Frequently Asked Questions

There are many reasons why the Emory Interfaith Center is a valuable resource on Emory's campus. Emory has a longstanding tradition of strong interfaith engagement that spans more than 30 years, beginning with the founding of the Inter-Religious Council and building upon a history of meaningful Jewish-Christian relationships and dialogue. The campus in blessed with multiple Christian and Jewish sacred spaces, including Cannon Chapel which had two dedications" one Christian and one interfaith. But as Emory's religious diversity has grown, more and more communities and activities are filling existing spaces.

Cannon Chapel is also used for academic purposes Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, and it does not offer multiple chaplain offices in close proximity to its programming spaces. The Emory Interfaith Center serves as a welcoming, hospitable "home away from home" for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. It centers Emory's historically underrepresented spiritual communities and it is both a lively resource and a symbol of the university's strong commitment to interfaith dialogue, learning, peacemaking, and service.

The Emory Interfaith Center reflects a vision that has been contemplated for many years to create a dedicated place of worship, prayer, meditation, and retreat for Emory's diverse spiritual communities. The center also serves as a space that fosters interfaith engagement, education, dialogue, and service learning, supporting the university's commitment to religious and philosophical diversity.

Dean Emerita Susan Henry Crowe championed this vision, and under her leadership, Emory conducted a major feasibility study in 2004 for a proposed center with an estimated cost of $26.5 million. Although that plan ultimately proved economically infeasible, it led to significant enhancements to Cannon Chapel in 2013. Support for a dedicated interfaith center remained strong among faculty, staff, and students, including through campus op-eds published in Spring 2019. Following the appointment of Dean Gregory W. McGonigle in August 2019, the university renewed its efforts to bring this vision to life, resulting in the creation of the Emory Interfaith Center—a welcoming home for Emory's multifaith chaplaincy and a lasting symbol of the university's commitment to interfaith engagement.

No terms are perfect when it comes to describing religion, spirituality, and philosophy - which often speak about things not seen or fully experienced. "Interfaith" is currently the most commonly used term for discussing the relationship between religions, spiritualities, and philosophies, including nonreligion and Humanism. It assumes diverse spiritual practices at peace with one another and working together to advance the common good.

The Emory Interfaith Center primarily serves all current Emory students, faculty, and staff across both undergraduate and graduate/professional schools. It also hosts events for alumni, families, and friends while serving as a hub for building connections with the surrounding neighborhood, the broader community, and communities beyond Emory.

Located at a crossroads on the edge of the Druid Hills community, the Emory Interfaith Center serves as a nexus between the university and the broader community, fostering connections through spirituality, service, and social justice. The greater Atlanta community actively supports spiritual life at Emory, and the university remains deeply engaged in local spiritual and interfaith initiatives. The center strengthens these existing partnerships by creating a welcoming space for collaboration, dialogue, learning, and community engagement.

The Interfaith Center has many helpful features.

View the Complete List of Center Features

The Emory Interfaith Center is a place of worship, prayer, meditation, and retreat for Emory's diverse spiritual communities. It also serves as a space that fosters interfaith engagement, education, dialogue, and service. The center provides a welcoming home away from home for Emory's diverse spiritual communities while serving as a gateway between the university, the greater Atlanta community, and the world beyond.

Cannon Chapel remains the main university chapel on Emory's Atlanta campus and provides the large gathering spaces that support approximately 25 weekly worship services, spiritual gatherings, and events. As Emory's spiritual life continues to grow and diversify, Cannon Chapel remains a vibrant and active center for religious life on campus.

The Emory Interfaith Center complements Cannon Chapel by providing dedicated office, program, and meeting spaces for Emory's multifaith chaplains, spiritual leaders, and affiliated programs. Together, the two facilities expand the university's capacity to support its diverse religious and spiritual communities. The University Chaplaincy and the Dean of Religious Life continue to maintain an office in Cannon Chapel, strengthening the connection between both spaces.

The Interfaith Center was completed in the Fall of 2023; with the opening on October 21, 2023.

Emory selected Menafee Architecture to be the lead architects of this project, based on similar student center work they had done at Spelman College and elsewhere.

The interior design is inspired by the Living Mandala Garden next to the front ramp of Cannon Chapel on Emory's campus. This beautiful sacred garden, which was the idea of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and placed at Emory with support from University Chaplaincy in 2012, is now maintained by the Emory Buddhist Chaplaincy and interfaith friends. Its beautiful colors invite meditation and reflection on our lives and the whole universe, and it alternates between inviting rest and action.

The design of the Emory Interfaith Center reflects a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process involving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors whose input helps shape the project. The university engaged the community through a variety of channels to inform the center's design, including Emory University Chaplaincy staff and affiliate meetings, Inter-Religious Council meetings, an open campus engagement session, and an online campus survey. The feedback gathered through these efforts continues to influence a space that reflects the needs and values of Emory's diverse community.

Everyone is invited to connect with the University Chaplaincy to support the Emory Interfaith Center through ideas, partnerships, or financial contributions. Opportunities to give help enhance the center by supporting important religious and sacred items, including shrines for the Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Buddhist communities. Donors may also contribute to the Interfaith Fund, which supports the center's shared commons and other initiatives that foster interfaith engagement, hospitality, and community.

Some other examples of universities with vibrant interfaith centers are Tufts University and Elon University.