Institutions and Seminaries

These links are for the various religious and interfaith institutions and seminaries located throughout the country.

-The Prince Alwaleed Bin-Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University

This certificate program at Georgetown University requires students to follow an intensive course of study where they discover the intricacies and nuances of Christian-Muslim relations. Students must take six courses of various intensities in order to attain this certificate, including studies in “The Islamic World,” “Islamic Theological Development,” and other subjects.

-Auburn Theological Seminary
Focused on furthering understanding of religion, the Seminary has been educating and motivating people to learn since 1818. A special emphasis is placed on interfaith understanding.

-Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSIC) at the University of Birmingham

This no-nonsense academic program seeks to encourage the investigation and respect for both faiths, and “rejects polemics and proselytism.” This rigorous course of study relies heavily on academic integrity and seeks to give equal and unbiased attention to the values and importance of both traditions.

-The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College

This center at Boston College is dedicated to building new understandings between Jews and Christians “based not merely on toleration but on full respect and mutual enrichment.” As a result, there are multiple interreligious educational and research programs that continually take place at this center.

-The Chaplaincy Institute

Another interfaith seminary, this institution feels that the Divine experience is too large to fit into just one faith, and prefers to embrace and cherish the validity and beauty of all faiths and traditions. This seminary examines the world’s religions in 11 one-week modules, which may comprise as much as three years of study at the seminary.

-Education as Transformation at Wellesley

This organization works with colleges, universities and K-12 schools working to explore the impact of religious diversity in the educational setting as well as the role spirituality can play in teaching and learning, and the cultivation of moral and ethical values, fostering independently responsible global citizens.

-Glenmary Home Missioners

Fostering ecumenism, The Glenmary Home Missioners work throughout parts of the United States to teach religion.

-Global Dialogue Institute

Actively promoting dialogue, The Global Dialogue Institute attempts to resolve the problems in the world. People particularly invited to participate are policy makers and scholars.

-Hartford Seminary Research Center

This center focuses on research towards the aim of creating policy. The research focuses is on theological, faith and religious issues.

-The Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID)

This organization works to build understanding between religions and faiths, advocating attitudes of “love, respect, tolerance, mercy and compassion.” Its various outreach programs spread through communities throughout the nation bringing together members of various faiths to speak with and understand each other.

-The Institute on Religion and World Affairs

As a research centered organization, The Institute on Religion and World Affairs deals with a variety of concerns. The main focus of research is the role of religion on shaping society.

-Interfaith Seminary

This seminary is much like the One Spirit Learning Alliance, which trains men and women to be Interfaith Ministers and Spiritual Counselors, able to serve people of all religions, or no religions at all. The seminary believes there is one God/Truth, and that all people have different paths to reach it. They are also committed to an inclusive and universal approach to spirituality.

-Leadership Education Advancing Democracy and Diversity (LEADD)

A part of the Interfaith Alliance Foundation, LEADD focuses on educating the youth of America to be open-minded, considerate and respectful of others’ beliefs, whether they are political or religious in nature (or both).

-The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC)

This school trains its students to do the work of God, while simultaneously supporting and understanding the importance of other faiths. In particular, it hosts a strong interfaith studies program for visiting Muslim students from around the world as a part of its Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice.

-The Luther Seminary’s Islamic Studies Program

Much like the Georgetown program, this field of study at the Luther Seminary is dedicated towards understanding Christian-Muslim relations, and promoting “harmonious dialogical” relationships. This course of study leads students through courses on Christianity and Islam, and one course is even specifically entitled “Christian Engagement with Muslims.”

-One Spirit Learning Alliance

This seminary offers a two-year program to help others study the world’s religions and become interfaith ministers. One Spirit emphasizes “the common values of peace, tolerance, compassionate service, and love for all creation.” This program of study does not focus on the study of any specific religions, but rather focuses on general values and principles which it feels are common to all faiths and traditions.

-Religions Interfaith Chaplaincy Service

Situated in Western Pennsylvania, this service provides ministry to and pastoral care for those in hospitals or similar facilities.

-United Nations

The United Nations is a central organization when dealing with international isssues and this website is an invaluable resource for the person wishing to pursue work in interfaith activities.

-The United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

This organization supports faith-based groups working in conflict and post-conflict settings. Some of their projects include Sudanese Interfaith Dialogue (working out problems between Christians and Muslims in the decades-long civil war in the area), as well as a program in Indonesia using Islamic texts to emphasize attitudes of peacemaking, democracy, justice and religious pluralism. Other interfaith programs are located in Nigeria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran.


-Yale Center for Faith and Culture Reconciliation Program

This program works to build partnerships across Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths, sponsoring programs like interfaith conferences, exchange programs and joint research and publication projects. One such effort is the Summit for Interfaith Respect and Related Interfaith Seminary Encounter sponsored with the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development, which is making great and important strides in the effort for interreligious understanding.