Kaufman Interfaith Institute

Student cohort strengthens interfaith conversations on college campuses

A collaborative internship program between five local colleges, including Grand Valley, is providing students with opportunities to develop their interfaith leadership skills and generate interfaith conversations on their own campuses. The cohort was established in 2015 after the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The participating schools currently include Grand Valley, Hope College, Calvin College, Aquinas College and Kuyper College.

Oct 17, 2018


Panelists will discuss faith, end-of-life care

What happens when you die? It's a deep question that will bring many different answers.

Oct 4, 2018


United Methodist Church leader to examine importance of social justice in religious communities during event

An upcoming lecture at Grand Valley will explore the importance of social justice in various religious communities around the world. The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, will be the featured speaker during the 2018 Rabbi Phillip Sigal Memorial Lecture. In her role, Henry-Crowe oversees the church's response to issues including civil and human rights, economic justice, environmental justice, health and wholeness, peace with justice, and wo

Apr 4, 2018


Interfaith conference to encourage building healthy relationships with global neighbors

Fear, division, skepticism and assumptions are the foundations of many national and global headlines, but the annual Academic Consortium Conference will encourage attendees to build healthy relationships with their neighbors. The conference, sponsored in-part by the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, will take place November 8. R. Scott Appleby, dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and expert on global religion, will present two keynote presentations during the conference.

Oct 27, 2017


Relationship of religion and science to be explored during conference

Scientists, philosophers, and theologians from around the world will gather in West Michigan to discuss the relationship between science and religion during the Grand Dialogue in Science and Religion annual conference, hosted by the Kaufman Interfaith Institute at Grand Valley. The conference, taking place May 13, is free and open to the public.

May 3, 2017


Lecture to examine the racialization of religion in America

Simran Jeet Singh, assistant professor of religion at Trinity University and senior religion fellow with the Sikh Coalition, will present the annual Rabbi Philip Sigal Memorial Lecture on March 30. The presentation will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. in Loosemore Auditorium. This event is LIB 100 and 201 approved for students.

Mar 23, 2017


Kaufman Interfaith Institute joins Inclusion and Equity

Following seven years of development and growth in the area of interfaith understanding, the Sylvia and Richard Kaufman Interfaith Institute has moved to the Division of Inclusion and Equity. Jesse Bernal, vice president for Inclusion and Equity, said that the institute will allow the division to expand upon its work in religious diversity and furthers the university's strategic plan to be a more diverse and inclusive campus.

Feb 2, 2017


Director receives rare invite to Middle East interfaith conference

Doug Kindschi was one of only 10 global interfaith leaders to attend the conference in Oman.

Dec 8, 2016