Berry College Religion in Life

Interfaith Home

For more information, stop by the BCRL office on the third floor of Krannert Center or call us at x2217. You can also email us by clicking this link.

Interfaith Council at Berry College

Return to Home Page

Berry College was founded in 1902 by the Christian visionary and philanthropist Martha Berry who believed that every student is entitled to an equal opportunity to learn. While Berry is rooted in and continues to uphold strong Christian values, the College upholds that people of all religious and cultural backgrounds are to be welcomed into the campus community.

Martha Berry

Following in the steps of the Parliament for the World’s Religions, and Martha Berry’s vision for equal education for all, Berry College has created its own small organization for the support of different religions.

Scott Colley and Steve Bell

Dr. Bell and Dr. Colley at "Meet the IFC" Event

“The Interfaith Council exists to assist in wide-spread dialogue about the various dimensions of religious practice, belief, and faith in the Christian tradition and in others. We think some of the most powerful learning during the college years takes place outside the classroom. The IFC makes possible such learning on a continuing and organized basis.”
---Scott Colley,
President of Berry College

Founded in the fall of 2003, the Interfaith Council is a group of faculty, administrators and students who work closely with the Chaplain’s Office to help foster a welcoming environment at Berry College for people of all faiths. It supports and promotes opportunities for people to learn about and participate in a variety of religious opportunities, both on campus and in the surrounding community. Many of its events over the past two years have included speeches by such prominent writers as Bishop Spong, Elaine Pagels, and Inés Talamantez.

Inez talamentez

Ines Talamentez

“For me, the first step in following Christ today is to open oneself to the revelation of God in the other religions of the world. The Interfaith Council provides the context in which that can happen.”
--David McKenzie
Methodist Pastor and Professor
of Religion at Berry College

Through these and other on-going programs, the Interfaith Council seeks to foster an appreciation of multi-faith awareness on Berry’s campus and throughout the Rome area.

In the words of Cary Sanders, a student at Berry: “Serving on the Interfaith Council has allowed me to interact with and learn from people of various religious faiths, enriching my education and spirituality. The [Interfaith] council is important because it encourages love and appreciation of every human being, which is a virtue taught in all major religions.”

Jeff Playing Drum

Music at the "Meet the IFC" Event

“The Interfaith Council provides a welcoming environment for people of different religious backgrounds. Coming to a school where Christianity is the predominant faith can no doubt be intimidating for someone who is not Christian. Those who are brave enough to enter into such a college should be welcomed and their faith should be celebrated. By being more open to new ideas and beliefs we have the potential to create a future of greater unity at Berry.”
—Kathleen McMahan
Berry College Student

Return to Home Page