{"id":4705,"date":"2011-09-21T08:35:45","date_gmt":"2011-09-21T14:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=4705"},"modified":"2011-09-21T12:02:31","modified_gmt":"2011-09-21T18:02:31","slug":"uccs-to-kick-off-interfaith-initiative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=4705","title":{"rendered":"UCCS to kick off interfaith initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

Helping UCCS students who\u00a0come from\u00a0different religious traditions or who have no religious\u00a0commitment find common ground will be the subject of the first event of the White House Interfaith and Community Service Challenge.<\/p>\n

The inaugural event, featuring a local pastor and a panel discussion of campus and community leaders, is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. Sept. 27 in the University Center Theater.<\/p>\n

Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak will introduce Benjamin Broadbent, pastor, First Congregational Church, Colorado Springs, who will speak on the issue of religion in a diverse community. Jeff Scholes, instructor, Department of Philosophy and director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, will lead a panel discussion of how to address concerns involving religion on the campus. The discussion is a planned kick off of a year-long series of efforts designed to explore how people of differing faiths, as well as those who do not consider themselves religious, can work together toward a common goal.<\/p>\n

In June, UCCS was accepted into President Barack Obama\u2019s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge for the upcoming academic year. In August, Scholes and Peg Bacon, provost, traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss UCCS efforts for the coming year. Throughout the fall semester, there will be weekly lunch meetings for students interested in a continuing dialogue around these issues.\u00a0 Students will also be invited at the event to participate in the Give! Campaign sponsored by the Colorado Springs Independent<\/em> this fall and to help with the local parks services this spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know we have many students at UCCS who have deeply felt beliefs,\u201d Scholes said \u201cWe also know that we have many students who believe equally strongly that organized religion or even spirituality is not for them. How do we honor these commitments while attempting to bridge this gap in order to effect real change in our community?\u201d<\/p>\n

Panel members will include<\/p>\n