Interfaith Exploration of the Soul over Soul Food
August 25, 2022
This past spring, Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, hosted an Interfaith Prayer Luncheon, inviting members of the Wiley community, inclusive of faculty, staff, students and administrators, to gather in the Fred Long Student Union and share their faith stories and journey through “meaning-making” exercises with campus faith leadership.
The Luncheon was held during “A [HOLY WEEK] of Righteous Indignation.” The thematic thrust was an ode to the liturgical celebration of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Holy Week, and a call to action on how various faith traditions inform justice. Each day of the week had either a faith or justice bend. The goal of the luncheon was to build a corps of students and campus faith leaders who champion inclusion and understand, support, and develop campus interfaith initiatives, scholarship, and support mechanisms that foster sharing and respect, a true reflection of the soul. This was all done during the weekly offering of good old southern soul food – fried chicken, collard greens, creamed corn, corn bread and sweet tea.
The state of Texas currently boasts nine historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Founded in a time when Blacks’ opportunity in higher education was scant or non-existent, these institutions, mostly founded by Christian denominations, have made significant contributions to the tapestry of higher education. These safe havens of higher learning have also been trend-setters and innovators, especially in civic engagement.
Faith Forward: Sharing and Respecting, the overall theme submitted to IA, with hopes to be a bridge-building campaign of the nine historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of Texas – Wiley College, Paul Quinn College, Huston-Tillotson University, Prairie View A&M University, Texas College, St. Philips College, Jarvis Christian College, Texas Southern University, and Southwestern Christian College began at Wiley College during the Interfaith Prayer Luncheon. Led by 17th president/CEO Herman J. Felton, J.D., Ph.D., Wiley College is a premier liberal arts institution, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, with an intentional focus on social good and leadership.
Photo courtesy of Cecil Andrew Duffie.
Wiley College’s Religious Emphasis Week poster.
Rev. Cecil Andrew Duffie
The Reverend Cecil Andrew Duffie, Ph.D., serves as Dean of Chapel at the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. Dean Duffie earned an M.Div., Ph.D., and a Certificate of Executive Leadership from Howard University. Additionally, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication with a minor in Education from the University of Florida. Dr. Duffie’s research interests have been in the area of spiritual formation and college & university black chaplaincy in the 21st century.
