Interfaith dialogues are particularly important at Georgetown, notes Father Timothy Godfrey, director of the Office of Campus Ministry, both because of the school’s founding traditions — “we were founded in 1789 as the school that no one would be turned away from on the basis of religion”— and because of its location in Washington, D.C., a crossroads for international
cultures and politics.
Indeed, Georgetown’s campus ministry is something of a crossroads itself, with chaplains on staff representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Greek Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim faiths. The chaplains all “pray together and discuss different issues from the perspective of each faith tradition,” Godfrey notes, “so that a cross-fertilization can happen whereby we can be of use to someone from another faith tradition should the need arise.”
“And so that’s why Imam Hendi has such an important place at Georgetown. We’re promoting faith, promoting dialogue and building a future where the possibility of peace becomes more tangible because there is a capacity for dialogue and mutual understanding and respect,” Godfrey adds.
Hendi describes his role in similar terms.
“As Muslim chaplains, we have an opportunity to shape the future leaders of this world,” he says. “The children of today, and the university and college students of today, are the leaders of tomorrow. If we shape their minds in the compassionate values of the three faith traditions, we ensure a better future.”
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