Western holds interfaith service
Religious groups around campus unite to model community, love
Erin Huggins
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
In conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) events being held around campus this week, several religious groups will participate in Western's first-ever interfaith worship service in the plaza tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Lauren Smith, Advisor for Multicultural Student Services and Programs, explained the need to incorporate this event into the week's line-up, citing MLK's commitment to people across all walks of life.
"His own philosophy really was beyond just civil rights when you look at the history of him and how he got placed into the position he occupied. He was a preacher by trade. His whole philosophy came from others, regardless of whether people were different faiths or different races. The motive for interacting with people should be love," she said.
Reverend Ann Bowersox, Campus Pastor for the Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians said, "I think [the service] is very important--especially at this very difficult time in the world--to model celebrating what we can share as well as respecting our differences.
Representatives from the Muslim Student Association, the Catholic Campus Ministry, the Church of Latter Day Saints and members from the Fellowship House (Bowersox's campus ministry) are participating in the service, though Bowersox said any students or community members are welcome to join and contribute their own faith's perspective.
The service will be simple, Bowersox said. Each faith will bring a reading selection, a prayer or an explanation of their faith, after which a meditation gong will ring. Participants will have a moment of silence and reflection and then the next faith will share.
In addition, Bowersox said, "I am hoping for some music, and then of course, breaking out the glow sticks to show that in coming together, we can make some light in the darkness."
Sophomore Ali Govori, president of the Muslim Student Association said the service will provide the best way to learn firsthand about other faiths from insiders, allowing students to "receive the correct view and understanding about various faiths and, thus, create a correct image about a certain faith."
According to Bowersox, having an open mind and listening to other points of view will allow students to model "a way to be in the world that was what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for: coming together, [gaining] peace through understanding, not letting our differences--color of our skin, faith, beliefs, etc--get in the way of getting along with one another."
In addition, Smith noted how MLK studied the writings and philosophy of Ghandi and, in fact, became the embodiment of non-violent social change. His influence on the civil rights movement, Smith said, was motivated by love.
Through the interfaith worship service and glow-stick vigil, Western is seeking to build bridges between communities that would not normally connect.
"We're people," Smith said. "Let's interact out of love."
Lauren Smith, Advisor for Multicultural Student Services and Programs, explained the need to incorporate this event into the week's line-up, citing MLK's commitment to people across all walks of life.
"His own philosophy really was beyond just civil rights when you look at the history of him and how he got placed into the position he occupied. He was a preacher by trade. His whole philosophy came from others, regardless of whether people were different faiths or different races. The motive for interacting with people should be love," she said.
Reverend Ann Bowersox, Campus Pastor for the Presbyterians, Methodists and Episcopalians said, "I think [the service] is very important--especially at this very difficult time in the world--to model celebrating what we can share as well as respecting our differences.
Representatives from the Muslim Student Association, the Catholic Campus Ministry, the Church of Latter Day Saints and members from the Fellowship House (Bowersox's campus ministry) are participating in the service, though Bowersox said any students or community members are welcome to join and contribute their own faith's perspective.
The service will be simple, Bowersox said. Each faith will bring a reading selection, a prayer or an explanation of their faith, after which a meditation gong will ring. Participants will have a moment of silence and reflection and then the next faith will share.
In addition, Bowersox said, "I am hoping for some music, and then of course, breaking out the glow sticks to show that in coming together, we can make some light in the darkness."
Sophomore Ali Govori, president of the Muslim Student Association said the service will provide the best way to learn firsthand about other faiths from insiders, allowing students to "receive the correct view and understanding about various faiths and, thus, create a correct image about a certain faith."
According to Bowersox, having an open mind and listening to other points of view will allow students to model "a way to be in the world that was what Martin Luther King Jr. stood for: coming together, [gaining] peace through understanding, not letting our differences--color of our skin, faith, beliefs, etc--get in the way of getting along with one another."
In addition, Smith noted how MLK studied the writings and philosophy of Ghandi and, in fact, became the embodiment of non-violent social change. His influence on the civil rights movement, Smith said, was motivated by love.
Through the interfaith worship service and glow-stick vigil, Western is seeking to build bridges between communities that would not normally connect.
"We're people," Smith said. "Let's interact out of love."
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