Religious reps come together in Council

According to Sharon Kugler, chaplain of The Johns Hopkins University, "the [Interfaith Council] table is big enough for everyone."

Already in its 10th year, the Hopkins Interfaith Council has a successful past, an exciting future, and a nonstop commitment to exploring issues and practices important to all faiths.

Started in 1993, the Interfaith Council, run through campus ministries and under the direction of Kugler, is an organization committed to developing a dialogue between groups of different religious beliefs. The council began with representatives from eight student organizations, and currently provides seats for 24.

Students from the Agape Campus Christian Fellowship, Hindu Student Council, and Unitarian Universalist, just to name a few, come together almost every Tuesday night to set an agenda, ask questions, address issues and listen.

According to Kugler, getting people used to listening and being together is one of the first challenges, and an important step in the success of the year.

But while tackling serious, and some not so serious, topics, the Council meets in a laid-back atmosphere meant for the students to feel comfortable.

"I ask myself, how can we make this a creative, fun, intellectually stimulating experience," Kugler said.

According to representatives on the Council, it already is.

"For me, the most rewarding thing about the council is being able to make friendships that aren't superficial," said senior Andleeb Khan, a representative from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Muslim Association. "Most of the time we're hanging out, talking about common college-student experiences ... It's good because getting to know a person on this level makes you think of them first as your peer, who happens to be of a different faith background."

The Council also sets aside certain meetings to discuss specific issues, such as how each religious group perceives the afterlife, and how to deal with grief and death. At times, members can get frustrated when trying to explain an aspect of their faith.

According to Kugler, some representatives initially come to the meetings with the idea that "people just don't understand what I'm trying to express about my faith."

With an atmosphere geared toward listening, a chance to explain is given to each organization. Each person may not agree with views expressed, but the group listens to the positions and arguments of a different faith and respects them.

"Being religious can make you prone to being really exclusive and forget about those around you," Khan said, "even if such a thing is the opposite of what your faith advocates."

Junior Dan Kaplow, a representative from Hopkins' Hillel and Jewish Student Associations (JSA), felt that one of the most challenging discussions of the group last year was based on how different religious traditions view organ donation. He said that although the topic was a heavy one, Kugler and Kathy Schnurr, assistant chaplain, made the students feel comfortable, and everyone did some research to present his or her tradition's position.

The Interfaith Council also explores traditions and celebrations of each group, and opens the gatherings to the surrounding community in a program titled "Open Hands Open Hearts." During these gatherings, one group presents a specific concept of their religion, while another makes a meal to be shared.

An upcoming event is scheduled in which Catholics will give a lecture on the celebration of Lent, and members of the Jewish Student Association and Hillel will prepare the meal.

Another focus has been a presentation on Ramadan, followed by a meal made by the Catholic community.

"We spend time together in a climate of mutual respect and hospitality," Kugler said.

The Council also participates in community service, volunteering time at the Ronald McDonald House once a month and making lunches for Sandwich Sunday, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing meals for those who might not otherwise have enough to eat.

According to Kugler it's a program devoted to "mak[ing] someone feel like they are worth something."

While most of those who attend the meetings and events are representatives of religious groups, some students just come, and none are turned away.

If not for religious enlightenment, the Interfaith Council provides an opportunity for students to get away from the magnetic lure of textbooks and tests.

"Students can get so caught up in their own [work] that they don't look outside," Kugler said.

Kaplow agrees.

"The council is immensely important to the Hopkins campus because many times people, especially Hopkins students, get caught up in all the work they have to do and forget that there are so many people here who are so interesting and so different," he said.

Overall, Kugler hopes that after their experiences with the Interfaith Council, students will go out in the world with a different sense.

"We don't claim to have meetings where in the end, there's an answer and everyone is holding hands," she said. It's about "coming to a place of understanding."

Worship you can walk to

African Methodist Episcopal

Oak Street AME Church

123 West 24th St.

410/235-6908

Apostolic

First Emmanuel Apostolic

4536 Reisterstown Rd.

410/664-2664

Baha'i

JHU Interfaith Center

3509 N. Charles St.

410/261-1880

Baptist

University Baptist Church

3509 N. Charles St.

410/467-2343

Catholic

SS. Phillip & James

2801 N. Charles St.

410/235-2294

Christian Science

1st Church of Christ Scientist

102 W. University Pkwy.

410/467-4858

Church of Christ

University Church of Christ

530 W. University Pkwy.

410/467-7371

Eastern Orthodox

Annunciation Cathedral

24 W. Preston St.

410/727-1830

Episcopal

Cathedral Church of the Incarnation

4 E. University Pkwy.

410/467-3750

Friends

Homewood Friends

3107 N. Charles St.

410/235-4438

Hindu

JHU Interfaith Center

3509 N. Charles St.

410/261-1880 (during academic year)

Islam

JHU Interfaith Center

3509 N. Charles St.

410/261-1880

Jehovah Witness

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness

3627 Greenmount Ave.

410/655-2977

Jewish (Orthodox)

AMR I Lower Level

(during academic year)

Jewish (Conservative, Reform)

JHU Interfaith Center

3509 N. Charles St.

410/261-1880 (during academic year)

Lutheran

1st English Evangelical Lutheran

39th and Charles Sts.

410/235-2356

Mennonite

North Baltimore Mennonnite Church

4615 Roland Ave.

Mormon

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

3501 The Alameda

410/366-2908

Presbyterian (USA)

Roland Park Presbyterian

4801 Roland Ave.

410/889-2000

Second Presbyterian

4200 St. Paul St.

410/467-4210

Presbyterian (PCA)

Faith Christian Fellowship

505 E. 42nd St.

410/323-0202

Seventh Day Adventist

Miracle Temple

100 S. Fulton Ave.

410/233-2530

Sikhism

Kundalini Yoga Center

2322 N. Charles St.

United Church of Christ

St. Matthew's UCC

3400 Norman Ave.

410/235-3738

United Methodist

Lovely Lane UM Church

2200 St. Paul St.

410/889-1512

St John's of Baltimore City

27th and St. Paul Sts.

410/366-7733

Unitarian

First Unitarian Universalist

Charles & Franklin Sts.

410/685-2330