World Religions

Karla Grafton, Hartford International University

Members Present

  • Judy Clarence, Global Ministries University
  • Karla Grafton, Hartford International University
  • Patrick Milas, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
  • Megan Welsh, Union College
  • Margaret Tarpley, Vanderbilt University

Members Absent

  • Ellen Frost, Southern Methodist University

Agenda

  1. The group did introductions and discussed its history.
  2. Website Update: It was determined that the aims of the interest group are still appropriate. We will use Google drive or the listserv to suggest edits and Karla will forward those to Atla.
  3. Atla Annual 2026 Presentation: The idea of a living library was proposed. We will continue discussing this and other ideas via the listserv, especially once the location is revealed.
  4. Blog Post: Ideas were floated, including writing something together with TSIG. Megan will follow up on that idea. Karla will consider writing on interreligious studies and librarianship.

Year in Review

It may have been a quiet year for the WRIG, but we have big plans for the future.

Round Robin Reports

Megan Welsh: Union College is a small liberal arts college in Schenectady, NY, with a curriculum that combines engineering and the humanities. While not affiliated with any religious tradition, Union College was founded in 1795 with the idea that students from various religious backgrounds (referring to Protestant Christians at the time) could come together to live and learn with one another. As an exclusively undergraduate institution, there are a little over 2,000 students and the college maintains a religious studies major and minor, a Jewish studies minor, and a philosophy department.

Karla Grafton: Hartford International University for Religion and Peace is a small post-graduate institution (formerly known as Hartford Seminary) focused on interreligious studies, chaplaincy, and peace building. We have a new president, Rev. Dr. Sherry Turner, who began her service as our twelfth president on July 1.

Judy Clarence: Global Ministries University (GMU) is a small interfaith and international online graduate school offering courses, certificates, and graduate degrees in ministry, theology, inter-religious studies, ethics, and peace studies. Our students live in Africa, Central and South America, and India, as well as the United States.

Other

The WRIG believes that the most important aspect of our existence is to form connections. We hope to move forward this year emphasizing dialogue across religious differences and growing together in our understanding and appreciation of each other, and the diversity of the world around us.