40 Massachusetts Avenue W11
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617/253-3511
Web address: https://studentlife.mit.edu/orsel
Email: nlytton@mit.edu
Contact Person:
Nina Lytton
Organization Description:
Comprised of 25 chaplains and over 40 student groups, the Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life (ORSEL) at MIT reflects the diversity of the Institute’s student body, faculty and staff. Supporting all community members, the office provides confidential counseling and crisis support. Additionally, religious, spiritual, and educational programming are offered; along with regular opportunities for worship, prayer, and study.
At MIT, there are about forty active student religious organizations on campus, many of which are supported by one of twenty five ORSEL affiliated professionals. Affiliates support on-campus programming, provide confidential one-on-one counseling, and advise student religious organizations. Chaplain to the Institute Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas serves as Director of ORSEL, overseeing these affiliates and activities, and providing direct support to the MIT community. Religious, spiritual, moral and ethical convictions are important personal identity markers, and the Institute encourages the MIT community to thoughtfully engage with today's pluralistic world.
Opportunities for Student Involvement:
The selected field education student would be accepted into the Addir Fellows Interfaith Dialogue Program for the academic year. Addir––which means “bridge” in Ancient Sumerian––aims to build bridges between people with different religious beliefs, practices, traditions, and cultures.
Approximately 35-40 students of different faiths are selected as Addir Fellows each year. Fellows meet regularly over the course of the year to participate in a stimulating environment that encourages dialogue, openness, and understanding. The heart of the program is a series of ongoing weekly small group dialogues. During these gatherings, participants share their personal stories which lead to discussions that cover a wide range of topics, including faith, prayer, culture, belief, difference, the role of women in religion, Jesus, the prophets, the principles of Islam, Judaic law, Eastern religious practice and many more. Fellows also attend monthly dinners and lectures (open to the MIT community) and two off-campus mini-retreats.
The field education student will: support, resource and train students who are engaged in weekly, small-group interfaith dialogue; design and implement interfaith and interspiritual learning experiences both on the MIT campus and in the larger Boston community; mentor student interfaith leaders; plan and host retreats and community events for the Addir Fellows.
Commute/Transportation Information:
MIT is accessible by public transportation and the Harvard M2 Shuttle
Arts of Ministry Competencies Offered:
- Administration and Program Development
- Pastoral Care and Counseling
- Public Leadership, Community Organizing, and Planning
- Religious Education and Spiritual Development
Supervision:
Weekly supervision sessions with the supervisor.
Additional Information:
- Number of Students: 1
- Total Compensation: $6000.00
- Type of Compensation: Work Study