Student Organizations and Connections

For students interested in the Oberlin Baha'i Community, please contact Amanda Schmidt (aschmidt@oberlin.edu) for information.

Oberlin Buddhist Fellowship is a community dedicated to practicing and deepening in the Buddhist tradition and providing educational opportunities about Buddhism for the campus community. They meet weekly for Sunday sits at 11:45 am in Lewis House (68 S Professor St.). Email Edison Jones at ejones3@oberlin.edu with any questions or to be added to the email list. 

The purpose of the Canterbury Episcopal Society is to:

• Create a space for progressive-leaning Protestant students to gather in solidarity.
• Welcome people of all spiritual backgrounds, LGBTQ+ identities, and communities of color.
• Encourage spiritual and theological dialogue weekly over shared meals.
• Facilitate spiritual growth amongst members through Bible study and guest speakers.

Email Zosia Mateja (zmateja@oberlin.edu) to learn more.

The primary purpose of Chabad Jewish Student Group is to provide living Judaism to the students at Oberlin College within the framework of traditional Judaism and a family atmosphere. Chabad's programming includes educational, ritual, and social activities, in addition to counseling and spiritual guidance to individual students. Some of the programs that Chabad offers are: weekly classes, Creative Soul: The Jewish Arts Collective, lectures on various Jewish issues, and guest speakers for religious and cultural events. Chabad also provides Shabbat and Holiday services, Glatt (the highest Kosher standard) meals, Holiday programs, and Shabbatons (unique weekends). The Chabad Jewish Student Group is affiliated with over 400 other Chabad student groups at colleges and universities internationally, and twice a year participate in various programs and trips with other chapters. Chabad is based in Chassidic philosophy, as taught locally at the Chabad Jewish Center, directed by Rabbi Shlomo and Rebbetzin Devorah Elkan. Visit the website of the Chabad Jewish Center in Oberlin at www.JewishOberlin.com.

Oberlin Christian Fellowship is a worshiping and praying community dedicated to knowing and sharing the love of God. We are a chapter member of an international Christian organization, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity, and culture and God's purposes in the world. OCF has weekly small group meetings and two large group meetings per month. OCF participates in the InterVarsity Urbana conference every three years. For more information, please visit OCF's website .

Disciples on Campus' purpose is to bring non-denominational, Restoration-based Christians together for fellowship and bible discussions. We bring opportunities for Oberlin students to worship and serve with our Cleveland church community, as well as events with college Christians from Kent, Dayton, Cinncinati, and other Midwest states.

Restoration-based Christian values focus on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ told through the Gospels in the New Testament. We believe that biblical salvation is found through faith in Jesus, repentance of sin, and full-immersion baptism. Email Dylan Hwang at dhwang@oberlin.edu for more information or to get connected. 

The Oberlin Christian Athletes:

- serve as a support group and fellowship for Christian varsity athletics

- minister and understand how the gospel applies to our athletic participation

- be a witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ amongst Oberlin varsity athletes

The purpose and intention of The Healers Collective is to connect students interested in holistic healing practices, such as art, sound, and movement healing practices, as well as intentional connection and wellness through innovative programming and multidisciplinary events to inspire hope, foster growth, build relationships, uplift and heal the collective, and reflect love. Email Ayesha Ghosh at aghosh2@oberlin.edu with any questions. 

Oberlin Hillel strives to create a vibrant Jewish life for students on campus. Hillel is a student-centered pluralistic Jewish space that welcomes people of all movement and secular backgrounds, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and all approaches to Israel, from Zionism to non-Zionism. Weekly meetings convene in the Wilder Student Union. The Cleveland Hillel Foundation provides the college with a Jewish campus rabbi who encourages and facilitates Jewish activities at Oberlin. Hillel also sponsors Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and other services. A community Seder takes place the first night of Passover. For more information, refer to Oberlin Hillel .

The Oberlin College Muslim Students Association provides religious, spiritual, and cultural opportunities for those who identify as Muslim. MSA’s membership is diverse in race, gender, practice, and Islamic interpretation, also comprised of men and women representing different parts of the Islamic diaspora: Black American, South Asian, Arab, African, and all. Our members have different attitudes and interpretations of Islam, and the organization is sensitive and respectful to this diversity; however, we are all united by our common faith. We perform prayers together as much as possible but always on Friday. The prayer room is always available for use during operational hours for those who want to perform other prayers of the day.

The Newman Catholic Community is a student organization dedicated to living a Catholic presence at Oberlin. Newman leadership meets weekly to plan programming, including Mass each Sunday, holiday celebrations, retreats (like the Busy Student Retreat), and other educational and community programs. Newman also plays an active role on peace and justice issues and strives to be a source of friendship, support, and mentoring primarily to Catholic students but always open to the wider Oberlin community. The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland provides Oberlin College with staff who provides support to the Newman Catholic Community through leadership development, program planning and faith development support (including RCIA instruction for individuals considering conversion to Catholicism). For more information, please visit Oberlin Newman's Instagram page.

Voices for Christ is an organization that nurtures the spiritual needs of African-American students and others who are seeking to worship Christ through African-American gospel and spiritual songs. 

The members of Voices for Christ (VFC) promote through music and fellowship the joy and message of Jesus Christ. Email J Ince (jince@oberlin.edu) to learn more.

Oberlin Young Friends meet on Sundays for Silent Meetings at 9pm. Email Miriam Barnhill-Wright (mbarnhil@oberlin.edu) for more information. 

Below are a list of student religious and spiritual organizations that have been active in the past. ORSL can support students who are interested in reactivated previously active student groups. Fill out the form here for more infomation. 

• Bhakti Yoga Society 

• ChALLaH Capella

• Credo Club

• Ecumenical Christian Organization 

• Humanist Collective

• Liberated Unitarian Universalist Voices

• Oberlin Meditators

• Oberlin Orthodox Christian Fellowship

• Queers and Allies of Faith

• Oberlin Pagan Student Society

• Oberlin Unity Fellowship