The Initiative for Religion and Civic Life is the pilot program leading toward the establishment of a full-fledged Center for Religion and Civic Life at American University The Initiative for Religion and Civic Life seeks to one day establish a Center to make clear the connections between faith and social action for the good of the public and to effect meaningful social change. The first three sta
ges fall under the Initiative for Religion and Civic Life:
(1) Stage One: Pilot Programs and Associate Chaplain for Civic Life: Developing a vocational mentoring program and assisting students in opportunities for engagement. This program would exist within the context of existent campus religious life and engage those communities through the work of the students involved in the Initiative's programs. (2) Stage Two: Interdisciplinary Participation and Research Opportunities: Broaden the IRCL to include the university’s schools and academic majors, including faculty and student research to develop a body of literature and resources. (3) Stage Three: Research grants, pre-professional programs, and increased visibility: pre-professional programs, a lecture series program, emergence of the IRCL as an essential public venue for discussing the relationship of faith and politics. (4) Stage Four: Establishment of the Center for Religion and Civic Life, expanded facilities and national recognition: CRCL as a nationally recognized center, with its own personnel, research library, and offices. The Center will host national conferences for justice advocates, policy makers, campus ministers, and religious leaders, while continuing to engage one-on-one with students.
