Emory Interfaith Center
"The Emory Interfaith Center is a vital resource for spirituality, diversity, and community, but it is also a symbol of Emory's commitment to leadership in the areas of interfaith understanding, dialogue, peacemaking, and common action for the common good."
- Dean of Religious Life Gregory W. McGonigle
Welcome
Emory University is home to the Emory Interfaith Center, a vibrant space dedicated to worship, prayer, meditation, reflection, and retreat for Emory's diverse spiritual communities. The center also serves as a hub for interfaith engagement, education, dialogue, service, and social justice initiatives, fostering meaningful connections across religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions. It provides a welcoming home away from home for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and visitors while serving as a gateway between the Emory community and the broader Atlanta community and beyond.
The center features spacious and flexible sacred spaces, community and meeting rooms that support hospitality, gatherings, studying, programming, and retreats, along with offices for Emory's multifaith chaplaincy staff, interns, and student employees. The surrounding grounds offer peaceful areas for contemplation and appreciation of nature, while the building's architecture and artistic design reflect a broad and inclusive welcome that celebrates the rich spiritual diversity of the Emory community.
Following the completion of construction in Spring 2023, the Emory Interfaith Center officially opened during Homecoming and Family Weekend on October 21, 2023. Today, the center continues to support the university's mission by providing an inclusive environment where individuals of all faiths, spiritual traditions, and worldviews can gather, learn, build community, and work together for the common good.
Interfaith Goals
- Provide the Emory community with a multifaith retreat and spiritual program facility that is available for worship, prayer, meditation, music, gatherings, receptions, conferences, and wellness activities for undergraduate and graduate/professional students, faculty, and staff across all Emory schools.
- Advance wisdom, knowledge, compassion, and service to humanity through interfaith engagement, education, dialogue, service, social action, and leadership development.
- Serve as a gateway for campus and community engagement by fostering meaningful connections across religious and philosophical diversity while promoting service, collaboration, and social justice.
Emory Report Article
New Shrines at Emory Interfaith Center
Designed by Emory students and chaplains and hand-carved in India, four new shrines will allow for devotions and learning in the new Emory Interfaith Center.
Read the Full ArticleA Place for Everyone
The new Emory Interfaith Center, opened this fall, offers students, faculty and staff space for “boundary-crossing” connections.
Read the Full ArticleNew Emory Interfaith Center to provide much-needed gathering space
Expected to open in December 2022, the Emory Interfaith Center will provide space for students to practice their traditions and serve as a community hub for dialogue and understanding. Architects are now designing the center, which will be located in this building on North Decatur Road.
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