DRAFT
Interfaith House Handbook
Compiled by the House 2004-2005
“Seasons” is a wise metaphor for the movement of life, I think. It suggests that life is
neither a battlefield nor a game of chance but something infinitely richer, more promising, more
real. The notion that our lives are like the eternal cycle of the seasons does not deny the struggle
or the joy, the loss or the gain, the darkness or the light, but encourages us to embrace it all—and
to find in all of it opportunities for growth.
If we lived closer to nature in an agricultural society, the seasons as metaphor and fact
would continually frame our lives. But the master metaphor of our era does not come from
agriculture—it comes from manufacturing. We do not believe that we “grow” our lives—we believe
that we “make” them. Just listen to how we use the word in everyday speech: we make time,
make friends, make meaning, make money, make a living, make love.
If we accept the notion that our lives are dependent on an inexorable cycle of seasons,
on a play of powers that we can conspire with but never control, we run headlong into a culture
that insists, against all evidence, that we can make whatever kind of life we want, whenever we
want it. Deeper still, we run headlong into our own egos, which want desperately to believe that
we are always in charge.
Transformation is difficult, so it is good to know that there is comfort as well as challenge
in the metaphor of life as a cycle of seasons. Illumined by that image, we see that we are not
alone in the universe. We are participants in a vast communion of being, and if we open
ourselves to its guidance, we can learn anew how to live in this great and gracious community of
truth. We can, and we must—if we want our sciences to be humane, our institutions to be
sustaining, our healings to be deep, our lives to be true.
—from Parker Palmer, “There is a Season,” in Paul Rogat Loeb, The Impossible will Take
a Little While: A Citizen’s Guide to Hope in a Time of Fear
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................2
How we Describe Ourselves .......................................................................................................2
House History .............................................................................................................................2
Potential Officers/Coordinators and their Potential Roles ...........................................................2
Events: Booking Rooms, Media Services, and Other Considerations ........................................4
Timeline of Suggested House Tasks ..........................................................................................5
Appendix A: Sample Memo with List of House Officers ..............................................................8
Appendix B: Sample Report to ResCouncil ................................................................................9
Appendix C: Sample Application with Necessary Information .................................................. 10
Online Resources
House Web Page ......................................................................... http://students.brown.edu/ifph/
Original House Constitution ................http://students.brown.edu/ifph/originalconstitution.shtml
Current House Constitution ................. http://students.brown.edu/ifph/currentconstitution.shtml
Original House Proposal ......................... http://students.brown.edu/ifph/originalproposal.shtml
House Goals, from 2003-2004 applications ................ http://students.brown.edu/ifph/goals.pdf
ResLife Web Page ................................................http://www.brown.edu/Administration/ResLife/
ResCouncil Web Page................. http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Residential_Council/
(includes Program House Guidelines)
DRAFT
Introduction
This handbook should be thought of as containing guidelines which can be subject to constant
revision and improvement. This is not a rulebook. It represents the efforts of 2004-2005 house residents.
How we Describe Ourselves
Interfaith Program House fosters creative discussion and inter-religious dialogue for both the
religious/spiritual and the nonreligious/spiritual, and everyone in-between. By cultivating spiritual and
philosophical understanding in our hallways, and by collectively losing sleep in late-night conversations,
Interfaith House creates a strong sense of community.
If you’re interested in social justice, peacemaking, nonviolence, and community work, then
Interfaith House will fit you well. The House promotes an active and supportive, close-knit
environment. With our unique identity as an interfaith community, some of our members also
participate in specific faith communities, which keeps both communities ever expanding and dynamic.
Members of Interfaith participate in a wide diversity of religious/faith communities, including, Catholic
Community, Brown Christian Fellowship, Ecumenical Protestant, Brown Hillel, Muslim Student
Association, and Quaker Students, and we’re always looking for more! House members are also active
in a wide variety of other groups and activities, including Oxfam, the Faith-Based Activism Coalition
and mentoring.
We’ve sponsored house dinners and discussions, a panel addressing sexuality and religion, a
breakfast (suhur) for Muslim students during Ramadan, and rockin’ parties. We also have weekly study
breaks and gatherings, and do service activities.
House History
The idea of establishing an interfaith residential space at Brown arose at a Multi-Faith Council
retreat held in January 2003, in Scituate, RI. Amidst tall trees and glistening snow, students sat in a
circle exploring issues of faith, spirituality, meaning, and rich and varied faith traditions, and thought it
would be wonderful if there could be a way to have similar discussions year-round. Interfaith House
emerged as a way to do just that. The Residential Council subsequently approved a proposal to start
Interfaith House, and 20 students signed up to live in the house during its first academic year, 20032004.
Potential Officers/Coordinators and their Potential Roles
Officers and coordinators are not responsible for completing events alone, just for bringing
people together in committees to make events happen.
Remember that the house constitution only requires a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Think
of the other designated roles as what your contribution to the house could look like.
Leadership works best when everyone is involved and when it is relatively diffuse. Members are
encouraged to look at the needs of the house as well as their own talents/skills/abilities, and come up
with a role for themselves in the house community. People who have chosen similar or related roles can
form loose teams.
Suggested Reading: The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace, by M. Scott Peck
President
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Ensure weekly meeting
Ensure tasks below occur
Assist and guide tasks of other officers
Be responsible for INTERFAITHHOUSE and INTERFAITHHOUSECOMMUNITY list
management (know passwords, add and remove members as necessary)
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Be responsible for Interfaith house web page (know password), others can work on the web page
itself
Have interfaith@brown.edu as one of your alternate e-mail addresses (go with previous president
to have it changed at CIS)
Be contact person with Residential Life; Lead Fall and Spring Review
Cultivate relationship with house advisors
Encourage house advisors to participate in house events
Vice President
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Assist in ensuring tasks below occur
Lead recruitment efforts (formally, when in office during spring semester, and informally, during
fall semester)
Assist with tasks of President, especially if the president is sick or very busy
Treasurer
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Use charm to have the Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life (OCRL) help fund the house
and house events
o If prior approval is received, then the OCRL will fund or reimburse specific expenses
o Order groceries online with OCRL account when necessary
o Order other necessary house resources (examples: DVDs for documentary screenings,
books for discussion)
o Submit receipts for reimbursement to OCRL when items aren’t purchased directly with
OCRL credit card
When OCRL funding isn’t available or we want to fund something ourselves, coordinate
everyone contributing a small amount (like $1-3 dollars) so the burden is shared
Lobby for university funding of program houses
Research and implement fundraising ideas as possible (examples: bake sales, grants, grant funds
that already exist at Brown, pressuring departments)
Secretary
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Take notes at meetings and e-mail notes to house list after meetings
Correspond with others interested in Interfaith House
Report election results to appropriate university officials [see Appendix A]
Ask others to take notes and e-mail to house when absent from meetings
Social Events Coordinator(s)
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External activities: Plan open houses, coffeehouses, parties, or other campus-wide activities
(ResCouncil requires 2, but you’ll have help)
Internal activities: Plan social outings (plays, parties, games nights, other creative ideas)
Book rooms as necessary
Assist treasurer with purchasing necessary supplies for social events
Coordinate group meal times
Coordinate rotating lunch or dinner groups
Coordinate weekly study break (find someone to bring a game, food, or both)
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DRAFT
Discussion Events Coordinator(s)
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Plan interfaith related discussions, for campus or house, to “foster creative discussion and interreligious dialogue for both the religious/spiritual and the nonreligious/spiritual, and everyone inbetween.” And to cultivate “spiritual and philosophical understanding in our hallways”
[From Eli] But no, as daunting as it sounds, he or she does not need to bring the Messiah
Plan house discussion groups
Assist treasurer with purchasing necessary supplies
Interfaith Events Coordinator(s)
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Cultivate house relationships with other religious groups on campus
Plan joint activities
Create a calendar of faith-related and interfaith events on campus and distribute by e-mail
Create a list of religious services members attend and distribute by e-mail
Nurturing Committee Coordinator(s)
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Cultivate a general sense of belonging and well-being within the house, as much as possible
Draw on strengths of individuals in the house, make sure everyone feels included and welcome
Work with social events, interfaith events, and discussion events coordinator(s)
Coordinate birthday cards, or help others make them
Coordinate faith-sharing partners
Community Service Coordinator(s)
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Plan community service events (at least 2)
Encourage/support/facilitate community work by individuals
Help publicize Swearer Center activities/efforts
Work with, or chair, the Providence Steering Committee for National Day of Interfaith Youth
Service (in March or April of each year, http://www.ifyc.org)
CampusQuest Coordinator(s)
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Be liaison with CampusQuest project (www.campusquest.org), which offers the potential for
funding
Webmaster
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Keep web page up to date
Include house events, photos, application information, etc.
Events: Booking Rooms, Media Services, and Other Considerations
See the detailed guide at the SAO web site, which lists who to call for rooms, media services,
and where to go to get descriptions of room sizes and media capacity.
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Student_Activities. If you book one week in advance, you can get
free media services by booking through a Category III group, like Catholic Pastoral Council. (Media
Services is required for showing movies in a room even if it already has a built in projector, etc.)
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Timeline of Suggested House Tasks
Summer
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Ensure all new members are on INTERFAITHHOUSE and
INTERFAITHHOUSECOMMUNITY listservs (listserv.brown.edu)
Plan retreat
Possibly select short book or selection for everyone to read, to have a common text for
discussion during the year. Talk to Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life about purchases.
Fall Semester
September
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Hold elections
Create house directory (names, e-mails, phone numbers, screennames, birthdays)
Consciously work on building house community, suggestions (informally/formally)
o Develop house principles
o Develop house structure
o Determine house meal times
o Planned/unplanned games nights
o Planned/unplanned discussions
o Social outings
Write letter/memo to Res Life, Student Life, Res Council, advisors, with list of house officers.
[Required by ResCouncil, within 14 days, see Appendix A]
Hold Open House
o Invite administrators to open house (even if we don’t think they’ll come, it’s good for the
house to extend invitation to wide range of administrators).
Hold Coffeehouse
Coordinate discussion dinners with Alan Flam
Inform Chaplains Office/Hillel staff and wider religious community staff about house events we
would like to invite them to
Pursue fundraising, grants, structural changes in university funding program houses
o For example, the university could be encouraged to fund program houses based on
membership numbers and activities
October
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Relevant previous tasks and:
Get ready for Fall review at ResCouncil. [See Appendix B for sample report. See cover for
ResCouncil web page.] Requirements currently are
o 2 community service events
o 2 campus-wide events
o 1/3 of current residents must have lived in house previous year (though they may be
flexible)
o Good university standing (good relationships with independents, other houses)
o Good internal involvement
o Current bylaws on file with ResLife, officers fulfilling roles
o Faculty advisors in place
November
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Relevant previous tasks and:
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DRAFT
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Breakfast for Muslim Students Association (during Ramadan, depending on when it is)
Plan second semester retreat
Figure out housing for next semester
o Who’s going abroad
o Who’s returning/joining
o Fill out ResLife forms to get people in rooms
o Recruit people if necessary so we don’t end up with random people within Interfaith
December
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Organize fall semester group picture
Spring Semester
January
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Hold elections
Write letter/memo to Res Life, Student Life, Res Council, advisors, with list of house officers.
[Required by ResCouncil, within 14 days, see Appendix A]
Ensure all new members are on INTERFAITHHOUSE and
INTERFAITHHOUSECOMMUNITY listservs (listserv.brown.edu)
Add new members to directory (names, e-mails, phone numbers, screennames, birthdays)
Hold second semester retreat
Consciously work on building house community, suggestions (informally/formally)
o Develop house principles
o Develop house structure
o Determine house meal times
o Planned/unplanned games nights
o Planned/unplanned discussions
o Social outings
Prepare for recruitment
February
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Continue relevant previous tasks
Recruitment
o Hold multiple events for people to become familiar with the house, tableslip, include web
page address on recruitment materials
 Hold Open House
 Hold Coffeehouse
o Prepare application, consult house members to make sure the application accomplishes
what the house would like it to, put on web page, include timeline and deadlines [See
Appendix C for sample application and the necessary information]
o Determine how many current first-years must be recruited to fill all doubles ResLife will
assign us, to ensure all juniors and seniors can be placed in singles
Figure out housing for next semester
o Who’s going abroad
o Who’s returning/joining
o Fill out ResLife forms to get people in rooms
o Meet with ResLife to determine room assignments, lobby for as many singles as
necessary, involve house advisor (Janet) if necessary (we did this last year and it worked)
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March
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Continue relevant previous tasks
April
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Get ready for Spring review at ResCouncil (if called in). Requirements currently are
o 2 community service events
o 2 campus-wide events
o 1/3 of current residents must have lived in house previous year (though ResCouncil may
be flexible)
o Good university standing (good relationships with independents, other houses)
o Good internal involvement
o Current bylaws on file with ResLife, officers fulfilling roles
o Faculty advisors in place
May
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Continue relevant previous tasks
Wrap up semester, do assessment of how things could be improved
Organize spring semester group picture
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DRAFT
Appendix A – Sample Memo with List of House Officers (Page 1 of 1)
Interfaith House
http://students.brown.edu/ifph
Date: 10/4/2004
To:
Interim Dean for Campus Life Margaret Klawunn, Office of Student Life
[CHECK BROWN WEBPAGES FOR UPDATED DEANS/TITLES]
Interim Senior Associate Dean Robert Samuels, Office of Student Life
Director Richard Bova, Office of Residential Life
Associate Director Thomas Forsberg, Office of Residential Life
Assistant Director Rosario Navarro, Office of Residential Life
Director Ricky Gresh, Student Activities Office
Residential Council Members
Cc:
Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life (House Advisor)
Rabbi Alan Flam, Swearer Center for Public Service/Office of the Chaplains (House Advisor)
From: Laura Janneck, Interfaith House Secretary
Re:
Required Notification of Interfaith Program House Officers
Compliance Information
This memo is being sent to comply with Program House Guidelines section IV-A-1
(http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Residential_Council/guidelines.html), which states, in part
that a “list of leadership must be supplied in writing to the Offices of Residential Life, Student Life and
Student Activities and to the Residential Council within fourteen (14) days of its establishment or any
changes thereafter.”
List of House Leadership for Fall 2004
At a meeting on September 21, 2004, facilitated by house member Sean Lanigan, Interfaith Program
House elected officers for the fall 2004 semester. Current house officers are:
President: Julian Leichty
Vice-President: Elihai Braun
Treasurers: EllaRose Chary, Katherine Lawrence, and Jennifer Russo
Secretary: Laura Janneck
Social Events Coordinators: Heather Johnston and Jenna Sciuto
Interfaith Events Coordinator: Rosanna Dent
Nurturing Committee: John Thomas Do, and Geoff Gusoff
Community Service Coordinator: Heather Johnston
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DRAFT
Appendix B – Sample Report to ResCouncil
Interfaith House
http://students.brown.edu/ifph | interfaith@brown.edu
Residential Council Fall Review – Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Community Service
 We raised money for the Providence Children’s Museum by group staffing the Gate on October 16.
 We will be providing volunteer labor for a local farmer on November 6 with Louella Hill, Food
System Consultant, Dining Services.
Campus-Wide Events
 We held a screening of the PBS Frontline documentary The Jesus Factor on Thursday, Oct. 28.
 We will hold a Coffeehouse/Open-Mic on Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the Hourglass Café.
 We held an Open House on October 13.
All events were advertised or will be advertised with table slips, the Jolt, e-mail, house web site, etc.
Other Events
 We will hold a breakfast (suhur) for Ramadan for the Muslim Students Association at 4am Saturday,
Nov. 6.
Membership Numbers
Total Current Residents: 26 total (9 lived in the house last year, 17 are new to the house)
University Standing
Interfaith House has worked to maintain good relations with independents and other houses, and scheduled a
“get to know each other” meeting with the Presidents of AD Phi and D Phi in October.
 We held a special study break on Wednesday, October 20, to which we extended a special invitation
to independents and other houses in Goddard.
House’s Internal Involvement
Interfaith House meetings are well attended and facilitated on a rotating basis, and members participate
actively in social events, and have successfully worked to build a house community. We meet as a house
twice each week through our weekly meetings and study breaks. We also have monthly discussion dinners.
Bylaws
On file with ResLife. Officers have been fulfilling their assigned roles. Notification of house officers was
sent on October 4, 2004 to Student Life, Res Life, and Res Council.
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The President leads the coordination of meetings, study breaks, and house activities.
The Vice-President assists in those duties and has worked to make sure the house runs smoothly and members maintain
good relations with each other.
The Secretary has sent out prompt and detailed minutes for the house after each meeting.
The Treasurer has maintained responsibility for financial issues.
The Social Events Coordinators have taken the lead in planning social events.
The Interfaith Events Coordinator has taken the lead in planning interfaith events.
The Nurturing Committee has taken the lead in ensuring the general well-being of the house.
The Community Service Coordinator has taken the lead in planning community service.
Faculty Advisors
Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, Chaplain of the University
Rabbi Alan Flam, Associate Chaplain/Senior Associate Swearer Center Fellow
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DRAFT
Appendix C – Sample Application with Necessary Information (Page 1 of 2)
Interfaith House Application
http://students.brown.edu/ifph
Background
Interfaith House fosters creative discussion and inter-religious dialogue for both the
religious/spiritual and the nonreligious/spiritual, and everyone in-between. By cultivating spiritual and
philosophical understanding in our hallways, and by collectively losing sleep in late-night conversations,
Interfaith House creates a strong sense of community.
If you’re interested in social justice, peacemaking, nonviolence, and community work, then Interfaith
House will fit you well. The House promotes an active and supportive, close-knit environment. With our
unique identity as an interfaith community, some of our members also participate in specific faith
communities, which keeps both communities ever expanding and dynamic. Members of Interfaith participate
in a wide diversity of religious/faith communities, including, Catholic Community, Brown Christian
Fellowship, Ecumenical Protestant, Brown Hillel, Muslim Student Association, and Quaker Students, and
we’re always looking for more! House members are also active in a wide variety of other groups and
activities, including Oxfam, the Faith-Based Activism Coalition, Interfaith Supper, and mentoring.
We’ve sponsored house dinners and discussions, a panel addressing sexuality and religion, a
breakfast (suhur) for Muslim students during Ramadan, and rockin’ parties. We also have weekly study
breaks and gatherings, and do service activities. Interfaith Program House is currently located in Goddard,
and the entire campus is invited to participate in our activities.
Interfaith House is advised by Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson, Chaplain of the University, Rev. Jennifer
Rankin, Associate Chaplain, and Rabbi Alan Flam, Associate Chaplain and Swearer Center for Public
Service Fellow.
How to Apply / Joining the House
1. Answer all the questions below and please email the form back to jml@brown.edu by Friday,
February 20 at 11 pm. Please e-mail the form back as an attachment, if possible.
2. You will be informed by Monday, February 23 via email if you are in the house.
3. All those joining the house must fill out a Room Contract at the Office of Residential Life by
Super Deadline Day, March 2. If you choose not to become part of the house, you’ll need to
enter the lottery after this date.
4. Please refer to the website for more information: http://students.brown.edu/ifph
Thank you and good luck!
For More Information about the House
Wednesday, February 18
 Study Break/Info Session with Interfaith House, 10pm, 3rd floor of Goddard, enjoy cookies, cider
and other snacks. (If you walk through Wayland arch towards the Ratty, take the second path on
the right, it curves around and you'll see Goddard on your right).
Thursday, February 19
 Come to Thursday Supper (speaker and discussion, separate from the house) from 5-7pm at 58
Keene St. (8 blocks down Brown St. from Faunce Arch, 2nd house on the left), then come to our
 Coffeehouse/Open-Mic at the Muslim Students Association, located in the basement of MoChamp (go to the V-Dub and follow the signs, or walk with us from Thursday Supper) from 78:30 pm
Saturday, February 28
 Party! (Time/Location TBA)
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Appendix C – Sample Application with Necessary Information (Page 2 of 2)
Interfaith House Application
http://students.brown.edu/ifph
Background Information
1. Name:
2. Year:
3. Race:
4. Gender:
5. Concentration:
6. Religion/Spiritual Background (optional):
7. Are you involved with a faith-group on campus, if so, which one? If not, which (if any) faiths/spiritual
groups interest you?
Housing Preferences/Information
1. If accepted to the house will you definitely accept (Yes or No)?
2. Do you have someone you would like to enter the house and room with?
3. Do you have any special living needs? (e.g. Substance-free, alcohol-free, special sleeping patterns,
specific spiritual needs)
4. Would you prefer a single or a double? (We cannot guarantee singles for everyone, but we will
decide it with an internal lottery; this year, all juniors and seniors and some sophomores received
singles.)
5. Are you planning to go abroad next year and if so, which semester?
Response Questions: (Please limit each response to a half page) There are no right answers to any of
these questions so please do not be intimidated. And remember we are also students who are constantly
learning about all of this as well.
1. What do you hope to get out of living in this house?
2. Answer one of the following questions:
a. Briefly describe one deeply spiritual experience you’ve had. Feel free to be creative.
b. What do you hold as sacred? Take this word sacred and give us your spin on it.
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