About the Workshop
On March 3, at St. Olaf College, between 2:00pm and 7:00pm CST we hosted the 2024 Multifaith Leadership Workshop.
This year we welcomed keynote dialogue speakers Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva, Rabbi Herman Schaalman Chair in Jewish Studies, InterReligious Institute Senior Faculty Fellow at Chicago Theological Seminary and Professor. Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri Endowed Chair, Professor/Executive Director of the Augsburg University Interfaith Institute.
This daylong workshop at St. Olaf College, which was free and open to all, allowed participants to explore what it means to engage across religious differences in a time of heightened fracturing globally and locally. Attendees learned from practitioners, scholars, and leaders about developing skills to cultivate connection through storytelling, deepen understanding of how trauma impacts engaging with religious and spiritual practices, approach challenging conversations in person and online, and to develop greater self-awareness for leadership in religiously diverse societies.
The event was open to anyone ages 16+ and was open to all religious, nonreligious, and spiritual identities, worldviews, and ways of life.
For pictures from the workshop, please go here.
Keynote Dialogue Speakers
In this moderated keynote dialogue, Rachel Mikva and Najeeba Syeed explored various paths to leadership, including their own, and strategies for bridging religious divides. They addressed both global and local tensions, offering methods to foster understanding and collaboration across different lifestances.
Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva serves as the Herman E. Schaalman Professor in Jewish Studies and Senior Faculty Fellow of the InterReligious Institute at Chicago Theological Seminary. The Institute and the Seminary work at the cutting edge of theological education, training religious leaders who can build bridges across cultural and religious difference for the critical work of social transformation. With a passion for justice and academic expertise in the history of scriptural interpretation, Rabbi Mikva’s courses and publications address a range of Jewish and comparative studies, with a special interest in the intersections of sacred texts, culture and ethics. Her most recent books are Dangerous Religious Ideas: The Deep Roots of Self-Critical Faith in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Beacon Press) and Interreligious Studies: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press).
Professor Najeeba Syeed is the inaugural El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been a professor, expert practitioner and public speaker for the last two decades in the fields of conflict resolution, interfaith studies, mediation, restorative Justice, education, social, gender and racial equity. An award-winning educator, she has taught extensively on interreligious education and published articles on faith and community-based conflict resolution, restorative justice, and interfaith just peacemaking. Syeed also brings significant executive experience with organizations focused on conflict resolution in community, higher education, and government settings, including the Western Justice Center Foundation and the Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center.
Schedule
All sessions took place in Buntrock Commons at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
1:15-2 p.m. Registration
2-3:15 p.m. Welcome, Spiritual Practice & Plenary
Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva, Rabbi Herman Schaalman Chair in Jewish Studies, InterReligious Institute Senior Faculty Fellow at Chicago Theological Seminary
Professor Najeeba Syeed, El-Hibri Endowed Chair, Professor/Executive Director of the Augsburg University Interfaith Institute
3:15-3:30 Break (with light refreshments and snacks)
3:30-4:30 Breakout Session #1
- Continuing the Conversation with Rabbi Dr. Rachel Mikva
- Continuing the Conversation with Professor Najeeba Syeed
- Engaging Young People In The Internet Age with Dr. Danielle Clausnitzer and Ryan Avenido
4:30-4:45 Break (with light refreshments and snacks)
4:45-5:45 Breakout Session #2
- Multifaith Leadership and Engagement on Campus–Student Fellow-run session (for students only)
- Trauma-Informed Interfaith Work: the Role of Chaplaincy and Theology. (Rev. David Hottinger, Facilitator; Rev. Paul Galchutt, Rev. Dr. Jessica Chapman Lape, Imam Sharif A. Mohamed)
- Storytelling and Story-Listening as a Multireligious Practice (Dr. Marty Stortz, Dr. Matt Maruggi)
6:00-7:15 p.m. Dinner with St. Olaf Taiko Drummers and a prayer by Pastor Matt Marohl.
Taiko (太鼓) is a form of Japanese drumming. Originally played by one person during ceremonies, taiko was popularized by jazz musicians who played in ensembles called kumidaiko (組太鼓, ‘set of drums’). Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka brought this art form to America in 1967 and shortly after formed the first American taiko group, San Francisco Taiko Dojo, in 1968. Since then, taiko has spread across the country in the form of professional, collegiate, and community groups. St. Olaf Taiko performs classic and student-composed repertoire with energy and enthusiasm.
7:15 p.m. Closing/Departure
Breakout Session Descriptions
Eidō Ramirez is a Buddhist practitioner currently training for ordination under the guidance of Ted O’Toole, the guiding teacher at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis. Drawing from years of experience with Buddhist practice and Zen Meditation, Eidō is committed to sharing with others the significance of adopting Zen meditation into their daily life as a way of transforming how they live to benefit the welfare of others. He currently lives in Bemidji, MN where he facilitates a growing community of Zen practitioners. Eidō is also a current fellow in the MnMN-Jay Phillips Center Multifaith Leadership Seminar Program facilitated by Ali Chamseddine.
For young people, especially, interfaith engagement appears differently. Engaging with the internet and contemplating their involvement in traditional religious communities. More and more, young people are going online to find a sense of community among people of different faith traditions, all on different religious and spiritual journeys. During this discussion, Danielle and Ryan will engage with questions of religious affiliation and community, all within the context of the internet age.
Ryan Avenido is the co-chair for the Emerging Leaders Multifaith Action Council, a multifaith cohort of leaders under age 35 focused on tackling social issues. He has been involved in interfaith engagement since his undergraduate days at the University of St. Thomas, especially serving St. Thomas’s Interfaith Council as their student representative from 2019 to 2021 and participating in the Multifaith Leadership Training Program conducted by the Minnesota Multifaith Network and the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at St. Thomas from 2022 to 2023. He is currently a Master of Public Health (MPH) Epidemiology student at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health; he hopes to pursue an epidemiology research career in the future.
Dr. Danielle Clausnitzer (she/her) currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is the current Assistant Director at Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality. In 2023, she earned her PhD in Theological and Religious Studies from Georgetown University with the completion of her dissertation “The Roots of Rootwork: Addressing the Contemporary Concerns of Hoodoo Practitioners.” In her work life and personal life, Danielle works to raise awareness about young people’s involvement in interfaith work, disability justice, and racial justice.
Join this student-led session to connect with students from the many campuses represented at the workshop, and to learn about and discuss strategies for multifaith engagement on all our campuses. More info coming soon!
Rev. David Hottinger is the System Director of Spiritual Care for Allina Health. He has served in Chaplaincy leadership positions at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis and Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A graduate of Oberlin College and Harvard Divinity School, David has worked as a chaplain in hospital, hospice, mental health and community settings. David was a Wallenberg Fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and helped support Palestinian refugee relief efforts in the West Bank and Gaza. He is an Adjunct Professor at United Theological Seminary where he teaches on Trauma Informed Spiritual Care.
Rev. Paul Galchutt, MDiv, MPH, BCC is completing his coursework in the University of Maryland Baltimore’s PhD palliative care program. His dissertation work will focus on strengthening the usefulness of an inpatient palliative care chaplain’s clinical note. He was also a palliative care chaplain at the University of Minnesota Medical Center for ten years. He now works as a research partner and convener of the Hospice-Palliative Spiritual Care Research Network with Transforming Chaplaincy, Department of Religion, Health & Human Values, Rush University Medical Center. Additionally, Paul is a 2023 Cambia Sojourns Scholar. Last, Paul has been an ELCA Lutheran pastor for 28 years having served a congregation in the Chicago suburbs for seven years before transitioning into health care chaplaincy.
Rev. Dr. Jessica Chapman Lape is a womanist pastoral theologian, clinical chaplain, and community doula. She teaches interreligious chaplaincy at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is a staff chaplain at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Jessica is ordained in the United Church of Christ and her scholarship integrates spiritual care, African American culture, and reproductive justice.
Imam Sharif A. Mohamed is the cofounder of the first mosque to be opened by the Somali community in Minnesota, in 1998. The Dar-Al Hijrah Mosque is well known to many of the 100,000+ Somali and Oromo who’ve immigrated to Minnesota. Under his leadership the Dar Al- Hijrah Mosque has evolved into a larger civic organizing institution, leading efforts to connect to mainstream community, provide needed services, and leadership for the large Muslim communities of Minnesota. 12 years ago, he co-founded a new nonprofit, Open Path Resources (OPR), which builds partnership with mainstream institutions to increase the capacity of youth, families, and faith centers to better serve the needs of Muslims in our state. Topics such as early diagnosis of autism or other developmental issues, the importance of immunizations, anti-smoking campaigns, diabetes prevention and management, are all subjects we have addressed in our work.
Over the last few years, he has led efforts to connect Islamic principles to key mental and physical health issues common to the East African immigrant communities. With 20+ years of experience of family and marriage counseling and as a faith leader, he is well known both locally and globally as a leading Islamic scholar in North America. In 2015 he was awarded the prestigious Public Leadership Award from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs for my interfaith and intercultural leadership. In 2015, he became the first Imam in Minnesota history to earn the credentials of Chaplain in hospital systems. Since that time, he has helped several other Muslim faith leaders, men and women, complete training and become hired as chaplains within our healthcare systems.
Stories are an essential part of human meaning-making and religious identity. This workshop will explore how storytelling and story-listening can be powerful tools in engaging the religious and the non-religious “other.” Along the way, we will examine the elements of a good story, the marks of good listening, and how stories can help us address “the fierce urgency of now”. (MLKJr.)
Dr. Matthew Maruggi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Augsburg University. He teaches and researches in the areas of ethics, liberation theologies, community engaged pedagogies, and interfaith studies and action. Matt is one of the convenors of the higher education group of the Minnesota Multifaith Network. One of Matt’s most recent endeavors in teaching has been in the intersection of religion and food called “Interfaith Eating and Ethics.”
Dr. Marty Stortz is professor emerita of religion at Augsburg University, where she served from 2010-2020 after teaching in The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley CA for almost thirty years. An author, speaker, and consultant, she currently serves on the boards of the Collegeville Institute and the Minnesota Multifaith Network.
Erica Solomon Collins serves as the executive director of National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) Minnesota, a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. NCJW Minnesota’s network of volunteer advocates make change in a variety of important issue areas through a combination of advocacy, leadership development, and direct service. Erica lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Jackson, and mini poodle mix, Fava, and loves walking around the lakes, cooking, and exploring new restaurants. Erica is also a current fellow in the MnMN-Jay Phillips Center Multifaith Leadership Seminar Program facilitated by Ali Chamseddine.
Madeleine Ross (she/her) is a fellow of the MNMN / St. Thomas Jay Phillips Center Multifaith Leadership Seminar. She graduated from Luther College in 2020, majoring in Social Work with a minor in Religious Studies. She is currently a student in Luther Seminary’s Master of Arts program for Justice and Reconciliation, and is the Employer Partnerships Manager at Tree Trust, a twin cities nonprofit focused on urban forestry and green trades career development for youth/young adults with barriers to employment.
Antoine Chehade, a student at the University of St. Thomas, is pursuing a major in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Interfaith Leadership. Born and raised in Lebanon, Antoine considers home to be wherever his family resides, embracing a global perspective on life and belonging. His choice to become an Interfaith Fellow was driven by a profound willingness to explore various religions and cultures, aiming to enhance his understanding and acquire valuable skills. Through the Interfaith Fellows Program, he has engaged in meaningful activities such as an internship with the Niagara Foundation and a dialogue practicum through the Perspectives Constructive Dialogue Program. Additionally, Antoine has taken on a leadership role as an International Student Ambassador, demonstrating his commitment to fostering intercultural and interfaith dialogue. Upon graduation, he aspires to embark on a career as a biomedical engineer, with hopes of making his mark in a world-renowned company, preferably in the eastern United States. Antoine’s journey reflects a blend of engineering prowess and a deep commitment to interfaith leadership, marking him as a standout student with ambitious goals for the future.
Laila Franklin, a student at the University of St. Thomas, is pursuing a major in Entrepreneurship with minors in Interfaith Leadership and Theology for the Common Good. Originally from Brooklyn Park, MN, Laila is deeply committed to exploring and understanding the diverse faith traditions that enrich our world. She is a Peer Minister and an Interfaith Fellow at St. Thomas, an intern with the Minnesota Multifaith Network, and completed the Perspectives Constructive Dialogue Program. Laila’s passion for faith and community service drives her dream to establish a faith-based fitness center after graduation, merging her entrepreneurial skills with her commitment to spiritual and physical wellness. Her journey at St. Thomas is marked by a dedication to learning, service, and the ambitious goal of creating a space where faith and fitness converge for the common good.
Matthew Marohl is the College Pastor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. A pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Matt has served in congregations in the Chicago-area and in the Quad-Cities. He is also a graduate of the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland, with a Ph.D. in New Testament and has taught at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Matt says that, “it is an honor to be a pastor to college students. The worship life at St. Olaf is vibrant and I enjoy having conversations with students about every matter of college life. I love music and am actively engaged in a number of writing projects. Most recently, I contributed commentaries on The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrews in The T&T Clark Social Identity Commentary on the New Testament. In the fall of 2023, I wrote Hebrews: A Social Identity Commentary (forthcoming, T&T Clark). In addition, Pastor Katie Fick and I published Unscheduled Grace: 40 Devotions and Prayers for College Students (2023, Sparkhouse). I live in Northfield with my wife, Sarah, and our two daughters, Noa and Greta.”
Organizational Partners
Organized and hosted by the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community at St. Olaf College, the Minnesota Multifaith Network, the Interfaith Fellows Program of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas, and the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University. Cosponsored by the Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community at St. Olaf College via the Walter and Betty Stromseth Fund for Intercultural and Inter-Religious Education, the Minnesota Multifaith Network, the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies, the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University and Luther Seminary.
Institutional Partners. Carleton College, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University, Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Macalester College, Normandale Community College, Oreck-Alpern Interreligious Forum at The College of St. Scholastica and St. Catherine University.
You must be logged in to post a comment.