‘Faith’ Category
World Religions Faculty Position
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Create an additional tenure line in the Religion Department for a World Religions position. Additional explanation: Currently 9 of the 10 tenure lines in the department are positions in Christian theology, ethics, and scriptures. The current need for this position has been filled by a series of one-year term […]
Support of non-ELCA Christians and Non-Christians
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Survey self-identified non-ELCA Christian and non-Christian members of the Gustavus community to gain a better understanding of the support needed for these students, and develop a support strategy utilizing on-campus student resources and/or network with off-campus resources. Additional explanation: Responsibility for this effort should be centered in the Chaplains’ […]
Expand Retreat Program
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Expand staffing and retreat space either on or off campus to continue to grow outreach efforts to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni, congregations, youth, and others as a form of learning and growth. Additional explanation: Currently more than 1,500 high school students and 600 adults use on campus facilities […]
Christian Student Organizations Funding
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Charge the Chaplains’ Office and Dean of Students/Student Activities to explore the processes for permitting and providing funding for Christian student organizations and interreligious student groups. This recommendation was placed in the Spiritual Growth and Development Strategic Framework Substantive Category using the language: Charge the Chaplains’ Office and Dean […]
Dietary Requirements for Holy Days
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Provide for dietary requirements of various groups on campus during holy days and times of fasting. Additional explanation: Measurable goals should be established in collaboration by the Inter-faith Workgroup, Chaplains’ Office, Diversity Center, and Dining Services to accomplish this objective over the next two years. This recommendation was placed […]
Communal Sabbath Time
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Reaffirm the practice of campus-wide personal or communal sabbath time from 10 to 10:20 a.m. Additional explanation: As other colleges have moved away from daily chapel and as societal pressures increase from a seemingly never-slowing lifestyle pace, the daily chapel time at Gustavus is an immensely valuable resource for […]
Theologian Exchange and Fellowship Program
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Create an exchange and fellowship program for Lutheran and non-Lutheran Christian theologians from other countries with Gustavus’s Religion Department faculty. Additional explanation: This may include residencies by visiting scholars, hosting specialists in inter-religious dialogue, creating reciprocal relationships with international communities, hosting academic conferences, or inviting speakers to address the […]
Funding for the Center for Vocational Reflection
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Establish funding for the Center for Vocational Reflection to ensure that the program eventually would be fully sustained by the College. Additional explanation: Dedicate additional funds toward expanding the Center for Vocational Reflection’s work to the larger Gustavus community, especially alumni. During its brief existence, this program has generated […]
Assessment of Christ Chapel Upgrades
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Conduct a full assessment of needed upgrades to Christ Chapel, being mindful of all ADA accessibility issues and in keeping with the original architecture of the structure. Additional explanation: In an effort to make Christ Chapel, as a physical space, as welcoming and hospitable to all as possible, this […]
Non-Christian Religious Observances
Recommendation from the Faith Task Force: Encourage the Diversity Center or student groups to take the lead with consultation (if needed) by the Chaplains’ Office for non-Christian religious observances on campus. This recommendation was placed in the Spiritual Growth and Development Strategic Framework Substantive Category using the language: Encourage the Diversity Center or student groups […]