CANCELLED: Effectively Adapting Interfaith Understandings and Work Within a Catholic University Setting

In this session, three female spiritual leaders of different faiths present their experiences and reflections at a private university in Chicago. Drawing on faith perspectives outside of the dominant religious presence, they address the overarching question, how do we meet the needs of a diverse spiritual community at the nation’s largest Catholic higher education institution. In addition to providing an overview of the essential work of diverse religious leaders, this panel presents some of the complexities, biases, and challenges embedded in the context of their work. They explore the beliefs, norms, and practices woven into formal and informal practices, policies, and expectations at this Catholic university, as well as examine intersections of gender, religion, and race. In light of some of the inequalities white Christian privileges create, presenters invite participants into a conversation about best practices as they further commit to meeting the needs of diverse populations.