Ecumenical and Interfaith Vision: Chautauqua's Heritage

In 1997 the Lilly Report had said:

“The Chautauqua Institution is better positioned than most congregations or communities to play a significant part in the religious education of the North American culture, and does so in its own setting of religious pluralism. It is ideally suited to demonstrate what it means to live in and respond to contemporary religious pluralism.”

Founded by Christians, Chautauqua from its beginning has described itself as a place whose vision was to recognize the oneness of humanity under one God who is worshipped and honored universally under many names and titles. Motivated by this openness, early in Chautauqua’s history Jewish Rabbis were invited to Chautauqua’s annual Assembly to teach Christians about Judaism, and by 1960 the sizable Jewish population of Chautauqua warranted the founding of the Hebrew Congregation, which continues to play a significant role in the religious life of Chautauqua to this day – conducting weekly Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat and Saturday morning Shabbat services, as well as offering weekly educational and social venues.

In 1999 Rev. Dr. Ross Mackenzie, then Director of the Department of Religion, began broadening Chautauqua’s ecumenical vision of educating Chautauquans about the third religious off-spring of Abraham, Islam. An Advisory Committee was formed, the “Abrahamic Initiative” was begun, and the vision of a relational Abrahamic Family has now become an integral part of the inspiration for Chautauqua’s life and programming, which is aimed at creating a lived experience. The Advisory Committee, consisting of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars and clergy, has continued to meet every year, with new members being welcomed to continually energize the vision.