Why Religion?
A friend of mine abides by a very simple rule when it comes to conversation: steer clear of politics and religion. Want to talk about pop culture? Fine. That's safe. The economy? Sure, go for it. This "darn weather we're having"? Oh, that's just perfect. Just don't mention who you voted for in the last presidential election or if you believe in God. That's way off limits.

So, when Adrian College chaplain Chris Momany '84 pitched the idea of a religious theme for Contact, my natural instinct was to stammer and sweat profusely and search for a way to segue into, "How 'bout those Detroit Lions?"

The more I pondered it, though, the more I loved the idea. Why not talk about our heritage? Why not bring to life stories of creative ministry? Why not delve into questions of faith and spirituality?

Adrian College, founded by Methodist minister and abolitionist Asa Mahan, enjoys a long and storied religious past. We do, however, sometimes stray from talking about our ties to The United Methodist Church and how we envision religion and academia coexisting.

What You'll Find in This Issue
Poet and philosopher Kahlil Gibran wrote, "I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."

When the Contact staff developed the story list for this issue, we were aware that the content needed to touch more than just Methodism. After all, there are more Catholic students at Adrian College today than Methodist. We were aware that we needed a blend of faith, history and factual information. We wanted to feature an alum active in creative ministry. We wanted to interview a religious leader. Finally, we felt that a story about students challenged in their quest for faith would provide a glimpse at the diverse religious makeup of the 2003 student body.

We hope you enjoy reading about David Tinney '72 and his inspiring story of forgiveness. You'll learn more about Asa Mahan and possibly a name you are not familiar with: Lee Anna Starr. You'll get a peek into the life of one of Adrian's Muslim students. Finally, Dr. Caine and former World Methodist Council chairperson Fran Alguire weigh in with their thoughts.

Why This Issue Matters
Every year, the American Dialect Society picks a word of the year. For 2002, the group selected "weapons of mass destruction." In a time when a war with Iraq is looming large over the minds of U.S. citizens and violence is prevalent in every facet of our lives, it is appropriate to talk about issues of faith and spirituality.

We also feel it is important to embrace our heritage yet respect the viewpoints of others. It is in this vein that we bring you this issue of Contact. We hope you find it thought-provoking and useful.

My best,

Darcy A. Gifford, '91, editor