The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life serves as a sacred space of hospitality and welcome, providing the college community a place to explore, dialogue, and realize our potential as students, scholars, seekers, and spiritual beings traveling a variety of paths.

As learning flourishes at the confluence of many voices and commitments, the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life supports the fertile exchange of vital conversations that nurture our connection and engender discovery, learning, and transformation.

Macalester and the Presbyterian Church

Statement of Covenant between Macalester College and Synod of the Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The Covenant

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Macalester College freely covenant together to support educational opportunities for all people that lead to their growth in scholarship, faithfulness in character, and preparation to serve the common good. This is an historic and continuing relationship that both the church and the college value, dating from the beginning of our common history in 1880. At that time the Presbyterian Synod of Minnesota adopted the College. In 1885 an endowment was put in place with a significant contribution of funds from the Synod. Today, several dimensions of the College's life remain deeply influenced by this relationship. These include, among others: the Weyerhaeuser Endowed Chaplaincy of the College, the traditional presence of Presbyterian ministers and laypeople on Macalester's Board of Trustees, the Margaret W. Harmon and the Arnold Lowe Chairs in Religious Studies, endowed student scholarships, the Bloedel Trust held by the Presbyterian Foundation and other continued financial support by Presbyterian individuals and congregations. The Covenant carries forward this intentional relationship and is maintained for the respective institutions by the Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Board of Trustees of Macalester College. The purpose of this document is to reaffirm and renew this relationship.

Common Convictions

This covenant is based on our historically shared conviction that the human capacity to seek and discover truth is a precious gift. Both the College and the Synod hold that unflagging support for scholarly endeavor is not merely an obligation but a privilege. The Church and the Academy have developed different traditions and roles in education in the centureies since John Calvin inaugurated our denominational and intellectual tradition. Both the College and the Synod nevertheless continue to share commitment to open inquiry and serious study. Both support the critical exploration and practice of ethical values and religious commitments. We both strive to work within a pluralistic, broadly diverse global context. We also believe that scholarship and religious commitment have important contributions to make to the betterment of the world around us. This covenant reaffirms these shared convictions.

The Continuing Relationship

We affirm the need of both institutions for this relationship. To put the purpose of the Covenant into effect, we agree to participate in a Covenant Committee apppointed by the President of the College and the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Executive and convened by the College Chaplain. The primary function of this group will be to assume responsibility for strengthening this relationship. The Committee will highlight this covenantal partnership by addressing significant social and faith issues in ways that benefit Macalester College, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and the wider community. This includes the offering of at least one annual event engaging religious and social issues in the world today. Events offered may be the joint programs of the College and a governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) initiated by the Covenant Committee or may be coordinated with other events occurring in the Twin Cities or beyond. Any financial implication of Covenant Committee programming is subject to approval of the two bodies.

Executed at Saint Paul, Minnesota, the 13th day of October 2004.

Macalester College: Mark A. VanderPloeg, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Brian C. Rosenberg, President of the College; Lucy A. Forster-Smith, Chaplain

Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Barbara Boehler, Moderator of Synod of Lakes and Prairies; Philip Brown, Synod Executive; Ernest E. Cutting, Stated Clerk.