Grinnell College is a religiously diverse campus community served by the Dean of Religious Life and Chaplain, Rev. Deanna Shorb; Rabbi and Counselor, Daveen Litwin; and a Religious Life Intern. Numerous opportunities exist for religious dialogue, exploration, worship, and growth.

There are many different student religious groups on the Grinnell campus. The Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice, formerly known as the Chaplain's Office, supports and advises Chalutzim, Pagan Discussion Circle, Grinnell College Christian Fellowship, the Hindu Community, Catholic Students Association, the Unitarian Universalist Group, the Christian Science Group, the Buddhist Meditation Group, Muslim Student Association, Lutheran Bible Study Group, and Quaker Silent Meeting. Where a religious group is not represented on campus, the Center assists adherents from those traditions through helping them to organize a group on campus and/or finding community in the region.

Members from each of campus religious groups are invited to serve on the Religious Life Council, which is responsible for keeping in touch with the religious climate of the campus and planning multi-religious activities for the student body - in particular a Multi-Religious Awareness Week and dialogue series. In addition, students interested in exploring the possibility of becoming professional religious leaders are invited to participate in a Pre-seminary Group. Members of this group and the Religious Life Council meet on a regular basis and participate in an annual religious life retreat. In 2001, the college was a recipient of a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. Through this grant, the office is able to provide additional opportunities for vocational exploration. For instance, students are able to apply for scholarships for seminary experiences, and religious internships and externships.

Worship plays an important role in many of our students' lives while at Grinnell. Two ecumenical Christian worship services are coordinated by the Center. Both services are held in Herrick Chapel. The Midweek Reflection Service is a 20-minute service on Wednesdays at 12:10p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to share a reflection to gathered members of the campus community. "Black Church at Grinnell," a service encompassing elements of some African and African-Diaspora worship traditions, is held on the second Sunday of each month. The worship service is led by students, guest clergy, and the Young Gifted and Black Gospel Choir.

Our Rabbi leads Friday evening Shabbat services. The service is followed by a Shabbat dinner in the Chalutzim Lounge in the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center. Students work with the rabbi to plan and lead services for the Jewish high holidays when they occur while classes are in session, Jewish Cultural Series, study breaks, and events which feature guest speakers and artists.

Muslim students gather for prayer on Fridays in the Prayer and Meditation Room of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice. Transportation is available, when requested, to attend Mosque on the high holy days of Eid al-Fitre and Eid al-Adah.

Our Hindu community celebrates Diwali in the fall and Holi each spring. These celebrations are organized by students from southern Asia along with members of the Chaplain's Office staff.

Additional worship and text study opportunities exist through the Pagan Discussion Circle, the Unitarian Universalist Student groups, the Grinnell College Christian Fellowship, Christian Science Group, Lutheran Bible Study, Quaker Silent Meeting and the Catholic Student Association.

The Center provides students numerous, concrete opportunities to explore the intersections between social justice, ethics, and religion. The office advises the Social Justice Action Group (SJAG) which is committed to working directly towards peace, justice, and positive social change. Weekly, SJAG coordinates the Community Meal, a meal for the greater Grinnell community held at Davis Elementary School. The Center also sponsors a spring break service trip to promote service learning and social justice outreach. For more information on any of these opportunities and others, please contact the office or visit our website at: Chaplain's Office. The Chaplain, the Rabbi, and the Religious Life Intern are all available for counseling and are committed to helping meet individual religious and spiritual needs.