Building Spiritual Resiliency
Where Initiatives And Interest Meet
While the director of spiritual life position itself is new to Knox, it has its roots in both recent and past College history. In fact, the position finds its origins in the same ones that brought James Thrall, Knight Distinguished Associate Professor for the Study of Religion and Culture, to Knox six years ago. Both the professorship and director are supported by the same donor, and both are perfect examples of where institutional initiatives and donor interest meet.
The official role of religion at Knox is complex and sometimes contentious. After a religious schism among the founders of the College, Knox became a secular institution early in its history, but religion and the spiritual life of its students remained an important part of College life. Daily chapel remained compulsory for all faculty and students until the 1940s, and a department of religion was created in 1947 and included a chaplain who also served as a faculty member. Over time, daily chapel turned to weekly chapel, which then turned to occasional convocations. In 1953, the department of religion was absorbed into the philosophy department, and, upon the retirement of long-time religion professor William Matthews in 1983, the College lost its chaplain. Thanks to faculty interest and initiative, active student groups, and connections to the local community, Knox was able to continue to provide opportunities for students to study religion and practice their spirituality.
A little over six years ago, Knox faculty and student interest in reviving religious studies grew, and the College knew of a donor with an interest in this very area. Two years later, a faculty chair in religion and culture was endowed by the donor, and, after a national search, James Thrall was invited to fill that chair.
More recently, with a more robust academic program in religious studies, along with a growing number of active student organizations focused on religion and spirituality, Knox saw a need to address spiritual life outside of the classroom. Last spring, Knox invited a panel of speakers from colleges similar to Knox to speak on spiritual life and the liberal arts, with a focus on multifaith campus programs. With campus interest growing in a spiritual life position, the same donor who endowed the professorship agreed to support the new position as well.
"A very important aspect of education takes place outside of the classroom," says the donor. "It will be wonderful to have someone who can help students work through the sometimes difficult personal and philosophical issues that confront them as they make the transition between living at home and, eventually, taking their places in the world after Knox."
From the donor's perspective, Thrall and Seiwert can work in tandem to help students explore themselves and their beliefs. "It is my belief that James Thrall and Lisa Seiwert, working together, will greatly enrich the Knox experience for every student who walks through the doors of Old Main."
This article is from the Fall 2016 issue of the Knox Magazine. Read more stories from the issue.
Published on October 26, 2016