About
ChIME educates and ordains interfaith leaders who serve with Integrity, Spiritual Presence, and Prophetic Voice. Interfaith Ministers, also known as Interfaith Chaplains, are ordained graduates of a recognized Interfaith school. Founded in 2002, ChIME is one of thirteen Interfaith schools in the US. Students come from all faith backgrounds and traditions, including atheists. The important thing is a curiosity about, and a willingness to learn about and serve people from many faith traditions.
“ChIME provides a mindful home for the deep exploration of self. We investigate not only the heart of wisdom, but how participating in that search together can inform and inspire our everyday lives of service.”
- Rev. Jacob Watson, Founding Abbot
Dean Lisa Steele-Maley opens the 2021 Ordination at Ferry Beach Retreat Center with gratitude for the shade of the trees, the comfort of the breeze, and the Wabanaki ancestors whose land we were gathered on.
Interfaith is an avenue of seeing and seeking the endless possibilities of Divine expression. Interfaith ministry respects all spiritual paths including "no path" and honors Divine wisdom in all faiths.
The founder of the first Interfaith school in the U.S. was Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, a Hassidic Jew from Hungary who lost his whole family, including his 3-year-old daughter, in the Holocaust. His response to such an overwhelming tragedy was to found The New Seminary in New York City. Rabbi Gelberman’s vision was that Interfaith teachings would promote understanding among spiritual traditions and thus help prevent another holocaust.
“Never instead of…always in addition to.” - Rabbi Gelberman
