Interfaith Dialogue Dinner Series to Address ‘Spiritual Care During Turbulent Times’

The University’s ongoing Interfaith Dialogue Dinner Series, “Common and Diverse Ground: Raising Consciousnesses by Acknowledging the ‘Hidden’ Things that Divide Us,” is offering a virtual conversation roundtable for the Spring 2021 semester.

Participants will discuss the topic, “Presence and Pandemics: Reflections on Spiritual Care During Turbulent Times,” exploring the vibrancy of presence in the midst of pain, harm and hope.

The Rev. Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel, will moderate the conversation roundtable with chaplains and campus spiritual leaders on Tuesday, April 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. This roundtable will explore a diversity of customs and questions while seeking to nourish the soul and ignite the spirit in the midst of our challenging circumstances.

Panelists will include Melvin Baker, Historically Black Church chaplain; Rhonda Chester, Methodist chaplain; JoAnn Cooke, Buddhist chaplain; Julia Cutler ’21, SPIRAL (Student Pagan Information, Relations and Learning) president; Amir Duric, Muslim chaplain; Joel Goldstein, Jewish chaplain; and Regina Jones, assistant director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Native Student Program. Joe Zoll ’22 will lead the opening and closing meditations.

Registration for this program is required, and is available directly on the Zoom platform. Those who would like or prefer alternative registration are invited to contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

All participants are welcome to bring their own meal to the “virtual table” during the conversation. Although this semester’s Interfaith Dialogue Dinner series will not permit the sharing of a traditionally provided, inclusive dinner, the virtual conversation will allow participants to break bread in company with one another, providing secular and spiritual nourishment.

The program is free and open to the public. Live captioning, American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and image descriptions will be provided. For requests for additional accommodations or questions, contact Hendricks Chapel at chapel@syr.edu or 315.443.2901.

Over the past five years, the “Common and Diverse Ground” series has brought members of the campus community together in an inclusive environment to explore challenging contemporary issues. The Spring 2021 series is co-sponsored by Hendricks Chapel, the Burton Blatt Institute’s Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and Outreach and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.