ChI was envisioned by clergy from a variety of faith traditions who saw a need for deeper Interfaith dialogue, and for building bridges of understanding across religious divides to bring peace and understanding to today's world. Founded by Rev. Dr. Gina Rose Halpern in 1999, ChI's curriculum reflects and responds to the changing climate of religious and spiritual life within the United States, as documented by The Pluralism Project of Harvard Divinity School.
Statistics from sources such as the National Survey of Religious Identification, the American Religious Identification Survey, and the Gallup Poll 2002 demonstrate that almost half of adults residing in the United States are not affiliated with organized religion. In addition, a third of the surveyed population describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious" and almost 10% regard themselves as “neither spiritual nor religious.”
Recognizing the need for religiously and spiritually inclusive educational and theological programs that prepare clergy to serve people of all faith traditions as well as those of no faith tradition, The Chaplaincy Institute for Arts and Interfaith Ministries / The Interfaith Congregation for Creative and Healing Ministries was founded by Rev. Gina Rose Halpern, Rev. Jeremy Taylor, and Rabbi Michael Ziegler who shared a vision of an inclusive Interfaith seminary promoting peace and understanding for our world today.
The Chaplaincy Institute was the fruit of that vision. It was founded in 1999 by a group of clergy representing a variety of religious and spiritual paths:
Rev. Gina Rose Halpern: Interfaith Minister
Rev. John Mabry: Old Catholic
Rev. Nancy McKay: United Church of Christ
Rev. Jurgen Schwing: United Church of Christ
Rev. Jeremy Taylor: Unitarian Universalist
Rabbi Michael Zeigler: Progressive Judaism
At present, the faculty and leadership of our organization hold degrees from a number of theological seminaries and progressive learning institutions:
California Institute of Integral Studies
Holy Names University
Fuller Theological Seminary
Naropa University
Pacific School of Religion
