Skip to main content

CURW

Banner for CURW.

CURW Affiliated Organizations

Cornell United Religious Work (CURW)

Cornell University affiliates with the following organizations, who send campus ministers to campus to assist with serving the religious needs of our students. The following groups are united through the CURW Covenant. See meet the CURW Team for individual contact information.

Catholic Community (Roman)

The Catholic Community at Cornell, a campus ministry of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Rochester, is centered around Jesus Christ. Our ministry seeks to foster intellectual and spiritual growth through the celebration of the liturgy and by providing a place to form deep, authentic Christian relationship.

Chabad - The Roitman Chabad Center at Cornell

The Roitman Chabad Center at Cornell is one of 3,300 Chabad Houses throughout the world serving one single purpose: to be a resource for Jewish learning; community service; outreach to local communities. Chabad at Cornell specializes in providing a unique approach to Jewish spirituality making it accessible to members of the Cornell's Jewish community—both students and faculty—regardless of levels of knowledge or observance. At Chabad House, we focus on one-on-one relationships, responding in whatever way is necessary to each individual. We welcome every Jewish resident and visitor at Cornell. Chabad House offers Shabbat observance with Friday night services and dinner and Saturday morning services and a lavish Shabbat lunch. All Jewish holidays are observed both at Chabad House and on campus.

Chabad at Cornell finds its emphasis on education in the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement.  Chabad is an acronym for the Hebrew words Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Da'at (knowledge).  Lubavitch in Russian means a city of love.  Its founders based its ideology on the idea that deep inside we're all carved of the same spiritual fabric.  Today, Chabad is a lifeline for Jews seeking deeper spiritual connection through study, religious guidance, and spiritual mentor-ship.  We offer classes and/or individual study in Torah. Talmud, Kabbalah, and many related topics in both English and Hebrew.

On a personal level, any student with an individual issue or problem is sure to find learned and sympathetic Rabbis and their wives at Chabad House who are never too busy to listen and help.

National Education Day USA, commemorated by both the President and Congress every years since 1985, was established in honor of Chabad Lubavitch and Rabbi Menachem Medel Schneerson of blessed memory and bears witness to the central role of education at Chabad and its positive influence on ethical values in the wider community.

Chabad at Cornell is proud to be a link in this historic chain and proud to be of service to the Cornell Community.

Chesterton House - A Center for Christian Studies

Chesterton House - A Center for Christian Studies is a community of Christian students and scholars that exists "to facilitate the discovery of the intellectual riches of the historic Christian faith."  We accomplish this through 1) public lectures and other events; 2) residential living learning centers for both men and women; and 3) accredited courses.  We partner not only with churches and other campus ministries but also with Cornell faculty and academic departments.  Over 5,000 students and other members of the Cornell community participate in our various programs each year, and the number of audio file downloads from our website is approaching 500,000.  All in the spirit of British humorist, G.K. Chesterton—"daring to discuss the important and the amusing."

Christian Science 

 Through regular testimony meetings, Christian Science lectures, and other activities, the Christian Science Organization at Cornell University shares with the University community the spiritual truths of Christian Science as found in The Bible and in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. We strive to elevate the level of thinking in the academic community to a better apprehension of moral and spiritual values and of God's healing power, and we provide support and encouragement for all those at the University who wish to practice Christian Science in their daily lives. Anyone at Cornell may use the materials in our small reading room (319 Anabel Taylor Hall) to learn more about Christian Science. The room key is kept in our mailbox in the reception office on the first floor.

COLLIS Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture

COLLIS Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture aims to develop Catholic thought, culture, and community at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, enriching students, faculty, staff and community members of all faith traditions and none.

CRU Cornell

"Becoming a family on a mission"

Becoming - we believe that all of us are on a spiritual journey, and that God does not call us to arrive at some perfect place as much as He calls us to pursue Him wholeheartedly and to love Him more than anything else. We seek to be a people in process of growing in our knowledge of God, our love for Him, and our commitment to furthering His kingdom.

Family - God has called us to be His family, brothers and sisters whose lives demonstrate his love for one another, and who seek to build and encourage one another in our relationships with Christ. We are called to be an inclusive family, valuing the differences between us and seeing in them the Lord's gracious gift for one another. We seek to build our sense of family through small groups, social events, retreats and conferences, and an ongoing spirit of spurring one another on toward Christ.

Mission - God has called us to bring the message of His love for the world in Jesus Christ to all people, sharing with them and inviting them to enter into a relationship with Him through faith. We desire for every student at Cornell University and Ithaca College to hear and understand the message of Christianity about God's love for us in Christ, and are committed to pursuing that. 

Episcopal Church at Cornell (Anglican)

A diverse group of seekers and believers enjoy sharing the adventure/challenge of Christian faith, grounded in Scripture and celebrating within a dynamic tradition. Committed to Christian hospitality, we seek to respect the dignity of every human being. 

Hillel at Cornell

The Yudowitz Center for Jewish Campus Life creates a vibrant, pluralistic Jewish community on the campus of Cornell University. Respect for individual and collective approaches to Judaism is a cornerstone of Cornell Hillel. Hillel is the gateway for Cornell's 3,500 Jewish students to get involved in a variety of cultural, social, spiritual, community service, and outdoor programs across campus. Hillel's Jewish Student Union serves as a diverse coalition of 26 student groups, and Hillel's professional staff encourage students to be an important part of our dynamic community where students, faculty and staff actively participate in creating a broadly defined Jewish campus culture. From social to cultural, religious to secular, Cornell Hillel offers a wide spectrum of opportunities to students interested in participating in or exploring their own unique Jewishness. 

International Students, Inc.

International Students, Inc. (ISI) exists to share Christ’s love with international students. ISI has ministries on over 200 campuses in the US. At Cornell, ISI partners with Cornell International Christian Fellowship (CICF) which meets each Friday evening at Crossroads Life Center. CICF is a place for Christian internationals to find Christian fellowship and encouragement in their faith as well as a place for internationals from non-Christian background to investigate the Christian faith in a welcoming, non-threatening environment. ISI also offers Conversational English classes on Thursday mornings at Crossroads Life Center. In addition, ISI provides American friendship partner families and Conversational Partners for international students and scholars.

 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is an evangelical campus mission serving students and faculty nationwide and at Cornell since 1941.  A growing movement, InterVarsity now has chapters on 576 campuses and includes four chapters here at Cornell: Cornell Christian Fellowship (multi-ethnic chapter), Asian American IV (pan-Asian chapter), Greek IV (serving the fraternities and sororities on campus), and Graduate Christian Fellowship.  Our purpose is to establish and advance witnessing communities where students and faculty are transformed by the good news about Jesus so that the campus is renewed and world changers are developed.  Our investigative small group Bible studies are open to all curious people and are places where anyone can belong before they believe and ask big questions in order to gain their own adult opinion about Jesus.  We offer student leadership training, three conferences per year, and a spring break trip to New York City focusing on ending sex trafficking, homelessness and educational inequality.  We want every Christian student to learn how to lead and be able to share the good news about Jesus in relevant ways and understand how it connects to every area of human endeavor.  We exist for all those who are not in our group, to make Cornell a thriving campus with better systems, structures, community and curricula so that it will provide the solutions to the worlds biggest problems and the visionary leaders the world so desperately needs.

Korean Church at Cornell

We are a body of Christians who desire to worship our God in spirit and in truth and to grow as a loving community. All are welcome!

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Religious classes and service and social opportunities for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any others who are attracted to our way of life.

St. Luke Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry

St. Luke Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry is dedicated to the students, faculty, and staff of Cornell University and Ithaca College. We are a ministry active in the city of Ithaca and have educational opportunities and community fellowship where all are welcome. Our service of Holy Communion is Sunday at 10:00 AM at the church on 109 Oak Ave. We also offer a Compline service (quiet service of prayer and song) on Thursdays at 8:30 PM in Anabel Taylor Hall’s chapel. As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation of the ELCA, the people of St. Luke Lutheran Church and Lutheran Campus Ministry are called by God to be a community… because we believe we are one in God’s eyes, we welcome the mix of ages, races, gender identities, physical and mental capabilities, and sexual orientations with which God’s children are blessed. Everyone is invited to share in God’s grace. We rejoice in the knowledge that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus--not our wealth, nor our poverty, nor our nationality, nor our political convictions, nor whom we love, nor anything else in all creation.

Muslim Life

The Diwan Foundation for Muslim Life supports Muslims students, staff and faculty of Cornell and the Ithaca and Tompkins County community. It works, moreover, to educate the community at large about Islam and Muslims. Diwan, founded by Cornell alums, seeks to enhance the quality of life for self-identifying Muslims and all Cornellians, by providing resources, implementing programs, and developing opportunities for students.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship

The Cornell Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students who seek to know and serve Christ and His Holy Church through worship, fellowship, community service, study and evangelism. The OCF meets each Wednesday from 7:00 -8:30 pm in the Edward's Room of Anabel Taylor Hall for fellowship, food, and discussion.  Morning prayers are held once a week as well. There are also service projects, retreats, social events and our lecture series throughout the semester. The Cornell OCF invites everyone to participate in our services and activities.

OCF is supported by St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, located at 120 West Seneca Street in Ithaca past the Commons. Sunday liturgy is held each week beginning at 10:00 am. If you would like to attend service and need a ride, are interested in OCF, or have any questions about OCF, please contact OCF.

Protestant Cooperative Ministry

Protestant Cooperative Ministry is a campus ministry program sponsored by the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the American Baptist Church. Regular programs include Sunday morning worship and opportunities for fellowship, education and service for graduate and undergraduate students.

Other Partnerships 

Center for Transformative Action (CTA)

The Center for Transformative Action (CTA) was established in 1971 and is an independent 501(c)3 affiliated with Cornell University. CTA helps create communities that are social just, ecologically sound, and work for everyone. We do this by providing educational programs and fiscal sponsorship services to innovative social change initiatives. These projects work to transform the structures as well as the habits of mind that produce inequities in our communities, country and the world.

CTA’s core offices are located in Anabel Taylor Hall, along with four of our projects: the Committee for US-Latin American Relations (CUSLAR), the Durland Alternatives LibraryPrisoner Express, and Anabel’s Grocery.

 In keeping with the values and vision of our founders, Cornell University does not directly employ ministry professionals associated with particular sects; rather, the Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making (OSMM) invites qualified individuals to apply for affiliate status with CURW. Since its founding in 1865, Cornell has had a vested interest in providing for the spiritual care of its community members. CURW was formed in 1929 as a first-of-its-kind intentionally interfaith consortium of ministry professionals to serve the spiritual needs of Cornell’s various religious student groups. The Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making (OSMM), created in 2017, is the institutional office charged by Cornell’s Division of Student and Campus Life with promoting access to and oversight of religious activity on campus, including supervising the work of CURW affiliates. If you are interested in applying to become a CURW affiliate and joining this interfaith consortium of ministry professionals, you are encouraged to contact the Director of CURW to discuss your interest.

Apply for CURW Affiliation

CURW affiliation is granted in three categories:

  1. Spiritual advisor—this category is for those who are employed by Cornell University and who advise a spiritual or religious student organization on a voluntary basis.
  2. Religious life affiliate—this category is for those who are not employed by Cornell University, are affiliated with an outside organization, and whose educational or professional training qualify them to advise a spiritual or religious student organization and/or students.
  3. Administrative affiliate—this category is for those who are not employed by Cornell University, are affiliated with an outside organization, and whose primary role is administrative support rather than student support.

Applications for CURW affiliation are due each year on the first business day of June. As part of the application process, applicants must submit the following materials:

Apply to be a spiritual advisor

For spiritual advisors (ie, those who are employed by Cornell University and who advise a spiritual or religious student organization), the following materials must be made when submitting your application:

  • Letter of interest
  • Resumé or curriculum vitae
  • Signed affiliation covenant
  • Application fee ($100)
  • Background check

Apply to be a religious life affiliate

For religious life affiliates (ie, those who are not employed by Cornell University, are affiliated with an outside organization, and whose educational or professional training qualify them to advise a spiritual or religious student organization) the following materials must be made when submitting your application:

  • Letter of interest
  • Resumé or curriculum vitae
  • Attestation from sponsoring organization, including proof of insurance and background check (please contact the CURW director for the appropriate form)
  • Signed Facility Use Agreement (please contact the CURW director for the appropriate form)
  • Signed affiliation covenant
  • Application fee ($100)
  • Credentials for support staff (if applicable)

Apply to be an administrative affiliate

For administrative affiliates (ie, those who are not employed by Cornell University, are affiliated with an outside organization, and whose primary role is administrative rather than student facing), application can be made through this link.