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Grinnell College is a religiously diverse campus community served by a Chaplain, Rev. Deanna Shorb and a part-time Rabbi, Daveen Litwin, as well as a Religious Life Intern. Numerous opportunities exist here for religious dialogue, exploration, worship, and growth.

There are many different student religious groups on the Grinnell campus. The Chaplains Office, otherwise known as the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice, supports and advises, Chalutzim, the Pagan Discussion Circle, Grinnell College Christian Fellowship, the LGBTQA and Christian group, the Hindu Community, the Orthodox Christian Group, the Interfaith Relationship group, the Latter Day Saints Group, Catholic Students Association, the Unitarian Universalist Group, the Christian Science Group, the Buddhist Meditation Group, the Spiritual Discussion Group, Muslim Student Association, and Quaker Silent Meeting.

Members from each of these 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 awareness 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 multi-religious 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 language study, seminary experiences, and religious internships.

Worship plays an important role in many of our students' lives while at Grinnell. In addition to the opportunities our students find in the community, a nondenominational Christian worship service is held in the black tradition on the second Sunday of each month in Herrick Chapel.

The worship service is coordinated by the Chaplain's Office and led by students, guest clergy, and the Young Gifted and Black Choir (YGB).

Our Rabbi typically leads Friday evening Shabbat services. These Jewish Sabbath services are followed by a Shabbat dinner in the Chalutzim Lounge in Cowles Dining Hall. Students work with the rabbi to plan and lead services for the high holy days, Jewish holidays which occur when school is 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 Porch of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice. Transportation is available 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 the South Asian Student Alliance along with members of the Chaplain's Office staff.

There are additional worship opportunities present through the Pagan Discussion Circle, the Unitarian Universalist Student groups, the Grinnell College Christian Fellowship and the Catholic Student Association.

The Chaplain's Office provides students numerous, concrete opportunities to explore the intersections between social justice, ethics, and religion. The office advises the Social Justice Action Group which is committed to working directly towards peace, justice, and positive social change. This group provides and supports programming that works toward fighting hunger, promoting volunteerism and building understanding. The Chaplain's Office also sponsors a spring break service trip and study projects as well as supports many individual social justice causes on campus. For more information on any of these opportunities please contact the office or visit our website at: http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/studentaffairs/chaplain. The Chaplain, the Rabbi, and the Religious Life Intern are all available for counseling and are committed to helping serve individual religious and spiritual needs.