The Rollins Center for Spiritual Life and Interfaith Engagement has gone through various changes in the past few years. However, the one aspect that hasn’t changed is its continual support for students on Rollins’ campus.
As beautiful and full of history as it is, how exactly can the chapel be a helpful, safe resource for students?
Over the years, Rollins has been growing increasingly diverse both physically and spiritually. The Center for Spiritual Life and Interfaith Engagement has been very intentional about keeping up with and curating the space to fit varying needs.
Rollins College was founded by New England Congregationalists who were part of the United Church of Christ. Since opening in 1932, under the care of a Dean of the Chapel, the Knowles Memorial Chapel has served as a home for various students needing guidance, comfort, support, and community; whether that is for the body, the mind, or the soul.
“We have this gorgeous, beautiful gem of a chapel, but a lot of students feel like you can’t go in it, where it feels like a museum…” said Harold Dorell Briscoe (Ph.D), “some people did not have the type of upbringing [I] had, where religion and church was accepted and encouraged and it was happy. Some folks experience a lot of harm… The fact that we have a space that is welcoming [has been] really encouraging.”
Taking this into consideration, the inside of Knowles Chapel has been redesigned and has shifted purpose throughout decades. There have even been changes to one of the rooms within the chapel that stood unutilized. It has been transformed into a dedicated space for Muslim life. Dr. Briscoe said, “Our Muslim students, they pray five times a day. Some of them were praying in their cars, some of them had no place to pray. [So], we took a room that wasn’t really utilized and converted it.”
About 10 years ago, the title changed from Dean of the Chapel to Dean of Religious and Spiritual life. Currently, Briscoe serves as the 96th Dean of Religious Life at Rollins. The title was changed because there are “different folks that worship differently; Jewish folks, Muslim folks, Buddhist folks, Sikh folks, right? So how can we…make it more inclusive and welcome to other faith traditions?” said Briscoe.
“Interfaith work that focuses on literacy, learning about other faith traditions and dialogue… is important because we live in a world that is highly polarized and highly siloed. So, being able to create containers and ecosystems where conversation can happen is so critical.” said Briscoe.
The interfaith office hosts various organizations, events, and clubs encompassing all religions, practices, and faiths. Some of these groups include:
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) (Christian)
Rollins Catholic Campus Ministry (RCCM) (Catholic/Christian)
Hillel (Jewish)
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IV) (Christian)
Muslim Student Association (MSA) (Muslim)
CRU (Christian)
Rollins Buddhist’s Association (Buddhist)
Briscoe tells students his own philosophy: “strong back, soft front when it comes to spiritual life at Rollins. Meaning be firm in your convictions.” Briscoe said, “Follow Jesus, you follow Jesus. But what does it look like to have a soft front towards my Jewish brothers and sisters who don’t believe in Jesus? What does it look like to have a soft front to engage in conversation with my atheist brothers and sisters?”
Both Dean Briscoe and the faculty housed within the chapel place heavy importance on interdenominational connection, respect, and healthy dialogue. There are various places within the chapel that can house these interactions and environments to learn from one another. Places like the Peace Cafe, the Interfaith Study room, and the altar in the main sanctuary.
There are additional resources for community and connection between faiths such as the Interfaith Scholars Program, Peace Breakfast, and various high holiday services like Vespers.
Whatever needs students may have, “We have a place for you.” said Briscoe.
The students are more than welcome to meet with, talk with, and connect with the chapel staff at Rollins if they are in need of a support system that looks beyond the physical and mental. There is an associate director of Muslim life, Jewish life, Program Coordinator Cari Rotenberger, and Dean Briscoe. “My background, my PhD is in Christian theology… but I am so open to talking about anyone’s journey.”
Each person’s journey with their spirit is different; we as humans will continue to grow in our knowledge and experiences, so why not do so together? “I’m only on year three, and I’m learning and tweaking all the time,” said Briscoe.
Another way connection for students is happening is through a program called The Chapel Fellows Program that has been dormant for decades until now.
Like in the past, it is a group of students that assist in chapel worship services, (which have since been discontinued) but there are services once or twice a month during high holidays and other busy times of the year such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and even alumni weekend. Our most famous alumni, Mr. Rogers, was a part of this group during his time at Rollins in the 1950s.
“We just started this year, and I’m really proud of this… It is about 20 students, and it’s an ecumenical gathering of Christians…from all stripes and shapes. We got Lutherans, Presbyterians, Catholics, Pentecostals, Greek Orthodox; But it’s Christians, focused on Jesus, and focused on assisting and leading in our worship services when we do them.” said Briscoe.
Since its founding, Rollins has stepped away from its exclusively Christian roots and is no longer affiliated with a single religion and standpoint. Instead, is now a hub for all people, of all faiths, of all practices, that continues to grow alongside its students and faculty.
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