Dayton Ministries in Higher Education (DMHE) is celebrating its 50th year as a place to welcome and support a variety of religious faiths and traditions on campus.
DMHE is a non-profit organization that provides a place of support to observe faith, along with furthering a deeper connection to traditions and religions. According to sinclaircampusministry.org, The ministry has evolved over four decades, while keeping a connection with DMHE to focus on challenging minds and hearts, along with welcoming people of all religious faiths and providing a resource for spiritual nurture.
David Bodary, professor of communication, said students are able to embrace each other’s differences and can also have the opportunity to learn about other faiths.
“It’s that idea that we are better together,” Bodary said.
He said there is a Better Together Campaign, that DMHE gives attention to that is focused on believing that faith and philosophies can unite people. Before becoming a member of DMHE, students, faculty and staff must sign the Better Together Pledge.
“It’s an international campaign trying to help people recognize, as people of faith or people that don’t [subscribe] to a particular faith that we’re all better together,” Bodary said. “April 14 is Better Together Day.”
He said Aaron Saari, Interfaith Campus Minister, worked on finding a prayer space for students on campus that will give members of DMHE a private place to observe prayer without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.
In honor of celebrating 50 years of supporting interfaith, DMHE is hosting a silent auction. The fundraising event will be held in Building 2, room 334, on April 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Bodary said he thinks there is a relationship between student’s academic performance and spirituality. He said many times when people realize their path doesn’t mesh well with their beliefs, then they tend to change directions.
“We know there is a connection between our academic lives, and our personal and work lives,” Bodary said. “If things are out of balance then it’s going to affect my ability to focus and to study, and to learn.”
Bodary said Saari is good about helping people find the right fit, along with supporting them with their faith.
“For many young people, we’re figuring that out, and deciding what’s my choice, and how to find the right fit,” he said.
Bodary said for every human being it’s important to solve the basic question of why I am here. He said no matter what higher power you believe in, it’s still about finding our purpose in life.
“What is it that I bring, or what are those talents and gifts that I can share with the world around me? Those basic questions are really spiritual questions, as much as they are anything else,” Bodary said.
Any students, faculty and staff can visit the campus interfaith office in Building 10, room 310, to get involved with DMHE.
“[Students can] visit the office and sign the Better Together Pledge. They can also get involved just by learning about different faith traditions through the [DMHE], or they can just learn about an area of faith tradition that they’re interested in,” Bodary said.
He brought up a point made by Eboo Patel, muslim activist and founder of Interfaith Youth Core, who wants to make interfaith understanding part of the college experience.
“[Patel] would argue that if we want to create a world that’s peaceful, we have to start with understanding our similarities, as well as our differences,” Bodary said. “He works really hard with people who have different religious traditions to see the interconnectedness.”
Bodary said the office is about creating a connection with others, along with embracing each other’s similarities and differences.
“[DMHE] is here as a way of ensuring support for the interfaith campus ministry office,” Bodary said. “It’s supports the staff, the faculty, the students—anyone at all.”
Gabrielle Sharp
Managing Editor