Announcement
2006

This conference is the fourth in a series of conferences designed for persons leading and teaching service-learning in faith-based colleges. The 2006 conference attracted 150 persons from a wide variety of faith perspectives. A broad variety of Protestant and Catholic as well as Mormon and Buddhist perspectives were represented. The first conference was held in June of 2000 with an attendance of forty-five participants. The second was in May of 2002 with an attendance of nearly 100.

The 2006 conference will focus on scholarship on the "faith" dimension of service-learning. Many students at all colleges and universities report that their motivation for doing service is "spiritual." The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA is conducting a major study of spirituality among college and university students. However, less is known about the "content" of spirituality and the particular contributions various faith traditions and theologies contribute to the philosophy and practice of service-learning and the extent to which faith-based institutions are intentional about reflecting their faith traditions in service-learning.

Service-learning is a powerful pedagogy for exploration of faith and for learning how to incorpate faith in community service, civic engagement, reconciliation, and social justice activities.

This conference is designed for faculty who teach service-learning courses, directors of service-learning programs, student life persons working in service-learning, and community partners. It will be valuable for newcomers and veterans as we are anticipating representatives with varying levels of experience from a wide range of faith-based colleges and universities.

Because of financial support from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., costs will be low. The Agapé Center of Messiah College is hosting and planning the conference.

The conference will focus on critical issues for service-learning at faith-based colleges and universities. It will include discussion of ways various faith traditions contribute to understanding service and social responsibility, models of effective community partnerships, encouraging moral and civic education, and justice and social policy concerns in service-learning. The conference will be structured to include conceptual presentations and to facilitate conversation and sharing among participants.

This conference will be linked to a small national study of the particular contributions faith makes to both the practice and implementation of service-learning. We hope to discuss the possibility of a major multiyear study.

• Put this conference on your calendar and plan to attend.
• Share the information with others on your campus who might be interested.
• Submit preliminary proposals for papers and presentations by April 1, 2006.
• Click on registration above to register before April 15, 2006