Groups

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Deeply rooted in Christian faith and radically open to what God is doing now...

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The Annand program offers resources that enable all YDS students to discover fundamentals of prayer and creative faith practices for spiritual growth.

Seminarians have the opportunity to engage in individual or group spiritual direction with one of the many experienced lay and ordained Annand Program mentors. Mentors represent a variety of theological traditions and denominational backgrounds.

Students can participate in facilitated small groups exploring such topics as vocational discernment, contemplative prayer, and faith practices of particular theologians. Annand spiritual retreats and quiet days are often led by members of religious orders.

The program is named after former Berkeley Divinity School Dean James E. Annand, who envisioned a program that would add a spiritual grounding to students’ academic life.

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Anything But *Just* Christian (ABjC) gives voice to community members that are non-Christian, Christian adjacent, Christian pluralist, of diasporic traditions, and spiritual seekers.

Yale Divinity School's mission statement states that, "Traditionally and primarily Christian in character, the school welcomes persons of all faiths and those of *no* faith." As the institution is traditionally Christian, we, as Anything But *just* Christian, provide hospitality, love, advocacy, and space for those of "no faith," and provide space for everyone to explore the different ways ministry and academic studies can be approached.

The organization's mission is not to take away from Christian formation or space at Yale Divinity School but to add space for those outside of mainline Protestantism. We believe that God does not solely belong to Christianity and that learning from and exploring the religions and religious identities of our community and the broader world is necessary for spiritual, vocational, and professional formation.

We additionally advocate for those in our community that have faced distinct and unique challenges at YDS compared to those who belong to mainline Protestant ministries: Evangelicals, lay Catholics, Christian Orthodox, Christian Mystics, and all those belonging to the Pantheologies.

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"The mission of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale is to form and transform lay and ordained leaders for the present and the future Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. A Christian community of worship, learning, and service, it shares in the ecumenical and scholarly vocations of Yale Divinity School."

Berkeley calls its members to become a life-long Christian community of faith, learning, and service, offering all we have for the sake of God and the gospel in transforming the church and the world.

Berkeley actively seeks, welcomes, and supports students who represent the full diversity of Christ's Church, and who value academic excellence, desire to grow in spiritual insight, and seek the skills necessary for effective ministry. Berkeley is particularly committed to a pedagogy and a formation program devoted to social justice and racial reconciliation.

As a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, Berkeley offers an excellent education in the Episcopal tradition that complements the larger academic program of Yale Divinity School. Students enrolled in Berkeley Divinity School typically graduate with either a diploma or certificate in Anglican Studies and go on to serve in ordained capacities in The Episcopal Church or other parts of the Anglican Communion as parish clergy; as school, college, and hospital chaplains; or in other positions of pastoral responsibility. Some graduates pursue lay vocations both within and outside the church, and others go on to further graduate education and academic careers. The School's graduates consistently achieve excellent results on the General Ordination Exams and enjoy a strong placement record in full-time employment or further educational programs within a year of graduation.

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The Black Church Studies Certificate Program (BCSCP) at Yale Divinity School (YDS) offers a Certificate in Black Church Studies for students who wish to respond to the evolving work of the Black Church and to the critical needs of marginalized communities. The program is open to students interested in serving in historically Black congregations, and /or who are inspired by the rich and ecumenically diverse traditions of the Black Church.

The BCSCP at YDS supports the inquiry of, and engagement with, practices of African American churches and other Christian communities throughout the African Diaspora. To cultivate such inquiry the BCS Certificate Program offers opportunities for dialogue with emerging and existing leaders in the Black church and in the broader community.

Through course work, colloquia, special lectures and other culturally relevant events, the BCSCP creates the opportunity for innovative and interdisciplinary thinking, and space for dialogue that supports the development of a student’s unique voice and perspective on Black religious life.

This group on Yale Connect is for all students enrolled in the certificate program, as well as those interested in attending events and opportunities offered by the program.

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The Center for Continuing Education at Yale Divinity School provides opportunities and resources for churches, clergy, and laity to foster the knowledge and love of God in their communities. The Center makes available the theological resources of YDS —events, lectures, programs, instructional resources, publications, and more—to enable and enrich ministry and lay learning. These resources are intended to support faith formation, religious education, and personal and professional enrichment.

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To prepare a new generation of moral leaders to be active participants in creating a just society using academic, practical, and research tools of past and present social justice movements.

Our work is built on the fundamental idea that theology is not an isolated practice, but must necessarily challenge the things that adversely impact people’s lives. We work at the intersection of theology, social justice, and public policy.

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Mission Statement: Common Ground is a student group at YDS that invites anyone and everyone to the shared work of caring for the Earth, our common ground. Description: Common Ground is a faith-based, student-led group that aims to build community around caring for and celebrating our communal home. Through platforms of community building, education, and advocacy, Common Ground will provide a space for people to come together to respond to and reckon with environmental issues, giving particular attention to the climate emergency. We seek to deepen our relationships to one another and the ground we share through exploring reparative work rooted in faith, community, diversity, and celebration. At the same time, we acknowledge the fraught and beautiful complexity of "shared ground," and thus commit to grappling with and addressing the ongoing legacies of colonization, patriarchy, and racism. We are guided and inspired by scientific and traditional knowledge, including the practices of indigenous peoples who have stewarded these lands for millenia, which now comprise the city of New Haven, and the many saints, mystics, and practitioners of different faiths who have called on us to love and care for our one earth home. Additionally, we aim to provide environmental visibility to issues on campus, holding YDS accountable to our unique calling as an institution: to put faith and scholarship into action for the common good of all persons, beings, and ecosystems. Activities include: potlucks, volunteer opportunities, Earth-based ceremonies, environmental education, supporting other groups, rallies, petitions, nonviolent direct action, etc.

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Communitas is a Lilly Endowment funded program engaging 20 congregations over the course of 5 years in ministry innovation with young adults (ages 23-29).

This program seeks to (1) engage young adults in a process of positive transformation as a result of their improved relationships with or in congregations, (2) research, develop, and implement models for listening to the hopes, dreams, and wisdom of young adults and for empowering them to cultivate connections between their lived realities, their spirituality, and their communities, and (3) build stronger partnerships between congregations and local young community leaders and organizations serving young adults.

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Students and participating congregations receive training in design thinking and ministry innovation from Yale Divinity School faculty and staff and subject experts from around the country. Communitas events are an opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, receive tools and resources in ministry innovation, gain a fresh perspective on the evolving shape of the church in today's world, and connect with local congregations and like-minded individuals committed to centering the leadership of young adults and nurturing beloved community with the next generation.

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Our mission is to hold a contemplative space of prayer and practice for the Yale Divinity School community. We gather to open ourselves to receive and consent to God’s loving presence through the disciplines of the Christian contemplative tradition. We take an inter-spiritual approach of learning from and engaging with the wisdom traditions of other religions. Contemplatives at YDS is a community of prayer where all are welcome. Through weekly practice and special events, we seek to equip emerging leaders with contemplative tools for ministry inside and outside of YDS.

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Resting in stillness

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Our goal is to create a space of fellowship and support for people with disabilities, physical disabilities, mental illnesses, chronic illnesses, temporary disabilities, and learning disabilities. We advocate on behalf of current and future disabled students through policy change and institutional compliance with said policy at YDS and Yale. We recognize that many with disabilities and chronic illnesses do not feel like they have a place within religious institutions or have had pain surrounding their experiences. We want to provide justice and reconciliation for disabled people who have experienced systemic discrimination within faith communities. We strive to have courageous conversations about equity and the allocation of resources toward eliminating barriers at Yale. We offer opportunities for allies to utilize their privilege to work toward alleviating the labor, pain, and stress involved in fighting for disability equity. Lastly, we work with faculty to create academic programming that centers and uplifts disabilities and its intersections.

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Our mission is to provide a forum dedicated to the fostering of collective academic conversation at Yale Divinity School. The Divinity Colloquium seeks to offer monthly sessions with a semi-formal yet low-pressure environment, during which students may present their work to an audience of fellow students. The Colloquium might take a form such as a discussion of a pre-circulated draft or a practice version of a conference talk. The ultimate aim of the Colloquium will be to provide a regularly convening venue wherein students may present their work to their peers while receiving suggestions, constructive criticisms, praise, and that overall collective academic experience that should define graduate school.

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Divinnovation (a linguistic braiding of "Divinity" and "innovation") is an organization that offers an interdisciplinary space where students can explore and collaborate at the intersections of theology, social entrepreneurship, law, business, and other non-traditional ministries. We foster innovation through relationship building, practical skill development, and community entrepreneurial events. Divinnovation maintains a partnership with the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (Tsai CITY). The organization seeks to develop alumni and cross-campus ecosystems to support the faith-based projects and social impact work of future leaders emerging from YDS.

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DivOut is a space for the LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff of Yale Divinity School to join together in community. We are committed to care for one another, to seek justice, and to work for the full inclusion of all people, especially queer people, within spiritual communities. We recognize that the fight for queer liberation must be centered around ideals of intersectionality and we are committed to collective liberation. DivOut holds social, educational, and spiritual events throughout the school year with these values in mind. We continue to remember that YDS, as a historically Christian space, has not always been welcoming to queer members of its community and continues to hold room for growth. We aim to put continued pressure on the leaders of this institution to ensure that YDS is a safe and welcoming space for all students, faculty, and staff.

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Hosted at Yale University, the Graduate Conference in Religion and Ecology reflects a desire to provide a space for students to engage in dynamic, interdisciplinary conversations across curricular boundaries, and strives to connect ethos with ethics, and ethics to applicable practicality.

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Welcome to the Yale Institute of Sacred Music—a premier center for the interdisciplinary study of sacred music, worship, and the related arts. Partnering with the Yale School of Music and Yale Divinity School, as well as other academic and professional units at Yale, the ISM prepares its students for careers in church music and other sacred music, pastoral ministry, performance, and scholarship.

The ISM engages musicians, artists, clergy, and scholars from around the world in rigorous training and collaboration, and offers a full calendar of concerts, lectures, exhibitions, and other events.

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- Envision, plan, and implement a range of events open to all ISM students to promote friendship, inclusivity, and respect.
- To empower students to imagine the shape and priorities of interdisciplinary community and create experiences to realize that vision for the benefit of the ISM, Yale, and broader New Haven communities.

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La Comunidad, the YDS Latinx/e Student Group, is dedicated to creating spaces for Latinx voices and bodies at YDS to gather and build community of solidarity and support. La Comunidad also seeks to provide resources to promote theological and cultural education for an entire YDS student body preparing for service to the church and the world. La Comunidad hopes to foster comunidad Latina: an open, welcoming place to learn, struggle, and celebrate.

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Through worship, retreats, prayer, and informal gatherings, the Lutheran Student Organization (LSO) provides fellowship for all students involved in the Lutheran traditions. Functioning within YDS's Lutheran Studies Program, students plan Tuesday evening Vespers at Bethesda Lutheran Church or in YDS's Nouwen Chapel and intermittently assist with Lutheran chapel services in Marquand. The LSO also sponsors guest speakers and discussion forums for issues pertinent to the YDS community.

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Space for MAR current students. Receive news and updates from your year group reps, schedule events together as a program community and connect with other MAR'ers!

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Marquand Chapel is at the heart of Yale Divinity School.

Worship is planned and led by students, faculty, and staff of both Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Sacred Music, under the leadership of the Dean of Chapel and a team of staff and students.

Worship in Marquand often draws on a wide variety of inherited Christian traditions, with the worship of many denominations being represented. Beyond that, though, we also pay attention to the rising number of people in Western society who have a lively interest in spirituality but feel no connection to traditional forms of church and worship. So Marquand is also actively engaged in original, creative, and experimental forms of worship, both for committed Christians and for those exploring the faith.

Attend Marquand five days in a row, and you may encounter an orthodox liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, a Mardi Gras worship party, a service of silent Lenten contemplation, a chapel converted into one of Dante's spheres of heaven, or a worship caf├®. As a student at Yale Divinity School, you may well have taken part in designing one of these services.

From traditional worship to brave experiment, from ancient liturgy to post-modern praise, from the heart of America to global worship, Marquand's mission is to be worshipful, educational, and ecumenical, and we look forward to welcoming you here.

Services take place in Marquand every weekday classes are in session. All services are open to the community.

For more information, contact marquand@yale.edu.

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Space for MDiv current students. Receive news and updates from your year group reps, schedule events together as a program community and connect with other MDiv'ers!

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This is a space for YDS students, alumni, and colleagues who share in the Methodist tradition in its many diverse manifestations such as AME, Korean Methodists, and United Methodists. We welcome all who identify with the Wesleyan heritage as well as new seekers searching for a circle of friends in faith. We provide a forum for mutual upbuilding, spiritual formation, doctrinal and polity concerns, and contact with local Methodist clergy. We meet for fellowship, worship, guest speakers, community service, and other activities.

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To facilitate discussions about a dynamic, growing academic field studying Mormon theology, history, and culture!

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Native Crossroads celebrates and elevates Native presence, scholarship, and lifeways at Yale Divinity School. As relatives from many tribes and nations, we come together to affirm and encourage each other as we undertake diverse programs of theological and religious study. As scholars and community leaders, we open up conversations that explore the complex relationship between Native traditions and Christian faith. As teachers, healers, and advocates, we seek to bring the power of Native voices into the institutional and ceremonial life of the YDS community. Overall, we seek to weave the vibrant patterns of Indigenous knowledge-sharing, feasting, and storytelling into the academic, liturgical, and social fabric of the divinity school and the university.

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Nondenominational Student Group is for students looking for community, spiritual growth, and a space to engage in prayer and other Christian spiritual activities. We provide a supportive environment where students with different backgrounds can come together, fostering personal and communal growth. Through our gatherings and events, we aim to create opportunities for students to deepen their relationship with Christ, build meaningful relationships, and find support on their spiritual journeys.

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The Reformed Student Group hosts weekly student-led worship services intended to make room for non-academic spiritual reflection and building meaningful community. Created by students in the Reformed Studies Program, the services are often led by students belonging to Reformed and Reformed-adjacent traditions and borrow from Presbyterian (PCUSA) liturgies. However, the services are broadly ecumenical and open to all. The Reformed Student Group provides a space to explore what it means to be Reformed in the 21st century.

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RCF exists to bring the Catholic students, faculty, and staff of YDS together as a community to learn together, grow in our Catholic faith, and get involved in local community events and service opportunities.

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- Find intentional community and embrace the diversity of being Catholic at YDS
- A connection point for fellow Catholic students, faculty, and staff
- Attend and host faith-oriented and social events both in-person and online
- Share information about local opportunities for worship, community service, and carrying out Catholic social teaching
- Discuss with and support others undertaking the Roman Catholic Lay Ministry Colloquium