jewish values as a lens for considering social responsibility and environmental issues. Does eating meat, common amongst Jews, go against the belief of not causing pain to animals? Do we cause more problems to our environment by continuing these practices, or is this paradox something that can be reconciled? As a consumerist culture, where do we draw the line about our needs vs. our wants? Dr. Jeremy Bernstein is deputy director of the Heschel Center and director of the Environmental Fellows program. He holds a PhD in cultural anthropology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. |
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The Growing Global Web: Rights, Justice and the Law
Monday, 3/4, 4:30 pm, First Church in Oberlin (UCC)
GlobalSolutions.org CEO Don Kraus speaks as part of Oberlin College Peace Week. His focus will be on U.S. legislative action regarding United Nations conventions on women's rights and climate change. The presentation is a tribute to global peace and justice activist Floyd Ramp (1923-2012), a former Oberlin civic leader. A reception for friends, neighbors and fellow activists of Floyd Ramp will precede in First Church Fellowship Hall at 3 p.m.
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Queer Muslim Communities in Indonesia & Pakistan
Monday, 3/4, 7:30 pm, Hallock Audorium, "Tales of the Waria" Screening
Tuesday, 3/5, 7:30 pm, Craig Auditorium, Jeff Redding on Trans Rights in Pakistan
In collaboration with the Year of the Queer interdisciplinary series, Shansi sponsors Queer Communities in Indonesia and Pakistan, a 2-day mini-series. The event includes a screening of the documentary, Tales of the Waria, winner of the San Diego Asian Film Festival Best Documentary Award, Barcelona Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Audience Choice Award, & Asian American International Film Festival Audience Choice Award.
The second night Shansi welcomes keynote speaker, Jeff Redding, to speak on the 2009 Supreme Court ruling of the Pakistani Court to better provide for their transgendered citizens. He aims to describe these developments and, in the process, use comparative inquiry to critically examine American stories and conceptions about how rights do or do not develop for queer populations around the world, and also in the United States.
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No Justice, No Peace: How to Save the Earth and Redistribute Power--With Compassion
Friday, 3/8, 4:30 pm, Wilder 101
Max Zahn, '12, a community organizer in New York City, will speak as part of Peace Week. He will draw upon Buddhist concepts to examine the tension within the progressive movement's simultaneous desire for radical change and disruption of the status quo while preserving the peace, security, and dialogue that stand as a necessary precondition for democracy.
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Reproductive Justice, Religion, and Human Rights
Friday, 3/8, 7:30 pm, King 106
In honor of International Women's Day, Loretta Ross will lecture on Reproductive Justice, Religion, and Human Rights. Ross is co-founder of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, a network founded in 1997 comprised of 80 local, regional, and national organizations that focus on reproductive justice for women of color. Sponsored by the Mead Swing Lectureship Fund and the Oberlin Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. Event website: http://new.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/gender/intl-wom-day.
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Save the Date: Haskell Lectures in Biblical Studies
"The Ends of Indigenous Religion in Egypt"
Terry Wilfong, Associate Professor of Egyptology, University of Michigan, Department of Near Eastern Studies
Lecture One: Sunday, 3/10, 7:30 pm, Craig Lecture Hall
"The Buchis Bull and the Philae Falcon: Animal Cults and Changing Paradigms for the Transition from Paganism to Christianity"
Lecture Two: Monday, 3/11, 7:30 pm, Craig Lecture Hall
"Coptic Armant: Monastic and Secular Identities in Christian and Early Islamic Egypt"
Lecture Three: Wednesday, 3/13, 4:30 pm, Craig Lecture Hall
"Elegy for a Lost Shrine: Memories of the Egyptian Temple at Armant"
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Buddhist Boot Camp Author Timber Hawkeye at Mindfair
Monday, 3/11, 7:30 pm, Mindfair Books (13 W College St)
Buddhism is all about training the mind, and "boot camp" is an ideal training method for this generation's short attention span. The chapters in this small book can be read in any order, and are simple and easy to understand. Each story, inspirational quote and teaching offers mindfulness-enhancing techniques that anyone can relate to. You don't need to be a Buddhist to find this book motivational. As the Dalai Lama says, "Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are."
Whether it's Mother Teresa's acts of charity, Gandhi's perseverance, or your aunt Betty's calm demeanor, it doesn't matter who inspires you, so long as you're motivated to be better today than you were yesterday. Regardless of religion or geographical region, race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, flexibility, or vulnerability, if you do good, you feel good, and if you do bad, you feel bad. If you agree that Buddhism isn't just about meditating, but also about rolling up your sleeves and relieving some of the suffering in the world, then you are ready to be a soldier of peace in the army of love; welcome to Buddhist Boot Camp!
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Active Minds Founder Alison Malmon
Tuesday, 3/19, 7:30 pm, West Lecture Hall
Alison is the founder and Executive Director of Active Minds, Inc., the leading national organization that uses students as the driving force to change the perception about mental health on college campuses. Alison formed the organization following the suicide of her only sibling, twenty-two year old brother Brian Malmon. Wanting to combat the stigma that had caused her brother to suffer in silence and ultimately take his own life, she created a group on her campus at the University of Pennsylvania that promoted an open, enlightened dialogue around the issues. Just after graduating Phi Beta Kappa with honors in Psychology and Sociology in 2003, Alison formed the 501(c)3 organization in order to develop and support chapters of the student group on campuses around the country. From that moment forward, she has served as Executive Director of the non-profit, leading the organization as it engages thousands of student leaders nationwide and promotes a unified national voice for young adults in the mental health awareness movement. In addition to her work at Active Minds, Alison sits on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee, Bringing Theory to Practice Project Planning Committee, and Students of AMF Board of Directors. Sponsored by Active Minds.
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Convocation: Dr. Lisa Randall, Harvard Theoretical Physicist and Author of Knocking on Heaven's Door
Tuesday, 4/2, 7:30 pm, Finney Chapel
One of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People," winner of a Sloan Foundation Research Fellowship, and described by Newsweek as "one of the most promising theoretical physicists of her generation," Dr. Lisa Randall, the Baird Professor of Science at Harvard University, has been widely honored for her scientific achievements. As one of the most cited physicists studying theoretical particles, Dr. Randall's research into dark matter and extra spatial dimensions has greatly improved our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics. Dr. Randall's latest book "Knocking on Heaven's Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World" was released this past October. Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Finney Lecture Committee.
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Mini Course: Feminine Relationships in Today's Muslim North Africa
4/2-4/11, 4:30-5:45 pm, Location TBA
Sponsored by the Mead Swing Lectureship Fund
Tuesday, 4/2 Muslim Relationships: Gender in Muslim Traditions
Thursday, 4/4 Muslim Relationships: Gender in Muslim Traditions 2
Monday, 4/8 Muslim Women between Private and Public Space
Tuesday, 4/9 Feminine Power and Disempowerment through Muslim History
Wednesday, 4/10 Constructing and Deconstructing the Muslim Woman: Muslim Women and the Western discourse
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Interfaith Service Day
Sunday, 4/7, 1-6 pm, Starting at the Multifaith Center
Students of all faiths and philosophies are invited to join in reflective community service in Oberlin and interfaith dialogue. More information coming soon. Contact Adah.Hetko@oberlin.edu or Alyssa.Phelps@oberlin.edu. Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Bonner Center for Service and Learning, and the Interfaith Student Council.
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Shane Claiborne of the Simple Way, New Monasticism
Thursday, 4/25, 7:30 pm, West Lecture Hall
Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Oberlin Christian Fellowship.
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Multifaith Baccalaureate Celebration
Sunday, 5/26, 1:30 pm, Finney Chapel
Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and the Commencement Reunion Weekend Committee.
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Weekly Gatherings
- Christ Episcopal Church Student Lunch: Mondays, noon, the Rectory (158 Elm Street)
- Hillel Meeting: Tuesdays, 12:15 p.m., Wilder 216
- Queers and Allies of Faith: Tuesdays, 8:30 p.m., Multifaith Center
- A Cappella Chapel Service (led by CREDO): First Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m., Fairchild Chapel
- Friendship Tea: Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m., Multifaith Center
- First Church in Oberlin (UCC) Free Student Dinner: Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m., First Church
- Liberated Unitarian Universalist Voices: Alternate Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Multifaith Center
- Taize Service (led by Ecumenical Christians of Oberlin): Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Fairchild Chapel
- ECO Lunch: Fridays, noon, Wilder DeCafe
- Muslim Students Association Jumah Prayer: Fridays, 12:45 p.m., Wilder 222
- Hillel Shabbat: Fridays, Services 5:30 p.m., Dinner 7 p.m., Kosher-Halal Co-op (Talcott Hall)
- Chabad Shabbat: Fridays, Services 6:30 p.m., Dinner 7 p.m., Chabad House
- Shamanic Journeying: Second Fridays, 7:30 p.m., 355 E Lorain St., Contact Barbara Fuchsman 774-1804
- Oberlin Meditators Instruction and Meditation: Saturdays, 10-11:30 am, Asia House Multipurpose Room
- Oberlin Orthodox Christian Fellowship Divine Liturgy: Sundays, Please contact advisor
- Oberlin Meditators: Sundays, 11 a.m., Asia House Multipurpose Room
- Oberlin Friends Meeting: Sundays, 11 a.m., Multifaith Center
- Newman Mass: Sundays, 5 p.m., Fairchild Chapel
- Oberlin Baha'i Club: Sundays, 5 p.m., Please contact advisor
- Oberlin Meditators 25-Munite Meditation Sessions: Sundays-Thursdays, 5 and 8:30 p.m., Wilder 325
- ECO Dinner and Discussion: Sundays, 6 p.m., Multifaith Center
- Oberlin Bhakti Yoga Society Kirtan: Sundays, 7 p.m., Fairchild Chapel
- Oberlin Christian Fellowship (InterVarsity): Small and large groups, Please see the OCF website
- Oberlin Pagan Awareness Newtork: TBA
- For local worship and meditation opportunities off campus, please visit www.oberlin.edu/orsl/localworship.
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Meditation of the Week
For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. --Nelson Mandela
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Contact Us
Rev. Greg McGonigle
Director | Office of Religious & Spiritual Life
(440) 935-4629
Visit us on the web
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