The Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies at the University of St. Thomas is dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of interreligious relations, promoting public understanding through dialogue, encounter, and civic engagement, while critically analyzing the dynamic encounters of individuals and communities with different religious orientations, as well as their personal, interpersonal, institutional, and societal implications.
Executive Summary
The Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies (JPC) had a successful year of public programming, highlighted by Rabbi Dr. Ryan Dulkin’s October 2023 presentation on misconceptions about Judaism and the “Echoes of the Divine” concerts, which promoted learning and engagement through music. In March, Busshō Lahn led a session on Zen Buddhist insights for mental health and wellness, and Dr. Rabbi Rachel Mikva and Professor Najeeba Syeed discussed Multifaith Leadership. Read more below under Public Programming. The Interfaith Fellows Program continues to thrive in its third year, offering students invaluable experiences through interactions with guest speakers and real-world internships. A standout event was the Multifaith Workshop held at St. Olaf College, designed and led in part by the Interfaith Fellows. Read more below under Empowering Future Leaders.
In 2024, the JPC co-sponsored a book club and a focused session examining the Israel-Palestine narrative, and looks forward to hosting author Colum McCann in September. Read more below under Navigating the Israel Palestine Narrative. The JPC’s collaborations with external partners, including the Minnesota Multifaith Network and the Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies, have strengthened its reach and impact. Read more below under External Partnerships. Supported by several grants, the JPC continues to advance religious literacy and interfaith leadership through initiatives like the student Interfaith Fellows Program and a new university-wide multifaith strategic plan. Read more below under Grants. Campus engagement remains a priority, with the JPC co-sponsoring events and disbursing microgrants to faculty for interreligious topics. Read more below under Campus Engagement.
Looking Ahead: Join the Minnesota Multifaith Network on June 12, 2024, for the charity golf tournament organized by Laila Franklin, a student interfaith fellow of the JPC. In January 2025, current undergraduates can enroll in “From Frozen Lakes to Frosty Fjords: Dialogue, Diversity, and Leadership in MN and Norway.” The JPC is also excited to announce the launch of the JPC Faculty Fellows Program, where esteemed faculty will contribute their scholarly expertise to guide and enhance our initiatives, promoting inter-, multi-, and trans-disciplinarily approaches to interreligious studies and intellectual collaboration. Upcoming fall 2024 events include a dialogue on Hinduism and Christianity, a discussion with author Colum McCann, a talk on Abraham Joshua Heschel’s legacy, and the Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival in Spring 2025. Read more below under Looking Ahead.
Support the Center: To support the Jay Phillips Center and its mission, please consider making a donation by visiting this website or by contacting us at JPC@stthomas.edu.
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Stephanie Arado, Amy Grinsteiner, David Jordan Harris
Public Programming: The year was marked by a series of illuminating events that brought together diverse perspectives from various academic, religious, and spiritual orientations. In October 2023, Rabbi Dr. Ryan Dulkin gave a public presentation on What Christians Get Wrong about Judaism and Why it Matters at St. Thomas, in which he spoke of the longstanding misrepresentations of Judaism within Christian teachings and the significant repercussions of these perspectives. Highlighting the importance of accurate religious understanding, Rabbi Dulkin’s talk shed light on how these misconceptions have contributed to antisemitism and distorted Christian self-perception. His insights, drawn from an impressive academic and rabbinical background, emphasized the need for further Jewish studies in American academia. Following this, in November 2023, the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas became the venue for Echoes of the Divine: A Dialogue between Jewish and Christian Musical Traditions. Iterations of this concert were repeated at Saint John’s University and the University of Minnesota in April 2024. This unique event combined musical performance with conversation, featuring artists Amy Grinsteiner, Stephanie Arado, Chris Kachian, and David Jordan Harris. They performed works by composers who have been inspired by Jewish and Christian traditions, highlighting the power of music as a universal language that transcends religious boundaries and fosters deeper interfaith understanding. In March 2024, the Iverson Center for Faith was the venue for Zen Buddhist Insights for Self-Awareness, Mental Health, and Wellness, led by Busshō Lahn. Focusing on the intersection of mindfulness, mental health, and spirituality, Lahn’s presentation provided a Zen Buddhist perspective on cultivating self-awareness and well-being in contemporary society. Drawing from his extensive experience as a Zen teacher and his latest book, Lahn offered attendees practical insights into integrating mindfulness and compassion into their daily lives. This event was moderated by former student Interfaith Fellow Khanyilanga Ndlovu, who has since taken up the position of Mental Health Specialist at Children’s Minnesota. In April 2024, the Jay Phillips
Busshō Lahn
Center collaborated with the Encountering Islam Initiative in the Theology Department at St. Thomas to host the presentation Interfaith Just Peacemaking: Muslim and Christian Resources for Restorative Justice by Professor Najeeba Syeed, who explored the potential of Muslim and Christian traditions to contribute to restorative justice and peacebuilding, Syeed’s talk emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue in addressing contemporary social challenges. By sharing examples from her extensive work in conflict resolution, she illustrated how religious teachings can offer valuable resources for fostering peace and understanding in a divided world.
Empowering Future Leaders: Success of the Interfaith Fellows Program: In its third year,
the Jay Phillips Center’s Interfaith Fellows Program, generously funded in part by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations grant in Religious Literacy and Interfaith Leadership, has made remarkable strides in nurturing the next generation of leaders. This innovative initiative has brought together a diverse cohort of students—Bell Castilleja, Antoine Chehade, Laila Franklin, Alina Kiedinger, Naomi Peters, and Diana Tewelde—each contributing unique perspectives and commitment to fostering religious literacy and interfaith dialogue. The program’s mission is to “educate and prepare (inter)religiously literate and responsible scholar-practitioner leaders, critically informed by how lived religious practices and beliefs shape America, who act wisely, work skillfully, and engage religious diversity to advance the common good in civic, academic, professional, nonprofit, public, and community sectors.”
Rev. Michael Le Buhn, Jr.
The program’s rich curriculum was enhanced by interactions with esteemed guest speakers, including LaTanya Lane from Interfaith America, Rev. Michael Le Buhn, Jr. of Allina Health, David Jordan Harris, Marshall Bolin, and Dr. Megan Leverage from the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding. These engagements provided the fellows with invaluable insights into the complexities of engaging religious diversity and the importance of leadership.
An integral component of the fellows’ experience has been the opportunity to apply their learning in real-world contexts through internships. Our partners in this endeavor have been instrumental in offering practical experiences that complement the program’s academic rigor. The Minnesota Multifaith Network, Religions for Peace, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, Niagara Foundation-Minnesota, Turkish American Society of Minnesota, and Sant’ Egidio in Rome, Italy, along with a pioneering Interfaith Nursing internship with Dr. Anastasia Young, have all played pivotal roles in shaping the fellows’ professional development.
Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva, Prof. Najeeba Syeed
A standout moment of the year was the Multifaith Workshop held in March at St. Olaf College, titled “Multifaith Leadership and Engagement in a Fractured World.” Our students, the Interfaith Fellows, played a crucial role in envisioning and designing this transformative event, showcasing their leadership and collaborative skills. The workshop, which drew 200 people (70 of whom were St. Thomas students) was the culmination of efforts by partners including the Minnesota Multifaith Network, St. Olaf College, and Augsburg University, reflecting a strong community commitment to interfaith dialogue and education. It featured a keynote dialogue between Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva and Professor Najeeba Syeed, and sessions lead by Dr. Danielle Clausnitzer and Ryan Avenido, Rev. David Hottinger, Rev. Paul Galchutt, Rev. Dr. Jessica Chapman Lape, Imam Sharif A. Mohamed, Dr. Martha “Marty” Stortz, and Dr. Matt Maruggi. In preparation for this significant event, Ali Chamseddine coordinated the fall Multifaith Leadership Seminar, which brought together students from St. Thomas and St. Olaf to learn alongside young professionals in Minnesota – the Minnesota Multifaith Network Fellows – about dialogue practices and envision the spring workshop’s structure and content. The collaborative efforts of these institutions and individuals underscored the workshop’s theme and offered both theoretical frameworks and practical approaches to fostering mutual respect and understanding across diverse faith communities. Beyond these enriching activities, all the Interfaith Fellows are engaged in earning a minor in Interfaith Leadership or a related field, actively participating in local and global dialogues, and assuming leadership roles on campus to further cement their commitment to fostering a more inclusive and understanding community across diverse religious landscapes.
Navigating the Israel-Palestine Narrative: Historical Insights and Modern Debates:
Dr. Shaherzad Ahmadi
Dr. Benjamin E. Sax
During the J-Term in 2024, the Jay Phillips Center and the Department of History at St. Thomas co-sponsored a weekly book club facilitated by Dr. Shaherzad Ahmadi and Rabbi Dr. Ryan Dulkin that examined the historical narratives and debates surrounding Zionism and provided a space for discussion among participants from various disciplines. Following this, in March, a focused session with Dr. Benjamin E. Sax, the Head of Scholarship and Jewish Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies, offered insights into the delineation between criticism of Israel, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Dr. Sax’s expertise spans Jewish philosophy, German-Jewish history and culture, and interreligious dialogue. Save the date – Sept 24, 2024 – for a public event titled “Peacemaking, Grieving, and Storytelling,” featuring award-winning author Colum McCann discussing his book Apeirogon, a unique exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the true stories of two fathers whose daughters were killed in the conflict.
External Partnerships
The Jay Phillips Center (JPC) continues to cultivate and expand its external partnerships to enhance its reach. In collaboration with the Minnesota Multifaith Network (MnMN), the JPC co-hosts various programs. Notably, Director Hans Gustafson co-presented a session at MnMN’s annual conference on November 9, 2023, addressing “Hospitality to Younger People in Higher Education” and facilitated a discussion for Higher Education leaders on engaging religious diversity in their classrooms and campuses. Additionally, Gustafson was elected as the inaugural
president of the Association for Interreligious/Interfaith Studies (AIIS), which is dedicated to advancing the academic field of interreligious and interfaith studies. The JPC is also a proud member of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR), an association of 32 centers and institutes in the United States and Canada committed to enhancing mutual understanding between Jews and Christians. Furthermore, the JPC at St. Thomas maintains a strong partnership with its sister organization, the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at Saint John’s University, and 
acknowledges the invaluable contributions of their Director, Dr. John Merkle. The JPC at St. Thomas will honor Dr. Merkle’s legacy on September 26, 2024, with a public event highlighting his scholarship, particularly his work on Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Prof. Mary Elmstrand
Grants
The Jay Phillips Center (JPC) is proud to of several grants supporting its mission. We are entering the fourth year of a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to promote religious literacy and interfaith leadership through our student Interfaith Fellows Program, which will again include a public spring 2025 workshop and conference in collaboration with the Minnesota Multifaith Network. We also extend our gratitude to the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Minnesota for their continued support to help us build healthy and equitable relations across religious differences. Additionally, the JPC will lead a new initiative funded by Interfaith America to develop a university-wide multifaith strategic plan at St. Thomas. This plan aims to improve institutional behaviors, enhance extracurricular engagement, integrate diverse religious perspectives into the curriculum, and expand the Interfaith Fellows Program. This initiative will be co-led by Director Dr. Hans Gustafson, JPC Faculty Fellow Prof. Mary Elmstrand, Prof. Susan Myers (Theology), Associate Dean Dr. Kimberly Vrudny (College of Arts and Sciences), Senior Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Kha Yang, CDE®, and VP for Mission Fr. Chris Collins, SJ.
Diana Tewelde
Campus Engagement
The Jay Phillips Center (JPC) has been actively fostering interreligious engagement on campus. In collaboration with the Luann Dummer Center for Women (LDCW), the JPC cosponsored student Interfaith Fellow Diana Tewelde’s visit to New York City in March 2024 to assist with the “Women of Excellence in Multi-Religious Action Award” event hosted by her internship provider, Religions for Peace. This event celebrates the vital role of women of faith in promoting peace and addressing social challenges. The JPC also disbursed several Interreligious Microgrants to faculty, supporting guest speakers from various religious minority traditions and interfaith topics. In 2023-24, these guest speakers engaged over 500 students on subjects such as Judaism, Women and Religion, Zen Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam, Lakota Traditions, Atheism, and Secular Humanism. Additionally, Director Hans Gustafson chaired the Interfaith Council at St. Thomas, which is dedicated to fostering meaningful interreligious relations on campus, rooted in the Catholic tradition and aimed at serving the common good.
Director’s Achievements
Dr. Hans Gustafson taught a graduate course, “Religion in Public and Professional Life,” for the MA in Diversity Leadership Program, and four undergraduate sections of THEO 228: “Interreligious Encounter.” His recent publications include Everyday Wisdom: Interreligious Studies in a Pluralistic World (Fortress Press, 2023) and the forthcoming Everyday Encounters: Humanizing Dialogue in Theory and Practice (Fortress Press, 2025). Additionally, he published “Deflecting Myself: A Failure of Leadership,” in With the Best of Intentions: Interreligious Missteps and Mistakes (Orbis Books, 2023). His presentations span various prestigious platforms, including the American Academy of Religion, Equity Connect Minnesota, University of Minnesota, and the University of Oslo. Notable presentations include “Religious Literacy for Government DEI Professionals,” “Applied Interreligious Studies as Practical Wisdom,” and participation as an invited panelist for 
“Religion and Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities” at an event honoring Dr. Jeanne Kilde, Director of the Religious Studies Program, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Gustafson also participated in key events such as the annual Minnesota Multifaith Network conference, the Interfaith America convening on “Religion and the Health Professions,” and was an invited guest on Dr. John Marten’s podcast What Matters Most.
Laila Franklin
Looking Ahead
Join us on June 12, 2024, for the upcoming charity golf tournament for the Minnesota Multifaith Network organized by Laila Franklin, a student Interfaith Fellow of the Jay Phillips Center (JPC). Laila conceived, organized, and implemented this idea, playing a pivotal role in promoting interfaith community engagement in service of common public goods for the state of Minnesota. In January 2025, current undergraduates can enroll in “From Frozen Lakes to Frosty Fjords: Dialogue, Diversity, and Leadership in MN and Norway,” a program designed to study religious diversity,
dialogue, and leadership in Norway. This opportunity will develop their skills to navigate difficult conversations and grow as a leader. The JPC is also excited to announce the launch of the JPC Faculty Fellows Program, where esteemed faculty will contribute their scholarly expertise to guide and enhance our initiatives, promoting inter-, multi-, and trans-disciplinarily approaches to interreligious studies and intellectual collaboration. Inaugural Fellows include Shaherzad Ahmadi (History), Rabbi Ryan Dulkin (Theology & Encountering Judaism), Mary Elmstrand (Theology), Christopher Wong Michaelson (Ethics & Business Law), Fuad Naeem (Theology & Encountering Islam), and Ted Ulrich (Theology). Join us on Thursday, September 12, 2024, for “Co-Pilgrims on the Journey to Truth: Hinduism and Christianity in Dialogue,” featuring a conversation between Fr. Yann Vagneux, Th.D., and Anantanand Rambachan, Ph.D. On September 24, 2024, attend “Peacemaking, Grieving, and Storytelling,” with award-winning author Colum McCann discussing his book Apeirogon. Then, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, attend “The Way of Abraham Joshua Heschel and His Legacy for Jewish-Christian Relations” with John C. Merkle, Ph.D.,
John C. Merkle, Ph.D.
moderated by Rabbi Ryan Dulkin, Ph.D. Looking ahead to April 2025, we welcome Dr. Marianne Moyaert from KU Leuven (Belgium) as Scholar-in-Residence, featuring a keynote lecture on her new book, Christian Imaginations of the Religious Other: A History of Religionization. Finally, mark your calendars for Spring 2025 for the Culture of Encounter Ideas Festival, a week of events focusing on encounters and learning across religious, cultural, and worldview differences. Consider applying for the 2024-25 Multifaith Leadership Training Program sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center and the Minnesota Multifaith Network to receive a $400 stipend and help envision this event.
Support the Center
To support the Jay Phillips Center and its mission, please consider making a donation by visiting this website or by contacting us at JPC@stthomas.edu.
